Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/607197
"I love dreaming a big dream," says Daniela Anastasio Bardazzi, "but then bringing it into something consumable and tangible." As the cre- ative director of Etienne Aigner, the Long Island native is busy blending fantasy, function, and European sensibilities for the equestrian-inspired heritage label—and now Chicagoans can get the look at the brand's frst store outside of New York. How is Etienne Aigner a ft for Chicago? I have a very good friend who moved there, and she said, "Chicago would be such a great place for Aigner." It's really true because it's where the working woman meets the urban sensibility. Etienne Aigner is renowned for its bags, like the classic doctor silhouette. How are you reimagining these styles today? We are actually working on bringing back the doctor bag, and this season we really got behind the saddle bag. Aigner was super known for his cross-body saddle bags in signature cordovan. Our Charlotte saddle bag is one of my favorites; I'm carrying it right now. We did it in a more relaxed way in a croc-embossed imprint, and it gives it a really cool, moto edge. How has your past experience designing for Betsey Johnson and Michael Kors shaped you? The best thing that I took away is their relentless search of their truths, and what they felt was right, and beautiful, and moving. [The designer Etienne Aigner] had this incredible past [making] hand- bags by hand. He was originally a bookbinder. He was always design-focused and function-focused: He made his wife a little ration-card wallet because she was very disorganized. [Laughs] He made a bag for her bike; he made her another handbag with a retractable key ring because she would lose her keys in her bag. It's very sweet, actually. And smart. And it transcends to the customer today. We're all trying to not mix up our headphones with our keys. Sometimes two seconds of relief to just fnd things immediately—that's a gift you can give someone. The Shops at North Bridge, 520 N. Michigan Ave., 312-245-2886; etienneaigner.com MA Wardrobe Wonders Rain, snow, sleet, and hail may all be in a day's woRk foR ChiCagoans this season—but, says daniela anastasio baRdazzi, these two new must-haves will help us bRave the elements bRilliantly. clockwise from above: The new Etienne Aigner boutique; creative director Daniela Anastasio Bardazzi; the Charlotte saddle bag in a croco print ($325). 1 2 "One of my favorite pieces in the collection is this Casentino wool coat in cobalt blue. Casentino is a very old cloth fber from the Tuscany area. It was the fabric that people used in lieu of fur because it's resistant to dampness and incredibly warm. It's a great piece to get around with." Casentino long wool maxi coat, $795 at etienneaigner.com "Our ankle boot is the runaway elite of the season—I bought them in suede [and] leather. It's the perfect height: a midheel, so it's not too low, not too high. It's going to be your everyday boot, hands- down." Tati fringe 55mm midheel ankle boot, $395 Mag Mile ChiC luxe label EtiEnnE AignEr brings its unique brand of european chic to michigan avenue, its first store outside of new york. by meg mathis STYLE Fashion Insider 54 michiganavemag.com