Belt

Schiaparelli often used her accessories, particularly belts, as avenues of expression for her Surrealist ideals. Buckles, clasps, decorations and belts themselves were made of unusual materials, such as plastic and plaster, and in quirky shapes that could elicit a viewer’s double-take. To pair such an off-beat accessory with a couture garment was just the kind of humorous irony Schiaparelli enjoyed incorporating into her work.

This belt worn by style icon and devoted client Millicent Rogers, demonstrates Schiaparelli's aesthetic in the unusual bull ornament. The carved plaster of which the ornament is made is a unique example of Schiaparelli's quest to continually use interesting materials in her designs. The rough-hewn feel of the carving lends a hand-made artistic feel to the design. The gracefully curved asymmetric shape of the buckle, facing off against the charging bull, is distinctive of Schiaparelli's non-conventional design sensibility.