Reimagined as a cabinet of curiosities, the walls of the Salle d’Argent reveal each precious gilet on mannequins and each handbag housed within pink velvet walls, framed by constellations of gilded insects. This architectural metamorphosis continues onto every Pièce Unique design, fusing the draped, feminine lines of the Viv’ Choc and its signature Roger Vivier buckle with some of the most meticulous techniques of embroidery, feather quilting, metalwork and jewellery making.
Embodying the qualities of a distinct species or exploring more abstract notions of an insect’s habitat, appearance, or symbolic significance, 15 one-of-a-kind handbags and 4 encrusted gilets become canvases for opulence. From micro to macro, from day to night, and from the lush green forest to the arid desert, landscapes of crystals and bugle beading intertwine. Femininity abounds, in clusters of iridescent scarab beetles, peacock blue butterfly wings embellished with rhinestones, or a pearlescent patchwork of snowy white feathers.
Representing good fortune as well as the masterful skill of the Roger Vivier ateliers, ruby red lady beetles shiver ‘en tremblant’ across scarlet satin or hidden amongst floating organza leaves, and the subtle glint of gold and crystal fireflies peek out from the shadows of a feathery night sky. Metallic spiderwebs twinkle with crystal dewdrops, whilst a scorpion trilogy flirts with danger: from the smoky gradient of a pavé buckle to a carapace of pyramid rhinestones and scorpion totems hidden within textural folds. Elsewhere, the bee and its hive springs to life in a matrix of gilded latticework on black organza buzzing with topaz jewels.
Giving rise to a whimsical journey through couture craftsmanship, “Petites Merveilles” ebbs and flows from lyrical humour to a near sinister elegance, where the atelier’s prowess teases a mystical symbiosis from humankind’s ancient links with the world around us. Dancing between light and dark, nocturnal monochromes and ebullient bursts of color, each Pièce Unique is a sublime homage to the marvels of the entomological world.