Isabella Rossellini, Rainey Qualley, Macy Gray, and Gherardo Felloni Gathered for a Screening of Laura Dern’s Debut Short Film for Roger Vivier
While they live an ocean away, Gherardo Felloni, creative director of Roger Vivier, and Academy Award-winning actress Laura Dern go way back. Felloni first met Dern at one of his enchanting presentations in Paris. Fast forward a few years, and the duo has not only built an inseparable bond but also conceptualized a brand campaign beyond Felloni’s wildest dreams.
Enter the "Vivier Express," a short series featuring Felloni’s muses on a charming train voyage. In the debut episode, Dern captivates as a fashion icon on the move, seemingly unfazed until a handsome passenger enters her cabin. Dern s leisurely trip through the French countryside takes an unexpected turn as her companion starts sketching intently while gazing wistfully her way.
Spoiler alert, the suitor ends up only having eyes for one beauty: her Viv Choc handbag. This playful twist kept the audience entranced before everyone eventually broke out in contagious laughter and roaring applause. “That’s what I love about Gherardo,” Dern smiled. “He is so imaginative and has a timeless tongue-in-cheek way about him and everything he does.”
To celebrate the screening, Felloni gathered friends and fashion folk at Casa Cipriani’s lavish jazz club. Katie Couric, Maye Musk, Rainey Qualley, and Beanie Feldstein all arrived decked out in signature Roger Vivier accessories. Swanning through the room, Coco Rocha, Tina Leung, Charly Sturm, and Isabella Massenet were catching up with each other while admiring the abundant bouquets of fresh roses that decorated the tables.
Everyone dressed to the nines lounging in the dining room’s plush red chairs transported the evening to a bygone era reminiscent of an old Hollywood premiere filled with tasteful extravagance. Following the screening, Felloni rose to say a few words. “Tonight is quite emotional for me,” Felloi began. “Working with this incredible woman, Laura Dern, was a really beautiful experience, and everything I put into this film came from my heart.”
Beaming up at Felloni, it was clear that the Palm Royale, Big Little Lies, Jurassic Park star found her fashion meets fantasy match. One that you could only find in movies. “Cinema loves Roger Vivier and the brand has become iconic within it,” Dern smiled. “Gherardo loves film like my favorite filmmakers love film so it’s a seamless collaboration and you feel the influences in his vision.”
As everyone settled into the dinner hour, classic Cipriani dishes arrived at the tables for guests to enjoy family style. From the lobster salad to the grilled Mediterranean branzino to the risotto primavera, the meal felt endless in the best possible way. Though, we were at a jazz club after all. And, it was hard not to acknowledge the quiet stage adorned with a piano, drum set, and guitar ready for a band. Until suddenly, the lights went dim, and Grammy Award-winner Macy Gray waltzed into the spotlight. Sporting a vibrant pink bob and groovy, striped velvet suit, Gray was ready to turn the dinner into a party. And she did.
“I’ve never seen so many gorgeous people acting so quiet,” she laughed. “We’re gonna change that!”
Kicking off her set with one of her favorite covers, “Sunny" by Joe McBride, Gray took the crowd on a journey through her greatest hits and tributes. Singing along, Dern and Felloni were not shy to join the engaging audience. As Gray belted the last note of “I Try,” the room rose to a standing ovation, eager for an encore. While we didn’t get another song, the waiters quickly excited guests with bowls of fluffy lemon sorbet. A simple and delicious treat to end the night on a sweet note.
1/16Gherardo Felloni, Laura Dern, Isabella Rossellini
Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com2/16Maye Musk, Katie Couric
