{ Re-Illuminating } Etienne Aigner

Chances are you’ve seen the name Etienne Aigner before ~ but I bet it’s been a while. His is a story that dates back to the end of the Second World War, when Mr. Aigner, a former bookbinder, began creating bespoke leather goods for couturiers like Cristobal Balenciaga and Christian Dior ~ even orchestrating accessories for Dior’s famous New Look collection. After a few years, in 1949, the Hungarian designer left Paris for New York City, ready to strike out on his own. At the time, his means were limited, so he used whatever was at hand to craft his wares.|ABOVE| modern Etienne Aigner bags (at far left) and Anna Mules, with vintage bags from the Etienne Aigner archive

He set up a small shop, and ~ inspired by the needs of his wife ~ set to work making little wallets for rationing cards. Shortly after, Mr. Aigner began crafting his first bags from the most modest of materials: linen sheets recycled from the harvest sacks of neighboring farmers, trimmed with leather strips cut from old suitcases found in an attic and finished with antique toggles collected from flea markets. At the time, he couldn’t afford more than one colorant, so every bit of leather was dipped in the same burgundy dye bath. |ABOVE| treasured examples of Mr. Aigner’s original handiwork

Even later, when his resources improved, Etienne Aigner would stay true to this combination of simple linens and oxblood leathers. As he described it himself, “They caused a sensation because of the novelty of their styling and the unconventionality of the materials used. What would their wearers have thought were they to learn the humble origins of what they considered to be the height of chic!”|ABOVE + BELOW| Etienne Aigner Notched Cardigan, Leather Castell Skirt, Preface II Dome Satchel, Claudine boots and jewelry; Hat Attack scarf; vintage belt

Well, chic the look was then and chic it continues to be today. After years spent under the control of licensees, the Etienne Aigner brand has finally fallen into the caring hands of new management, including Creative Director Daniela Anastasio Bardazzi and Apparel Consultant Tawfik Mounayer. Together, these two are injecting the founder’s practical magic back into this brand, re-illuminating what originally made his work great. Their reinvention aims to address the real needs of today’s creative class, offering effortless, accessible luxury that women can really live in, head-to-toe, day-in and day-out. And, considering that cordovan is THE color of the season, this relaunch seems serendipitously timely. Happily, the newly re-imagined Etienne Aigner has paid forward this stroke of good fortune by developing a deceptively simple collection of ingeniously designed products with an undeniably timeless elegance. Of course, as Mr. Aigner believed and Mrs. Anastasio Bardazzi recently expressed, “That’s the thing about truly lucky people; they make their own luck. It’s a personal essence crafted one thoughtful decision at a time throughout their daily lives.”|ABOVE LEFT + BELOW| Etienne Aigner earrings, Anastasia Tunic, vintage bag (worn at waist) and Claudine Boots; Eugenia Kim hat |ABOVE RIGHT| Etienne Aigner Anastasia Blouse, skirt, vintage suitcase and Audrey Boots; Eugenia Kim hatIt’s my sincere belief that personal style works the same way; it’s developed one careful decision at a time, throughout the ever-curving course of our lives. That’s why I’ve been thinking and writing more and more about enduring fashion assets these days, and highlighting brands that I think are marrying well the dual desires to be both cutting-edge and classic.|ABOVE| Etienne Aigner Anastasia Blouse, Colette Pumps, Preface I Satchel (top) & Daily Hobo; Jo No Fui pants |BELOW| Etienne Aigner earrings, bracelet, cuff and collarThus, we were inspired to shoot this story and share it with you, to celebrate the heritage of a brand that’s long been about timeless elegance, and whose relaunch, in the words of Mrs. Anastasio Bardazzi, “speaks to those women who don’t just buy from any brand. It’s for those women searching for items that truly address their aspirations, in addition to their here-and-now day-to-day lives. They know that the first step in preparing for life’s boundless opportunities can be the most challenging: figuring out what to wear. We are giving them invaluable pieces that make that not only simple, but exciting and surprisingly effortless.”  Isn’t that what we’re all looking for, after all?|ABOVE + BELOW LEFT| Etienne Aigner Crewneck Sweater, Textured Wool Coat, Epic Satchel and Anna Mules; Dylan & Rose leggings |BELOW RIGHT| Colette Pumps|ABOVE + BELOW| Etienne Aigner jacket, Anastasia Blouse, pants and Anna Mules; Hat Attack fedora|ABOVE| Etienne Aigner necklace, Anastasia Blouse and vintage bag; Hat Attack hat; vintage Burberry scarf; Haute Hippie skirt|ABOVE + BELOW| Etienne Aigner Paneled Popover, shorts, shoes and Preface I Satchel|ABOVE LEFT| (from top) Etienne Aigner Epic Satchel, Preface I Satchel and Epic Large Satchel |ABOVE RIGHT + BELOW| Etienne Aigner Anastasia Tunic, Epic Satchel and Claudine Boots; custom-made hat; Marc by Marc Jacobs scarf; Trussardi glovesRe-Illuminating Etienne Aigner |STARRING| Mitzi Peirone |PHOTOGRAPHY| by Jamie Beck & Kevin Burg |STYLING| by Kelly Framel |HAIR| by Bethany Brill |MAKEUP| by Porsche Cooper for FLIRT! Cosmetics |LOCATION| Ann Street Studio