Hello ! Today, we are going to introduce you to the L'Aiglon brand, which has been working in leather goods and accessories for over a hundred years. If you've been following BonneGueule for a while, you know that luxury products don't always offer the best value for money. Is this the case for L’Aiglon?
To do this, we will introduce you to the brand and test their belts (which are their flagship products), but also their bags for men .
It's the story of an eaglet with a belt...
While France was still under the Third Republic, a military tailor, François Bayon, created a belt from which he began to build his business. A Bonapartist, he decided to name his company in homage to the son of Napoleon I : L'Aiglon.
Today, the brand is an international leader in the manufacture of belts and offers its know-how to several prestigious brands such as Lanvin, Balmain and Azzaro. L'Aiglon has two workshops located in France which make their belts and the "Made in France" label obviously constitutes one of its primary arguments in terms of image, quality and mastery of the trade.
However, it was not until 2009 that the first store opened in Paris, in a very touristy and chic district of Paris, just behind the Eglise de la Madeleine. We also made a short visit there, where we were pleasantly welcomed by Romain, the manager.
Belts, know-how going back over a century
L'Aiglon has been making belts for over a century and it shows. The choice is really substantial, whether in terms of the choice of material, color, or style of the belt. There is something for everyone, from the classic black leather belt to the pimped belt in real bright red ostrich skin. Moreover, it is necessary to note one detail which will prevent you from any aesthetic failure: with the exception of a few models, the brass buckles are discreet.
This is the range that I would call “Pimp”. These belts are made of exotic leather, with real crocodile, ostrich, lizard skin... As for colors, we have a wide choice between the classics and the most flashy, whether pink or bright red. or even apple green. If you are a little pimp, I would still advise you to think twice before buying one, because the price is around €350.
Made with the “Ariadne’s Thread” method which consists of intertwining several threads of different colors. With the rather raw rendering and the colors used, it goes very well with a summer outfit. It also exists in beige.
Still with the techniques specific to the Aiglon, here is a belt made in “Zero Edge”. No topstitching, just a resin to connect the lining to the strap. We then obtain a very thin belt, without losing robustness.
This belt is made of nylon and elastic, with leather finishes. Due to its composition, the belt is very stretchy and strong, although I do not recommend using it as a substitute slingshot or bungee jumping with it. The belt is part of the “hand-braided” range and, as its name suggests, is hand-made.
Finally, it is possible to buy “made to measure” with the possibility of choosing the width, the loop, the color (for hand braided ones at least) and, of course, the size. On the other hand, tailor-made can lead to an increase in price, especially if you want a length greater than 110cm.
When it comes to bags, the choice is much less varied. Most of the collection tends towards a classic and formal style in black or brown and with a clean style, but which seems perfect for going to the office, with messenger bags, briefcases or computer holders.
A classic, efficient and sturdy bag to hold your professional laptop
After this little overview, let's get down to business: what is it worth? To accompany the product testing, we decided to also add some look ideas, just to give a little educational side to the article.
In town, at work...
For the first outfit, we go formal since most bags tend towards this same style. When we talk about a formal look, we instinctively think of the suit + shirt + brogue combo. But rather than reminding you of the different points to take into account when choosing a costume, it seemed more interesting to me to show you a slightly more original outfit.
Brands: leather (with gold glitter) Dolce & Gabbana, Incotex pants and Loding brogue, Melinda Gloss shirt.
I think you must have noticed the “WTF” part of the outfit. The leather is basically black but speckled with small dots with gold paint. As a strong piece, it is necessary to calm it down with more neutral clothing. At the time, leather goes very well in a rather formal look, hence the use of the white shirt, black brogues and heather gray flannel pants.
If you have a good eye, you will also have noticed the “faux officer” collar shirt which is only there for fun, since the leather already has a double officer collar.
Although very classic, the bag stands out with the addition of a few details, such as this exterior pocket which will be used to store your transport ticket or your cell phone, as well as the bi-color nylon strap.
The leather is supple and well made. Despite this, it maintains its hold even without being filled. We can also note a very simple but really appreciable detail: underneath there are pins which allow the bag to remain upright.
In terms of seams, it's really well executed: regular and tight.
Inside, what really stands out is the functional side with pockets and compartments, useful for your files, pens, wallet or even your laptop (but no more than 14 inches). As for the finish, it is the leather-lined edges that catch our attention, as well as the very solid canvas. This way, the bag maintains a certain hold, even from the inside.
The belt is in patent calfskin and lined in nubuck. The seams are regular and solid and the material maintains its consistency, unless you have fun folding it in the opposite direction (we did it and only the very thick belts do not mark).
In terms of style, it's a little nod to the famous rule of matching shoes which says that you must have a belt in the same color as the shoes. So, you might as well play the game until the end, making a little reminder between the patent appearance of the belt and the icing of the hard end of the oxfords.
At the beach or during the weekend in summer...
Since summer is approaching, a little summer outfit is essential for strolling during the evening in the city or by the beach.
In summer as in winter, we want to have style while maintaining a certain comfort. For days when the thermometer reaches around 30°C or more, nothing better than a short tee and light canvas chinos, or even shorts. The white tee is a basic, the same goes for beige chinos.
With just these two pieces, the outfit is okay, but clearly lacks flavor, hence the use of the blue cardigan from Melinda Gloss, in cotton and linen, which will, moreover, be your best friend as soon as it starts to wear. make it cooler. As for references, it's the famous Monoprix t-shirt, light canvas chinos from Father&Sons and brogues from Markowski.
For the bag, we selected one of the rare pieces that does not fall into the “Working” category: this beige canvas messenger bag/satchel. Speaking of the canvas, it is very thick and solid. A little detail that we always appreciate, the bag is structured and thus maintains its hold even when empty of contents.
The strap is also thick and we will also appreciate the detail of the leather-lined buckle.
Seen from the inside, it's still the functional side that stands out, with its multiple compartments to hold your backpacker's guide, your small directory or, for High Tech aficionados, your ultra portable or tablet.
As for the finishes, the stitching is well executed and we will also appreciate the leather-lined edges, which add a small aesthetic detail and solidity to the pockets. The canvas lining is very sturdy.
I opted for this braided belt in brown leather and blue waxed cotton. In addition to having a rather original design, it makes a double reminder, in terms of color and material, with the shoes and the cardigan. Obviously, you are not obliged (fortunately all the same) to do rappels everywhere, it was more for fun.
The outfit goes very well with Chukka or Desert Boots (Opening Ceremony for example, but on sale please). Little advice: avoid deliberately showing the belt under a t-shirt, it can break up your silhouette. In this photo, I'm only doing it to show you the belt worn, but you can obviously replace the t-shirt with a shirt and, as a result, it will work without any problem.
The belt, for its part, is very solid. The braiding is regular and even if you stretch it up and down, it returns to its shape immediately while remaining very flexible.
Checked or not checked?
We will have understood, in terms of design, the Aiglon is a more than interesting option in terms of belts. If you are looking for a sturdy and functional bag to take to work, you should take a look at the store. If you are looking for a bag with a more sophisticated design, go to Leon Flam or Florian Denicourt for example.
But let's also move on to the question you're all asking: how much does it cost? For belts, prices range from €55 to €90 with the exception of exotic leather pieces, which peak at around €300-350. For a belt, I must admit that it can seem quite expensive, but they are also very well made products which will last for years and it therefore becomes an investment, without forgetting that at the store, we provide you with a belt to suit you. size, which is not always the case. For bags, the price ranges between €200 and €300, which is very interesting especially in view of the quality. However, this too is an investment.
Small practical detail that is necessary to remember from time to time: leather products are guaranteed for 2 years by law.
Personally, I'll see you next time and I'm going to do something crazy with my crocodile skin 😀
A big thank you to Romain de L'Aiglon for allowing us to test the products, but also for his good humor. Come visit him sometime ( 16 rue de l'Arcade, in Paris ) if you want a course on leather care !
Competition: Dispossess Laurent of his bag!
Will you be able to defeat Laurent and his trained crocodile? 😉
To play, it's simple: become a fan of the BonneGueule Facebook page , telling us why you deserve this bag . One of our trained marmots will randomly draw an answer: good luck!
Update: The winner is Simon G who left us a really crazy comment.
New BonneGueule aperitif with L’Aiglon
And because we got along very well with Romain de L'Aiglon (who answers all the leather goods questions on our forum), we invite you to a little summer aperitif at the store (with at the same time private sales on products manufactured by L'Aiglon: L'Aiglon, Azzaro, Redskins).
Just one thing: we can't guarantee that it will be summer weather, but there will definitely be pastis 😉
Click on the image to enlarge: see you soon!
