One of the most famous midriffs in Beverly Hills was adorned with a belly chain at the weekend, its wearer—of course—one Kim Kardashian.
In a move usually reserved for Hailey Bieber, and in a notable nod to the 90s, the 42-year-old billionaire reality star and law student was seen in baggy Adidas parachute pants, a black crop and a bombshell blow-out. But it was the sparkling diamante belly chain—or could that be diamonds?—that had this editor remembering her days on the old school yard (or at least dancing the night away at a blue-light disco).
A solid trend in the 90s and early 00s, lowly slung belly chains were seen on all young tummies before a keen few graduated to belly button piercings. Back then, hip-grazing skirts, low-rise jeans and velour tracksuits were the norm, and as such, the look was extended by way of decorating one’s torso with a single chain.
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As all trends follow a cyclical lineage, belly chains remerged all at once on the great runways of 2020 and 2021, a pre- and post-pandemic rebellion era for fashion. At Chanel Cruise, a patterned crop and skirt combo was styled with a satchel bag and layers of chains and pearls worn above the naval. On Jacquemus’ Fall/Winter 2021 runway, the same, and at Dior pre-Fall 2021, a gold chain belt was worn against the skin (but definitely above the high-waisted embroidered, monogrammed pants.) Yes, it was belly chains redux in an elegant way—most styled with high-waisted bottoms stamping an end to the belly chain’s correlation with the rather unkind low-rise garments. Still, the chain didn’t really manage to gain traction in the real world with women perhaps associating the body jewellery with naval-glaring antics of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears circa 2003.
Kardashian, in all her power however, has single-handedly reignited the great belly chain debate—and she did it in low-rise parachute pants. But, the jury is out: Do you like the look? And more importantly, would you wear it? If the answer if yes, here’s a similar one floating about the market from Lelet NY.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.