Ever see a GLASS belt buckle? You have now. It’s in the upper right corner. These are part of an amazing cache of vintage French belt buckles in Bakelite, plastic, metal, enamel, and yes, glass. I saw them on eBay and contacted the seller to see them in person. She lives in a suburb of Paris, so we met in a cafe outside the Le Parc de St. Maur train station to the east of the city.

The buckles are on the small side—French people having been more petite 50 years ago than now, and generally being more discreet than Americans with accessories.

The colors are vivid and the shapes and designs are divine. This is the sort of visual artistry that makes me love France. I can’t wait to modernize these with leather belts that will be perfect for accessorizing a little black dress.