Roger Vivier opens Maison Vivier in historic Saint-Germain-des-Prés

On Oct. 2, Paris’s Rive Gauche and the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood welcomed back an old friend: Roger Vivier. The footwear, leather goods, and jewelry house inaugurated its new Paris headquarters, simply named “Maison Vivier,” bringing together Naomi Campbell, Laetitia Casta, and Inès de la Fressange. Located at 98 Rue de l’Université, the space occupies an 18th-century private mansion conceived as a dialogue between heritage and creativity. This homecoming marks a return to the neighborhood where founder Roger Vivier once lived decades ago.

Built in 1729 by royal architect Jacques Gilet de la Fontaine, the mansion reflects nearly three centuries of history. From its aristocratic origins through the bourgeois transformations of the 19th century, it later passed into the hands of the French state. It was modernized by François Avignon, who added a chapel. Following restoration, it now houses the Maison’s workshops, archives and salons. Behind the residence lies a secret garden inspired by classical French landscaping.

Between icons and the designers’ inner worlds

The Maison’s new headquarters comprises four rooms that capture the essence of this nearly century-old house, with access reserved exclusively for clients. The first room beyond the entrance, the Heritage Room, was conceived by Inès de la Fressange. It showcases the house’s great icons—some in physical form, and others, now held by several international museums, recreated as holograms.

Next comes the Vivier Salon, evoking the intimate world of the late designer Roger Vivier, who died in 1998. The room features black-and-white furnishings and artworks that recall the house’s early ties to cabaret before it turned to luxury, producing pieces worn by Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation and creating designs for Dior.

Over 1,000 archival pieces

Gherardo Felloni, the house’s creative director since 2018, also has his own showroom, which doubles as his office, where he and his team design the Roger Vivier collections. Pink and green tones frame a Chinese Art Deco rug, antique armchairs and a sculptural desk by Duccio Maria Gambi, while shelves lined with archival shoeboxes pay tribute to his early explorations.

Finally, Maison Vivier opens its archive room. More than 1,000 creations are preserved here, accompanied by sketches, magazines and photographs. Among the highlights are a 1962 prototype made for Princess Soraya, documents related to Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation shoes and the Belle Vivier—launched in 1965 for Yves Saint Laurent’s Mondrian collection and immortalized by Catherine Deneuve in “Belle de Jour.”