(NEW YORK) Last night Roger Vivier’s creative director Bruno Frisoni hosted a cocktail party at Paul Sevigny’s Paul’s Baby Grand in Tribeca for the re-launch of the classic “Virgule” heel. Frisoni has updated the iconic comma-shaped heel that was first designed by Roger Vivier in 1963 and infused the campaign with a double dose of youth by tapping 19-year-old wunderkind photographer, Olivia Bee and 21-year-old model and DJ, Atlanta de Cadenet Taylor. Guests like Diego Della Valle, Emmanuele Della Valle, Hamish Bowles, Lynn Yaeger, Keegan Singh, Courtney Love, Kate Young, Nathalie Joos, Rickie de Sole, and Genevieve Jones were treated to champagne and hors d’oeuvres as they listened to former band member of The Virgins, Wade Oates DJ disco-inspired songs.
In the backdrop, Bee’s images from the campaign were displayed on the big screen. The young photographer is already the toast of the fashion world and hasn’t even made it to her 20’s yet. Bee got her big break shooting a campaign for Converse when she was only 15-years-old after they discovered her work on Flickr. She subsequently landed gigs with Nike, The New York Times, Hermès, and Levis, to name a few, despite having just landed in New York from Portland, Oregon in January. So how did she juggle school and a career? “It’s been overwhelming, but I really love it,” said Bee. “I graduated high school last year. I mean it was always just my priority. I would tell my teachers I had to go do my life.” We wish we could have used that line in our high school years.
Bee and de Cadenet Taylor are quite a departure for the tony Upper East Side brand, but Frisoni said they were lookiing for a new interpretation of the younger spirit to match the playful take on the classic silhouette of the “Virgule” heel. “The two of them together told a story,” said Frisoni. “Two girls almost the same age with different backgrounds that have great looks and good genes. We were looking to give a younger attitude.” And what did he think of the ultra-hip and exclusive downtown club? “I love it and I have from the first time I have been here. It is just so perfect!” said Frisoni, who added that The Carlyle Hotel had chauffered him down to Tribeca. You can never go wrong with a little uptown meets downtown, darlings.
BY PAIGE REDDINGER
