At 98 Rue de l’Université, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Roger Vivier marks a poetic return to its roots with the opening of Maison Vivier. This new Parisian residence transcends the idea of a flagship store. This 18th-century hôtel particulier, once home to the Maison’s founder, now becomes a living narrative that connects past and present, craftsmanship and creativity, Parisian heritage and timeless elegance.
Built in 1729 by royal architect Jacques Gilet de la Fontaine, the hôtel particulier has witnessed almost three centuries of Parisian history, from aristocratic salons to its later years under the French government. Now beautifully restored, it opens its gilded doors to host the Maison’s ateliers, archives and salons. A grand staircase bathed in natural light guides visitors from history to contemporary creation, while a hidden garden behind the residence celebrates Parisian refinement and joie de vivre.
Inside, each salon pays tribute to Roger Vivier’s visionary spirit. Curated by Inès de La Fressange, Le Salon de l’Héritage presents a journey through the designer’s most celebrated work. Archival pieces from the 1950s to the 1990s are displayed alongside photographs of Vivier’s muses. Mid-century furniture by Mies van der Rohe and Xavier Feal sits harmoniously with Pierre Frey textiles and Vincent Darré carpets, echoing the sculptural beauty of the Virgule heel and the iconic Belle Vivier shoe.
In Le Salon Vivier, the atmosphere becomes more intimate. Regency chairs and modernist pieces coexist with a Picasso pochoir, a Chinese cabinet once owned by Hubert de Givenchy and an oil painting by Charles-Henri Monvert. Together, they reflect Vivier’s eclectic and cosmopolitan taste, one that is elegant, daring and playful.
The conversation between past and present continues in Le Studio de Gherardo Felloni, where the Creative Director’s Parisian sensibility defines the Maison’s future. His studio, framed by soft pink and green tones, is filled with antique armchairs, sculptural furniture and shelves lined with archival shoe boxes. Books, art and personal objects create a space where heritage inspires new visions.
Visitors can also explore La Salle des Archives, a treasure trove of more than a thousand preserved creations. Highlights include a prototype made for Princess Soraya in 1962, documents on Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation shoes and the original Belle Vivier, designed in 1965 for Yves Saint Laurent’s Mondrian collection and immortalised by Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour.
To celebrate the opening, the Maison unveils Belle Vivier 60, a special collection that reinterprets the 1965 classic in new materials and forms. More than a shoe, it is a symbol of continuity and innovation.
