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I’m an accessories girl through and through. My boyfriend likes to joke and say I can’t leave the house without about 10 pounds of gold jewelry hanging off my body. I just can’t help it — a good accessory can completely transform any outfit. After a long hard day of working in fashion, I like to unwind by… what else… looking at more fashion! I endlessly scroll The RealReal, Vestiare Collective, Ebay, 1stDibs and Poshmark because I am always hunting for archive designer and interesting vintage pieces, especially jewelry. So, with that being said, it’s time to discuss my most recent journey — my quest for the perfect vintage chain belt.
This CHANEL Fall 1991 photo (above) of Linda Evangelista changed the framework of my mind. It made me forever want to be that girl and that meant I needed to track down the perfect chain belt.
I spent the past weekend in Hudson, New York. The quaint upstate town is known for antique furniture, a great art scene, picturesque landscapes and lucky for me, vintage shopping. I had one thing on my radar — an early ’90s chunky gold chain belt — and my prayers were answered when I stepped into Vintage Black Label. I took one look at the mannequins and knew my prayers had been answered! My reference photo came to life.
Curious to learn more about this vintage mecca, I did a bit of research. What I thought was a hidden gem isn’t actually so hidden. Greg Urra is the owner and curator of Vintage Black Label. He has been a regular at The Manhattan Vintage show for years. Urra travels to flea markets, antique fairs and bazaars all over the world to find his vintage treasures. His Instagram (which every vintage lover should follow), boasts photos of fabulous fashion exhibits along with his pieces. Not only does Vintage Black Label sell amazing belts, they have incredible vintage jewelry and archive RTW from brands like Valentino, Roberto Cavalli and Moschino just to name a few. But, I had my eye on the prize and I knew I needed to walk out with a belt.
After an initial walk-through on Saturday, I knew that this was a decision I needed to sleep on. So that night, I examined each photo I took of pieces I liked to help narrow things down (spoiler alert, I still didn’t narrow anything down.) Sunday came and it was time to make my decision. I was eyeing an Escada-esque circa 1980s heart belt or one with chunky quilted flowers and pearl details.
After quite some time spent deliberating, I decided on the hearts. But of course, something else managed to catch my eye. (Remember, I did say I was an accessories girl.) Tucked away in the back of the display case, I spotted this pearl choker necklace and it just had to be mine.
As I drove back to N.Y.C., I couldn’t believe I succeeded in my quest to find the perfect chain belt — and got an extra something along the way!
As seen above, I am already rocking my purchases, which luckily give any outfit an extra boost of glam. The necklace and belt instantly transformed this simple look. If you’re a vintage lover like me, I URGE you to check out Vintage Black Label in Hudson or their booth at the Manhattan Vintage Show. You won’t regret it.
If you don’t live for the hunt, don’t fret. You can still get the vintage look without the epic quest. Below are some fab chain belt options to shop now.
Cool Chain Belts
