Inside Hotel Vivier: Celebrating the New Roger Vivier Collection
Welcome to Hotel Vivier.
Roger Vivier was a design pioneer. The French shoemaker’s 1954 stiletto heel—a style only really seen before in 19th-century drawings—rose to fame. Fast-forward to current day, and creative director Gherardo Felloni is carrying on the Maison’s legacy. Their new Spring/Summer 2019 collection of shoes and accessories are classics with a modern twist.
My favorite shoes from the brand are the iconic I Love Vivier pumps. I saw these a couple months ago at the Hotel Vivier cocktail party held at an old-school townhouse on Hudson Street in New York City.
That night, celebrations were in order for Felloni, who started his role in March 2018. Before that, the Tuscany-born designer held roles at Miu Miu and Dior.
And across from a table filled with meringue fruitcakes and colorful macaroons, underneath a glittering chandelier, there it was: a display of the pumps in red, pink, fuchsia, nude, silver, black, and more.
The New Roger Vivier Collection
The design of the “décolleté” on the I Love Vivier pumps were designed to resemble half of a heart. It looks like a sideways number 3, and on the insole of the shoe is the other half, in a bright red pointed V-shape.
Its inspiration comes from the Maison’s archives from the ‘60s and comes in 14 colors and materials.
There’s also two heel heights: 85mm and 100mm. With the release of these pumps, Felloni art directed a short film called “My Perfect Pair” which “speaks about everyone’s quest to find their other half”.
Inside Hotel Vivier in New York City
From Architecture to Shoe Design
The story of Roger Vivier is like a movie within itself. The late designer of the brand had a background in sculpture. He left his studies at the Paris School of Fine Arts to start an apprenticeship in shoemaking. It was the glamour of theatre and music that drew him to shoe design.
It’s said that Vivier reviewed his sketches hundreds of times to ensure the design respects the architecture of the foot. He opened his first boutique on Rue Royale in Paris in 1937.
“Hotel Vivier is a place like no other, where women reveal all richness, complexity, beauty, and intensity of their personalities. Just as I went on a journey of discovery over the years to capture their many facets, my guests will make their own discoveries at every turn and inside every room, meeting the characters who inspire me every day.”
—Gherardo Felloni, Creative Director of Roger Vivier
Highlights from the Roger Vivier ‘Hotel Vivier’
The design of the party theme was based around five main characters; the sculptor, photographer, dancer, lyrical singer, and actress. There was also a harpist, an illustrator, and two Pomeranians who stole everyone’s hearts.
The designs by Felloni (who had actually planned to be an architect) strikes the right balance between the past and the present. Another favorite this season? The fabulous Viv Run sneakers.
Now, back to the topic of love. The word is thrown around a lot, but love is the all around us—whether it applies to a person, place or thing. There’s a reason why it has inspired so many books, songs, TV shows, movies, and ahh yes…shoes.
Everyday should be a celebration of love.
And if you need a little reminder, just pick up a pair of I Love Vivier pumps.
Wendy Sy is a New York City-based writer whose work has also been published in Allure, Shop TODAY, Forbes, InStyle, Elle, Avenue, NewBeauty, Travel Curator, and Billboard. Read more.
