Back in the days before Marc Jacobs, Botkier, and Foley + Corinna, the handbag label to carry was Etienne Aigner. The company’s namesake apprenticed for Christian Dior and Cristobal Balenciaga before he started making belts out of his apartment in a single shade of burgundy leather because, as a young designer, he decided it would be cheaper to work in one color. The line grew from belts to other accessories, and the deep reddish leather became the brand’s signature. Aigner died in 2002, but his brand has lived on, sometimes following trends we haven’t been fans of. But now, to celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary, a handful of handbags designed in the ’60s and ’70s have been re-released, and they’re gorgeous. Since my mom didn’t save any of her bags for me, I’m going to buy one (they’re all under $200) and pretend it’s vintage, but — bonus! — it won’t have that funky thrift store smell. [Etienne Aigner]
