Etienne Aigner Vintage Collection

Etienne Aigner Re-Releases Bags From The ‘60s And ‘70s

Posted by: Catherine Strawn Filed in: style
5:00PM, Thursday September 17th 2009

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]

comments

writergirl
wrote on September 17 2009 @ 04:03 pm: [report]

Me likey. Now how to justify another handbag?

msalistar
wrote on September 17 2009 @ 04:13 pm: [report]

That first bag, with the frame. I adopted a similar bag from my grandmother’s closet in my teens. People used to tease me about how ugly the bag was, if they only knew how awesome it was. I loved the shape and styling, still do, I have no idea where it went. This may mean I will replace it sometime soon.

Pinky
wrote on September 17 2009 @ 10:36 pm: [report]

I like that satchel but wish it had double handles

BlueVibe
wrote on September 18 2009 @ 07:59 am: [report]

I like that one on the left. So many handbags these days have so much frou-frou on the outside and not enough carrying capacity on the inside. I like a good, simple, bag.