Sunday, May 20, 2012

Paris shoes part two - Roger Vivier

Last week in Paris, I visited one of Hermès neighbours on the rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the beautiful Roger Vivier store (located across on the road, at No 29).

Entering through the glass door, one is greeted by a selection of shoes, bags and sunglasses displayed on tables and shelves. A beautiful staircase leads up to the main showroom,

which is located on the first floor...

.. spanning the entire length of the building.

It's balcony offers a superb view on the rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré. The second building on the left is Hermès' No 24, you can see horseman on the rooftop..

currently with two 'Cuirs du Désert' carrés

Inside, the RV showroom resembles an elegant apartment, and is decorated with an eclectic mix of antiques, tribal art and modern furniture, while the pale herringbone parquet floor and pastel colored walls add a light and feminine touch.

One of Roger Vivier's most famous inventions is the stiletto heel, and one of his most famous clients Queen Elizabeth II, for whom he created the shoes she wore for her coronation. He designed for Dior when they started their shoe line in 1953, and worked there for a decade until opening his own Paris salon in 1963. At this time, he created his signature buckled pumps and flats, famously worn by Catherine Deneuve in Luis Buñuels 1967 film 'Belle du Jour'.

the perfume line

Shoes and bags are displayed along the wall,

or layed out on tables designed by Herve van der Straeten. 

The red bag which came home with me,

and my new blue shoes

I could not be happier!


Roger Vivier
29 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
75008 Paris
Tel + 33 1 53 43 00 85


Edited to add playtime pics:
with Hermès Quadrige scarf

with Hermès Puzzle II scarf
with Hermès Ex-Libris en Kimonos scarf























44 comments:

  1. Ok, I have total shoe envy!!! These are da bomb! I have been lusting after a pair of RV shoes for ages. Hard for me to find and even harder to order without trying them on! LOVE,LOVE them. You will rock these! Big shoe envy hugs, T xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Darling Trudye, you need to catch the next plance for a champagne infested shoe shopping spree! I am ready to hop onto the TGV to meet you in Paris for coffee and croissants in the morning. Don't forget to pack some of your sunshine into your suitcase, it is cold and miserable here! I'm sure we'll have tons of fun anyway.. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In case you thought plance is a new way of transport, I meant plane!

      Delete
  3. MaiTai You have chosen the most classic chic Roger Vivier in the world . I'm a great fan of his shoes , but I'm too lazy and wear ballet shoes or boots now , so I admire from afar .
    They will look perfect on you , a little black cotton dress and Fantasies Indiennes mousselines maybe ?
    You see, I have that mousseline in mind whenever i see you in blak....

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh Estrella, I had the hardest time deciding..the boots, pumps and flats.. I loved them all. So happy you like my choice though. Will think of you the next time I wear Ms FI, black is my favorite color to team her up with :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Those shoes are giving me palpitations. Oh my oh my.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a luxurious interior, an absolute delight. It must be fabulous shopping there. Your shoes look elegant, timeless and (I am showing my age here) comfortable.

    I had a hankering after some plain navy patent mid heeled pumps myself, something to wear when I need to look smart but that would at a push work with dark denim jeans. I settled for LK Bennett which always fit me like a glove. Someone bought them and they did not fit her so they came to me in showroom condition at the price of a pair of flip flops.

    Wishing you and me some warmer weather (my seedlings are well behind) and hope the Met forecast is right announcing warmth from tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am with you on the heel height! They are about as high as it gets for me. Love LK Bennett too.. will never forget how fabulous Kate Middleton looked in her wedges the day after she got married. Congrats on your fab buy, and hope the sun will shine for you tomorrow!

      Delete
  7. What a fabulous store i would love to just spend a day there just wandering around and looking , your pics are perfect and make me feel like i am with you, love your choice of shoe you will look perfect in them

    enjoy them fo many years to come
    ladyjane963

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad you enjoyed coming along! Many thanks for the lovely good wishes too. Wishing you a great week ahead :)

      Delete
  8. Gorgeous pics, thanks for taking us shopping with you! Might I ask, what is the name of this style? Adore the metallic heel and walkable height! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Katherine. In the excitement, I forgot to inquire about the style, but found the receipt and called the store.. the model is called 'Marlène'. They are fabulously easy to walk in, absolutely perfect really.

      Delete
  9. Gorgeous shade of blue! Enjoy!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. J adore votre choix
    Pour moi se sont celle en noir et blanc car je peux les associer a mes tenues je ne porte que du noir et blanc memes mes foulard et twilly ne sont que noie et blanc
    En plus le talon et tellement ageable
    Je vais bientot aller vers vous pour la boutique MASSIMO DUTTY C est le plus pres de chez moi
    Apres la pluie j espere le beau temps
    Tres amicalement

    MYRIAM

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Merci Myriam! Les RV en noir sont vraiment une des grandes classiques, je les adores aussi. Par contre, la plus proche MD boutique est à une heure et demi de nous.. c'est bien dommage, mais peut être une autre occasion pour prendre un petit café va se presenter... Amitiès MT

      Delete
  11. I have looked on line so many times at Roger Vivier shoes but never completed the deal as I think I am afraid to buy without trying them on. Congrats to a wonderful new addition to your wardrobe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, andiamo! Like you, I am not a great online buyer of items that need trying on. Hope you will come across a boutique one day (I heard they just opened one in Costa Mesa). Have a lovely weekend!

      Delete
  12. C´est le modèle culte, celui que porte Catherine Deneuve dans "Belle de jour", si je ne me trompe pas? Elles sont superbes :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Si je ne me trompe pas, le modèle dans le film s'appelle 'Pilgrim', mais c'est vrai, le style est un peu pareil ... le cuir verni et le boucle de métal, tous le deux ont un 'look' bien classique!

      Delete
  13. Congratulations, my dear MaiTai. Your Roger Vivier pumps are very pretty and go perfecty well with all your blue H´s scarves! Can´t wait to see you wearing them!
    I find the shop very impressive and look forward to buying the gourmette in beige...:-)Roger Vivier´s website is so much fun and Ines´ diaries very helpful when planning a visit to Paris. Thank you for the great pictures and for taking us along with you.
    Warm Spring hugs, Manuela

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many thanks, my dearest Manuela! Coming home, the 'playtime' was just as much fun as bringing back a new scarf. Could not agree more with you on the shop and Ines' diaries, have fun planning your next trip <3 x

      Delete
  14. Sorry, I meant "gommette". Hug, M x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Gommette is so delicious that is should be called Gourmette instead xox

      Delete
  15. I knew it! :) LOVE them - what a great buy! Blue shoes can be so hard to find, too. Is the buckle gold or silver? (hard to tell in photos sometimes). RV shoes are so elegant and so very French, no? :) The boutique looks fantastic. Again, though we here in Miami are fortunate enough to be have one of the few US Vivier boutiques, it is but a small "studio apartment" compared to the Parisian store.

    I love the high block heel - this coming from a fellow high-heelaphobe. This looks so much more walkable yet still chic. I have not yet seen this style. ITA about the eye candy in the boutique. It's hard to make a decision. I really wanted the classic low heeled square toed flat but, sadly, that style runs narrow for my wide feet. I settled on the black suede ballet flat with the rubber bottom and tortoise buckle - being that black with brown is a fave combo of mine. Wish they made that style in leather though.

    These shoes will work beautifully with your Hermes accessories and simple, classic wardrobe. Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, dear Maria! So happy you like my choice. The buckle is neither gold or silver, which I love. I was astonished to see how few boutiques there are worldwide, you are so lucky to have one locally. The suede ballet flats with the tortoise shell buckle sound divine.. as you perhaps know, black and brown is one of my favorite combos too! With warmest best wishes from one 'walkable heel lover' to another x

      Delete
  16. Oh, those are luscious! I love the glossy look, the sizable buckle, the non-crippling heel.

    And the colour! I'm going to go out on a very short limb, and say "Cent Plis"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, my dear Frances, so happy you like them. And yes to the CPdM! I owe you a shoulder wrap post on it, I am sorry it's taking so long.. At least it will be featuring the RVs too :)

      Delete
    2. No, no! You've already done a lovely shoulder wrap video tutorial, AND a CPdM/bright top tutorial.

      Though, if you feel so inclined, I'll not complain :-) CPdM is my first silky square, and I have a special fondness for it.

      I'm hoping you trot out Aux Pays des Epices. It's not at all a colour combination I could pull off, but it looks wonderful on you.

      Delete
  17. Now that's what I call a shoe shop, how ever did you manage to choose one pair, big decision!! But I love love love navy shoes (you know me Miss Navy!!) As my darling mother always would say when I bought new shoes 'health to wear'!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was so much torn between several pairs, my dear msT! Many thanks for the lovely warm welcome for Ms Navy, she is sending big navy hugs to you <3

      Delete
  18. Congratulations, my dearest MaiTai, what ultra special magnificently gorgeous shoes - truly a heavenly pair for an angel! I couldn't be happier for you and so very glad they are comfortable to walk in. I'm totally swooning over the scarf pairings. You know how grateful I am to you for sharing your lovely shoe collection<3 And of course, thank you as always for the fantastically vivid pictures you take and share with us - we are so very spoiled. Wishing you much warmer days ahead, dear MaiTai. Sending you much love and huge sparkling blue hugs xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awh, thank you so much for the beautiful and warm welcome for my blue darlings <3 I am still so very grateful to you for having put up the shoe request all this time ago. Including them has become such a vital part of the capsule wardrobe style sheets! So happy you enjoyed the trip to the shop. With much love and grands bisous x

      Delete
  19. Stunning shoes-so very characteristic and classic. R. Vivier is now owned by Tod's whom I love.
    Hugs, Maedi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, liebe Maedi! Tod's has done beautifully. So glad they bought RV, it could have been someone else..

      Delete
  20. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. I was wearing DBF's patience thin but I did manage to get to Repetto and bring back a couple of pair of flats. :) I love these pumps; they are so beautiful. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many congratulations on your beautiful souvenier! I absolutely adore Repetto. And what a sweet DBF you have :)

      Delete
  21. Ganz tolle Fotos! Vielen Dank.
    Ich habe immer gedacht H liegt in einer ruhigen Fussgängerzone. Aber das sieht ganz anders aus. Gut zu wissen.
    Grüsse
    Maja

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ja es war wirklich interessant das Ganze aus einer anderen Perspective zu sehen. Mir ist z.B. vorher nie aufgefallen, dass die Häuserzeile eine Biegung hat. LG

      Delete
  22. Lovely Mai Tai! I am an RV girl as well and I think the Paris shop is the best although I also like their concession in Harrods and shop on Sloane Street. Thank you for sharing! SarahB

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sarah, nice to be 'shoe cousins' with you! Isn't the Sloane street shop right next door to Hermès? Très convenient! ;-)

      Delete
  23. Congratulation, dear Mai Tai, for your new pair of shoes. They are stunning, as always. And I really really love the way you paired all your new buy with the accessories that you already own. Can you please tell me: are they comfortable to wear? Someone tell me they are not..
    Congratulation again and thank for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many thanks for the lovely compliments, dear Emen. Re your question, I found them straightaway very comfortable to wear. The heel is high for me (I usually wear flats), but I am absolutley fine in them.

      Delete