Medallion Belts Are Everywhere—From Dior to Chloé

2 min read

If the runways are any indication, we’ve all been loving a good, impactful belt. Marc Jacobs loaded models up with 2008-coded chain belts at his most recent show, while McQueen wrapped black leather creations around the waist, which also snaked up to the neck like collar harnesses. Celine presented hulking supersize belts that cemented creative director Michael Rider’s dedication to standout accessorizing for spring/summer 2027. Yet at the center of it all lives the medallion belt. Consider it the most wearable version of the statement belt trend.

The look is an easy way to accessorize instantly. Medallion belts act as a kind of jewelry in this case, with their chunky hardware leading the way. Whether paired with jeans and a T-shirt or slung over a little black dress, they’re both practical and slightly whimsical. Both Dior and Celine have put an emphasis on the medallion silhouette, with chic, polished medal belt buckles engraved with designer logos.

Gilded in gold tones and attached to luscious leather, the designer medallions act as modern cartouches, proudly displaying the brand’s name like a badge. It’s definitely a modern take on logomania. Dior has also used the same medallion design seen on its belts in its beauty products, proving there’s always a desire for cute, shiny things. If the shape feels inherently Marie Antoinette-ified, it’s intentional. Its inspiration draws from the 18th-century Rococo aesthetic of Dior’s couture salons.

Chloé too has released a medallion belt. While it’s less logo-driven, it has all the major hallmarks that make the look both elevated and impactful. Four golden, gleaming horse heads surround a talismanic design. The horse motif is a clear nod to the bohemian style that is closely tied to the fashion house’s history. It also heavily relates to the lineage of the medallion belt itself, which has been around for centuries (from ancient Rome’s military uniforms and beyond) but thrived during the 1970s when Western wear reached a peak obsession. The rounded shapes of modern medallion belts of today also reference the original Native American concho belts, which originated in the American Southwest during the late 1860s and blended Spanish-Mexican aesthetics.

Givenchy spring/summer 2027.

What sets the medallion belt apart from some of the other trending belts of the moment is its inherent ease and practicality. Some brands are even taking things a step further. For Givenchy’s spring/summer 2027 show, creative director Sarah Burton gave the medallion belt a makeover by turning the gilded emblem into a usable compact mirror. These days, the medallion belt is a real rarity in fashion: it’s an opulent staple that’s actually practical, too.

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