Roger Vivier was a formative shoe for Laura Dern. As a teenager, she fell in love with the brand after seeing the pair of low black pumps worn by Catherine Deneuve in the Bunuel film “Belle de Jours.” And several years later, after filming “Blue Velvet” with Isabella Rossellini, she purchased her first pair of Viviers as a coming-of-age present to herself.
“Isabella and I went shopping,” Dern said on Wednesday night in New York, glancing over at Rossellini, who was chatting with Dern’s daughter Jaya Harper several feet away inside the Jazz Club at Casa Cipriani. “I got a black Alaïa dress and my first pair of Vivier shoes — because I was a woman. That’s what you do when you turn 18.”
Dern, who’s currently filming a Noah Baumbach feature in Italy, was in town to cohost an intimate dinner with Roger Vivier creative director Gherardo Felloni in celebration of their collaborative short film “Vivier Express.” The evening was a full-circle moment for Dern, who met Felloni several years ago, many years after being captivated by the footwear worn by Deneuve’s Séverine.
“It was the sleekness of the shoe,” Dern said. “And that she would dress herself as this object of desire in this incredible lady shoe.”
In the short brand film, which takes place on a train, Dern also plays a questionable object of desire. Spoiler: the object of desire is the character’s Roger Vivier bag.
“Everything [Felloni] comes up with has the same tongue-in-cheek, sweet irreverence. An homage, but it’s sort of a joke,” Dern added. “He’s always at play, which is why I’m as in love with the shoes as my daughter. They’re perfect for everybody.”
Felloni also had high praise for his muse. “She’s amazing. Of course she’s super talented, she’s iconic, but on top of that, she’s super nice.”
Jaya Harper
Lexie Moreland/WWD
Dinner guests included Beanie Feldstein, Rainey Qualley, Maye Musk, Coco Rocha, TikTok star Delaney Rowe, Katie Couric, Barbara Sturm, Phoebe Robinson and Violette d’Urso — most, naturally, wearing a Vivier accessory for the occasion. Once seated, the dinner kicked off with a screening of the film.
After dinner, there was another performance in store.
Singer Macy Gray appeared on the intimate stage for what would be an interactive set as she encouraged the crowd to sing along. “I know you’re looking good, but I want you to sing your hearts out,” she said, before closing the night out with her most recognizable hit, “I Try.” The crowd did exactly that.
Phoebe Robinson, Laura Dern and Beanie Feldstein.
Lexie Moreland/WWD
