1970s Clutches

The suit, the safari jacket, the peasant dress—Yves Saint Laurent was a master at seeing the high-fashion potential of that which others might have dismissed. This passementerie purse is an example of his design genius. Passementerie, the art of making elaborate trimmings such as galloon, gimp, tassels and fringes, flourished from the sixteenth century when guilds were first established in France to the early-twentieth century. On clothing and furniture, these handcrafted embellishments were a sign of wealth and rank. With modernity, however, they fell out of favor and became passé. Yves Saint Laurent turned that perception on its head. For his fall/winter 1976/1977 Russian-themed collection, which was inspired by the ornamental beauty of Léon Bakst’s costumes for the Ballet Russes, he accessorized the lavish looks with tasseled and braided belts hand-finished by the storied passementerie makers. The runway show revived a taste for excess and made passementerie details a brand signature. The half-moon shape of this mini passementerie belt bag is crafted from lustrous ruby red cord interlaced to form its exterior. A variety of gold and Gripoix hearts bejewel the flap closure. The bag can slide of the belt so you can carry this as a clutch and wear the belt without the bag attached. Pair this special piece with evening wear or use it as a belt bag on the weekends. Measurements: Belt: 26-32 inches Bag width: 8 inches across top Height: 5.5 inches Depth: 1 inch This vintage Yves Saint Laurent passementerie...