‘Happy I didn’t get rid of mine’: ‘Ugly’ millennial fashion accessory is back

A statement accessory that went out of style because of its “tacky” nature is seemingly making a comeback.

One of the biggest fashion trends loved by millennials is making a comeback, prompting people to claw through the closets of yore for a chance to take part in its return.

Gucci’s classic double-G belts were revived in 2016 as part of then-creative director Alessandro Michele’s debut collection.

Nearly a decade later – after the so-called stealth wealth trend ushered in an era of understated minimalism – the classic accessory is back in fashion, The New York Post reports.

For a while, the logo belts were considered a status symbol and must-have accessory for anyone hoping to stay on trend – until it eventually fell off and started to be seen as basic, and sometimes even tacky.

But a classic can’t go out of style for too long.

The interlocked double-G belt appears to be making a resurgence, with an increasing number of A-listers recently spotted sporting the accessory.

Bella Hadid was seen wearing the logo belt while out and about in New York City in May, and Miley Cyrus can be seen wearing a skinnier version of the belt in the trailer for her upcoming interview on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman.

Bella Hadid was spotted out and about in New York City rocking the accessory. Picture: Raymond Hall/GC Images

Idris Elba donned one of the belts at the Italian fashion house’s Menswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show in Milan in January. Picture: Jacopo Raule/Getty Images

The popular social media account @databutmakeitfashion even made a post analysing “the return of the Gucci belt” and found that the number of posts on X about the “controversial fashion accessory” increased by about 18 per cent in popularity per day over the course of one week.

“Don’t bring it back, please I beg you,” one viewer pleaded in the comments.

“Not the ugly Gucci belt comeback pls,” another wrote.

While a third said, “So happy I didn’t get rid of mine.”

It’s not just at Gucci – celebrities have also been spotted wearing statement logo belts from the likes of Prada and Chloe.

Other fashion houses are getting in on the trend: Troye Sivan sported an oversized Prada belt at Cannes in May. Picture: Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images for Magnum

Zoe Saldana wore a statement Chloe belt at this year’s Met Gala, celebrating ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’. Picture: Marleen Moise/Getty Images

This isn’t the first trend to be recycled back into popularity – the resurgence of the skivvy (a top with long sleeves and a polo neck, commonly associated with The Wiggles), the side part, and low-rise jeans have all made headlines in recent months.

UK-based designer resale store Consigned Sealed Delivered’s resident fashion expert, Giorgio Ammirabile, recently explained to Newsweek how “fashion is cyclical due to several factors”.

There are six factors that go into a fashion item’s life cycle, Ammirabile said: design, viral trends, inspiration and theme, brands’ popularity and identity, movie or celebrity influence, and tradition or cultural values.

“The cyclic nature of fashion means that trends are constantly evolving and changing, and (what) was popular last season may not be popular this season,” he said.

“This keeps the industry dynamic and constantly pushes designers to come up with new ideas, with this cyclical nature of fashion not just a phenomenon, but also a necessity.”

This article originally appeared on The New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as ‘Happy I didn’t get rid of mine’: ‘Ugly’ millennial fashion accessory is back