Gucci Black and Brown Reversible Alligator Belt
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Width: 1 in (2.54 cm)Length: 38 in (96.52 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. The gold hardware is slightly tarnished.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU488445522
Gucci
Long before trend-bucking creative director Alessandro Michele brought his hallucinatory “Utopian Fantasy” campaign to Gucci, it was a modest Italian leather shop. Today, it’s an internationally renowned luxury house with an iconic logo, and vintage Gucci clothing, handbags and shoes are among high fashion's most covetable goods.
Guccio Gucci (1881–1953) admired the stylish suitcases he saw wealthy guests arrive with at the Savoy Hotel in London, where he worked as a bellhop. So, in 1921, after a stint at Franzi, a luggage company in his hometown of Florence, he opened a leather goods shop of his own.
At first, Gucci’s Florence business specialized in equestrian accessories. But as its reputation flourished, particularly among the English aristocracy, so too did its footprint. In 1938, he brought three of his sons — Aldo, Vasco and Rodolfo — into the business and expanded it to Rome and later Milan. In the mid-1930s, a League of Nations embargo against Italy pushed Gucci to experiment with alternatives to imported leather. Its woven hemp fabric from Naples, adorned with the brand’s signature diamond print, was a hit, especially among A-list celebrities. The material was first used on suitcases before finding enduring popularity on handbags. (No list of revered designer purses would be complete without Gucci.)
In the 1950s, Elizabeth Taylor carried one of Gucci’s bamboo-handled tote bags, another adaptation to material rationing. After Jackie Kennedy was seen sporting a slouchy Gucci tote in 1961, it was renamed for the First Lady. Then Grace Kelly, on a visit to the boutique in Milan, inspired Rodolfo Gucci to work with Italian illustrator and Gucci textile designer Vittorio Accornero on the Flora print in 1966. Taking cues from Sandro Botticelli’s Primavera, with its pattern of flora and insects, it was painted entirely by hand and featured no fewer than 37 colors.
In 1953, just 15 days after opening his first store on New York’s 5th Avenue, Guccio passed away at 72. The early 1970s saw store openings in Tokyo and Hong Kong, but by the late 1980s, Gucci was floundering. Rodolfo Gucci took charge in 1982, but family drama and lawsuits ensued. In 1993, Rodolfo’s son, Maurizio, transferred his shares in the company to Investcorp, ending the family’s involvement in Gucci. Dawn Mello, then-president of Bergdorf Goodman, joined as creative director in 1989. But it was Tom Ford, who took over as creative director in 1994, who ultimately revived the brand.
Ford’s racy ads, shot by photographers such as Mario Testino, stirred controversy. And his potent vision of sexed-up femininity — with “jewel-toned satin shirts unbuttoned to there,” as Vogue described his breakthrough 1995 runway show — was wildly successful. The new millennium brought new ownership — Pinault Printemps Redoute in 2004 — and a more toned-down vision from Frida Giannini, who became sole creative director in 2006. Alessandro Michele was named creative director in 2015, and the storied brand took a giant leap forward.
Find vintage Gucci clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Los Angeles, CA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- BARRY KISELSTEIN-CORD Nude Alligator Belt Goldtone Sterling Frog Buckle LargeBy Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1Located in Los Angeles, CAThis vintage Barry Kiselstein-Cord belt is composed of a nude alligator with gold-tone sterling silver hardware. Features a frog buckle with adjustabl...Category
20th Century Belts
- Barry Kieselstein Cord Lizard Skin Pink & Purple Belt W/ Sterling Silver BeltBy Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1Located in Los Angeles, CABarry Kieselstein Cord Lizard Skin Pink & Purple Belt W/ Sterling Silver Belt Bands. In excellent condition Measurements: Longest length - 3...Category
1990s American Belts
- Judith Leiber White Belt W/ Gold Lions Head ClaspBy Judith LeiberLocated in Los Angeles, CAJudith Leiber White Belt W/ Gold Lions Head Clasp. Measurements: Longest length - 39.5 inches Shortest length - 23 inches Width - 1.25 inchesCategory
1990s American Belts
- Plantation brown leather double band W/ Loop and Front BuckleBy PlantationLocated in Los Angeles, CAPlantation brown leather double band W/ Loop and Front Buckle. In excellent condition Measurements: Longest length - 39.5 inches Shortest length - 33 inches Width - 1.9 inchesCategory
1980s Belts
- Mixed Metal "CITY" W/ Gold & Silvertone BeltLocated in Los Angeles, CAMixed Metal "CITY" W/ Gold & Silvertone belt. In excellent condition Measurements: Longest Length - 30 inches Shortest Length - 26.1 inches Height - 1.1 inchesCategory
1990s Unknown Belts
- Galanos Large Brown Wide Belt With Bronze StudsBy GalanosLocated in Los Angeles, CAGalanos Large Brown Wide Belt With Bronze Studs. Vintage belt from 1980s in excellent condition Measurements: Longest length - 28.3 inches Shortest length - 27 inches Height - 4...Category
1980s American Belts
- Christian Dior Large Gilded Gold Hardware Buckle and BeltBy Christian DiorLocated in New York, NYChristian Dior vintage large detailed gilded gold with filigree hardware belt buckle with a adjustable black calfskin leather belt. The gilded gold filigree det...Category
1970s French Belts
- Alexis Kirk Bold Gilded Gold Vermeil Belt Buckle with Textured Leather BeltsBy Alexis KirkLocated in New York, NYAlexis Kirk bold gilded gold hardware belt buckle with vermeil finish comes with a choice of two textured leather adjustable belts, one in beige lined with tan leather. A...Category
1980s American Belts
- Bold Hand-Woven Multi-Shell Wrap BeltLocated in New York, NYThis wonderful Hand-woven silk cord belt has assorted natural shells and natural corals of multiple shades and colors. The center huge shell meas...Category
1970s American Belts
- Woven Silvery Gold Tone Metal Thread Buckle and Belt c. 1970sLocated in Munich, DEUnique c. 1970s woven metal thread belt with metal disk buckle. The alluring artisanal belt features a round metal disk buckle covered with woven patinized silvery gold tone metal threads. The buckle is set on a smooth metal wire belt...Category
1970s Unknown Belts
- 1990s Moschino Redwall Belt I Am Rich in Gold Letters on Brown Embossed LeatherBy MoschinoLocated in San Francisco, CAVintage Moschino I AM RICH belt features "I am rich" in gold letters on a brown embossed leather belt. Gold buckle closure. Most letters are stationary with a sliding I and C in "Ric...Category
1990s Italian Belts
- Gucci Bordeaux Mini GG Buckle BeltBy GucciLocated in London, GBCrafted in Italy from bordeaux calf leather, this pre-owned belt by Gucci features an adjustable fit, a slim design and the signature 'GG' logo buckle accented by an intricate combin...Category
20th Century Unknown Belts
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Explore a Century of Gucci Fashion in London
The iconic Italian label’s traveling exhibition has just arrived in London.
The Stories behind the Most Famous Luxury Fashion Logos
From Chanel to YSL, the logos of some legacy fashion houses spark instant brand recognition and have come to symbolize a kind of luxury that feels at once aspirational and attainable.