Roger Vivier Brought Parisian Flair to New York City In Celebration of Its New Rizzoli Book

Reported by Vogue.

Roger Vivier threw a party that felt more like a homecoming than a book launch. Inside the Madison Avenue flagship on Tuesday, fashion people gathered to celebrate Roger Vivier: Heritage and Imagination, a 311-page Rizzoli tome that dives deep into the French luxury shoe house's archives. The real draw? Inès de la Fressange—who actually knew Roger Vivier in the 1980s—shepherding guests through decades of creativity with the kind of insider authority that can't be faked.

The store itself had been transformed into a living timeline. Original sketches hung alongside vintage Vogue spreads from 1965; jeweled heels and buckled pumps from the latest collections occupied the same visual real estate as the oversized book propped near the windows. Its cover—a bold color-blocked design anchored by the brand's iconic Belle Vivier silver buckle—was the statement piece the evening needed. As guests sipped Champagne and worked through the pages, the vibe was less formal unveiling and more genuine discovery. "I learned tonight that Roger Vivier was among the first to embellish shoes with floral details at a time when everyone else was keeping things plain," ballet dancer Violetta Komyshan said, the kind of revelation that only comes from real engagement with a brand's story.

Luxury as Service

What emerged over the evening was a clearer picture of what makes Roger Vivier different—and why people actually care. De la Fressange articulated it bluntly: "Roger Vivier is real luxury that brings something to women. It's not about how we've helped the brand; it's about how the brand has helped us." That philosophy matters in a landscape where luxury often feels like an exchange rather than a gift. Under creative director Gherardo Felloni since 2018, the house has managed to stay true to those embellishment-forward roots while feeling contemporary. Attendees like Tina Leung proved the point, building entire looks around a single pink and green rose headband—not because she had to, but because the piece demanded it.

As the evening stretched on, the energy shifted from educational to celebratory. Champagne continued flowing. Conversation deepened. "This evening is happy, full of inspiration, and a little bit messy," de la Fressange told Vogue. "That's how Vivier was and it's how the best things come about." It was the perfect closing thought for a brand that refuses to be buttoned-up about its own importance.

When a luxury brand can make you feel inspired rather than intimidated, you're in the presence of something real.

Read the original at Vogue.