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.

An exemplary example of Schiaparelli's inventiveness and interest in playing with unconventional materials and forms, this belt incorporates a buckle made of plastic, then painted and carved to look like roughly-scored plaster. Plastic was an avant-garde material during this time, and one that Schiaparelli often experimented with in her designs, using it in buckles, buttons, jewelry and zippers. This belt was worn by one of her most dedicated, fashionable clients, Millicent Rogers, who fully supported Schiaparelli's outré design aesthetic.