Chanel Sent Hip Chains and Pearl Belts Down Its 2020 Metiers d'Art Runway

Hip chains infiltrated red carpets, TRL, and all our favorite pop stars throughout the early 2000s. As Charles Dickens once said of the era, "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times in fashun," and now, Chanel is ready to bring it back (though with more pearls and less Xtina "Dirrty" vibes this time around).

The legacy fashion house held its 2020 Metiers d'Art show in Paris yesterday and Virginie Viard's third collection for the brand was noticeably sexier. There were bare midriffs, tweed suits worn sans any blouses underneath, and hip chain belts on hip chain belts.

Gigi Hadid dons a pearl hip belt in the Chanel Metiers d’Art show.

Standing out as one of the strongest looks of the collection, Gigi Hadid donned a cropped tweed skirt suit without a top underneath. Styled around her bare waist was a belt comprised of multiple strands of pearls and a Chanel logo clasp at the center. Though still sexy, it was a departure from the ultra risqué hip chain look of the early 2000s—which were often styled with the lowest rise pants and the tiniest of belly shirts possible.

Christina Aguilera dons a hip chain belt at the 2001 MTV VMAs.

Along with pearlized hip belts, the brand also debuted hip chains made out of its iconic handbag straps. A single black leather and gold metal chain belt made for a more understated take on the look, while chunkier, layered chain belt options went for the more bold version.

Francois Durand//Getty Images

As fashion prepares to enter a new decade in 2020, it appears nostalgia for the early 2000s look (however questionable it may have been) isn't going anywhere just yet. But if you still have PTSD from all those low-rise jeans, Viard managed to modernize the throwback accessory in a way that feels elevated, yet still cool—and perhaps signals a new era for the Chanel woman too.

The hip chain belts popped more when styled against bare midriffs.

Lauren Alexis Fisher is the Senior Editor at Cosmopolitan, overseeing digital content across fashion, lifestyle, beauty, sex, and culture. Previously, she was the Market Editor at Harper’s BAZAAR and has written for publications including WWD, Bustle, and W Magazine. When she’s not busy taste-testing her way through every dirty martini in New York, you can follow her on Instagram for bad jokes, good outfits, and annoying vacation pics. 

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