Roger Vivier brand ambassador Ines de la Fressange meets me for a chat in Dubai Mall, all long limbs and plenty of enthusiastic arm gesticulations. She is wearing a loosely tailored white trouser suit, understated Roger Vivier sneakers, delicate jewellery and a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’.
Ines is just as you would expect her to be, Parisian elegance personified. The style icon was Karl Lagerfeld’s long time muse and Chloé’s first official face, then, together with creative director Bruno Frisoni, she has reinvented Roger Vivier, the iconic French footwear label. Under her guidance, Vivier has gone from a legendary name of the past to a hugely expanding brand of the moment.
Collage by Roger Vivier, 1991 Virgule
We chat to the quintessence of Parisian chic, to understand how she has grown with the brand, together with her top style tips.How did you get on board at Roger Vivier?
To make the long story short, when Diego Della Valle bought the Roger Vivier name he made an appointment with me to ask if I would help him relaunch the brand. Usually in a business appointment you say, ‘let me think about this and let my lawyers look into it’, yet I instantly accepted. We started to work together right away looking into the appropriate designer, and of course I thought of my friends, however Christian Louboutin was experiencing great success with his own brand and Manolo Blahnik would only work for his brand. So I suggested Bruno Frisoni who was someone I wasn’t so familiar with as a friend, but I knew he would have the same style and spirit of Roger Vivier and was always very chic and elegant, and I also happened to be wearing his shoes at the time! It turned out that Diego had already hired him and he had designed two collections, which cemented how we clearly all had the same view of how the Roger Vivier brand should be.
Tell us about your role changed since you started?
Everything has changed, especially because the perception and popularity of the brand has grown. Before I would need to explain that Roger Vivier was a master who had designed iconic pieces such as the Queen’s Coronation shoes, Bridgette Bardot’s boots and Audrey Hepburn’s pumps. I was always name dropping, whereas now everyone is familiar with the brand and tend to know more than me, due to its phenomenal success. Now I feel it is my responsibility to ensure that the brand continues growing whilst remaining honest to its roots, taking on long term strategies which will nurture the growth.
How do you feel about how the fashion industry has changed over the years?
People are now far more educated about the industry and brands. When I started out in fashion as a model, I was working with Chanel before Karl Lagerfeld arrived and this was at a stage when it was a struggle to fill the front rows at the fashion shows. Now things have changed and magazines and brands all work together, understanding that they can’t exist without supporting each other and the use of advertising. The speed and needs of consumers have also changed, young people are happy to appreciate things they may not be able to afford and will in turn aspire to these.
What keeps you inspired?
Everything. When you are a designer you work all day long and everything you see gives you ideas. However, I have many different job roles. Here I am the brand ambassador, at my own brand I am the Art Director and for Uniqlo I am a designer. Across these positions I am asked many questions about everything from design to marketing. This alongside viewing exhibitions and reading books marries together to inspire me across the board.
Ines de la Fressange & Bruno Frisoni ©Anna Bauer
Tell us about your favourite memory from your time working as a model?
I had a lot of fun as a model, jumping off the runway mid show to sit next to the journalists. I would play silly jokes, bringing either my dog, or my camera to take pictures, or wearing my pyjamas. Today this type of thing would be impossible. There was one time when I was wearing a white trouser suit and hat and at the last moment I took a cork from a bottle of wine and burnt one end to draw a moustache, which caused many people to laugh. Another time I was hired for the Jil Sander fashion show and it was requested that I dressed as a man in male clothes while the other models were dressed in masculine inspired womenswear, in order to show the difference. I was asked to walk as a man and I made a joke of it. However, the next season they wanted to book me again, although Jil Sander said, no no no she looks far to masculine.
What do you think sets a pair of Roger Vivier’s apart from other shoes?
It is a question of a millimetre, and Bruno has a talent as he has a sense of elegance. Even if it is fun and extravagant, it is always elegant and never vulgar. Another factor is that customers know that when they wear Roger Vivier their whole look will be transformed. You can spend next to nothing on some simple basics with your clothes, but a pair of Roger Vivier shoes will elevate the look and it has nothing to do with generations, you can go into the store with your mother and both of you will find something great and this is the sign of a great house.
Which Roger Vivier piece do you always turn to?
For a long time it was always ballerina pumps as they are sweet with jeans and are great for travelling as you can put them in your case and they will work for both day and night, but now it’s all about sneakers as they look cooler. As you get older you don’t want to be in heels, yet you still want to look trendy without being a fashion victim, and Roger Vivier is a good brand for achieving that.
Collage by Roger Vivier, 1991 Pumps with buckle
Which shoe is a reflection of yourself?
Short black boots as they are always rock and roll. I still wake up listening to Dead Flowers by the Rolling Stones.
How would you define your style?
Sloppy French and mixed up. Half casual, half sophisticated and half stupid, three halves that don’t always make sense or add up! One should always follow fashion and be aware of what is going on, but not try to be a picture in a magazine.
What is one style or trend that you love going back to?
The 70s, and their flared pants and big belts. I love the Jimi Hendrix style from this era, together with an African and Indian influence.
What do you think should be a wardrobe staple for every woman?
A navy sweater because it complements your complexion and gives you a nice face. Everyone will look better in this colour, rather than black which will make you look sad. Navy is always a good choice.
Ines’ top style tips
Less is more, always take something off as people wear far too many pieces. Keep your hair and makeup understated.
Don’t just wear heels to be higher, wear them when they complement your outfit.
Don’t wear fake and imitation items. If you can’t afford a leather bag, then have a basket.
Use professional people to help you, that is what they are there for. From a shop assistant to a hairdresser, take their advice.
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