Earlier this month, Roger Vivier invited guests to attend Les Éléments Vivier, an immersive presentation of the house’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection.
Across four floors of the heritage building in Paris, creative director Gherardo Felloni imagined a theatrical installation within the opulent French architecture in collaboration with the Italian set designer Leila Maria Fteita. Inspirations behind the collection were unveiled across four levels, each one dramatically fitted with rich décor to represent the key design pillars of the Vivier universe.
Offering a dialogue between past and present, Les Éléments Vivier illustrated the spirit of craftsmanship fueled by fantasy that characterises the house’s work. Through live demonstrations of embroidery, draping and other craft ‘know-how’ that goes into crafting every piece, a peek behind the curtain showcased the true luxury Felloni has continued.
From the moment guests stepped across the historic threshold, they were engulfed by Monsieur Vivier’s vivid creativity. Walking across wooden bridges set over ponds and wildflowers, it’s easy to get lost in the imagination of it all. But what anchors these fantastical designs that set Roger Vivier apart is the timeless quality that has sustained its place in fashion history. One person who knows this all too well is Camille Razat, actress and longtime ambassador for Roger Vivier. In Paris, GRAZIA sat down with the Emily in Paris star for a chat in the whimsical setting.
Having worked with the brand for years now, the French native gushed about the lineup of women she finds herself joining. “They’ve put shoes on the most iconic women ever, including Queen Elizabeth II, Catherine Denueve and Joséphine Baker,” she tells me of the brand’s legacy. “But it still feels like a well-kept secret, as you don’t see the brand plastered everywhere.”
And she’s not wrong. For decades now, Roger Vivier has been a quiet achiever, with designs that are bold and rich with character but never in your face—everything we’ve come to associate with Parisian glamour. But as we know, ‘French Girl’ fashion has many interpretations, none more devoured than that of a certain Netflix series…
Love it or hate it, Emily in Paris was (and still is) a major hit.
“It was light and joyful in a time when people needed that,” Razat says of the show’s success during the pandemic. “And, of course, it’s Darren [Star]. Everything he touches is incredible.”
While Francophiles swooned over the Parisian dreamscapes, many were quick to point out the Netflix series’ exaggerated representation of French life. Bus Razat believes the naysayers are missing the point.
“It’s a heightened reality of Paris and the Parisian way of life,” she explains. “Of course we play into clichés, but I think people love it because we almost make fun of what people think we are in a way.”
And naturally, as is the case with anything by Starr, “There’s also the fashion.”
In all the cast’s maximalist senses of style, it’s clear that the Jane Birkins and Françoise Hardys of the world aren’t the inspiration in this Patricia Field-coloured world. Sure, take a stroll down Avenue Montaigne or Avenue des Champs-Élysées, and you may catch this particularly glamorous breed of fashion girl in the wild, but Razat agrees it’s not exactly a reflection of the Paris she knows.
“That’s part of the magic. Just like how Sex and the City isn’t actually [representative] of what everyday New Yorkers dress like,” she tells me. “So, yes, it’s completely different from everyday Parisian life, but, on the other hand, I do know people who dress up similarly.”
She jokes that Parisiennes enjoy ease and comfort and couldn’t wear heels all day—not with so many cobblestone paths around.
With any actor who portrays a recurring role in a series, it’s natural to wonder how much one would resonate with their character. And though she definitely prefers to nip issues in the bud before it can take on EIP levels of drama, she sees parts of herself in her character, Camille.
“I think I’m as free-spirited as Camille in that I make my own decisions, and I’m independent. I think I have a lot in common with her like that,” she says. “But I must say, in my personal life, I’m much more direct. I would never scheme like her. If something’s wrong with someone, I have to discuss it straight away.”
She does agree that Camille is a misunderstood soul. “Hugely” so.
The same sentiment applies to taste, too. Anyone who’s privy to Razat’s sense of style knows that the actress is always a memorable appearance on any red carpet. As she tells me, she and Camille differ in that regard.
“I’d say my look has more of a quirk to it,” she explains. “Camille is almost the more mainstream version of me and my style.”
From effortless denim and striped Bretons to Espadrilles and woven basket bags, French fashion is a highly mythologised aesthetic. Razat understands the world’s obsession with this look, crediting the underestimated difficulty of looking ‘simple’ for the long-lived intrigue. But she doesn’t think people get it wrong, though, as much as they home in too much on one part of a much bigger picture.
“I don’t think people necessarily get anything wrong, but there really isn’t one way of French dressing,” she posits. “You have the people who do wear no makeup and just perfect jeans and t-shirts, that’s true, but you also have a huge punk scene where people rock thick eyeliner and everything else.”
Over the two seasons, she’s come to work closely with the wardrobe department, always trying to find small designers and up-and-coming talent to spotlight on the show’s huge platform. Knowing what works and will pass as Camille’s style—and what won’t—is key, though.
As for her own personal style inspiration, Kate Moss is her forever muse, and must-have staples include menswear leather jackets, a gorgeous Trench coat she just picked up, and Roger Vivier’s “Escarpins” (pumps).
“I love them. It’s a very simple design with a heart shape. Very chic and timeless,” she gushes. “I’ve had them for years now, and they’re comfortable, which is super rare.”
Naturally, there’s plenty of Roger Vivier to be spotted in Emily in Paris. From Sylvie’s elegant totes and Camille’s chunky loafers to Emily’s glitzy evening bag, the French maison is a go-to for the wardrobe department.
Now, if you’ve come this far to find out what we can expect for the fourth season of Emily In Paris, well, that’s not a question for anyone.
When we speak, the Hollywood SAG-AFTRA strike is enduring its third month. This means not only is there no set date for the third season at present, but Razat herself is still learning what’s next. At this time, shooting has not been scheduled, and Razat is as in the dark about Camille’s fate after a season three cliffhanger as the rest of us, so it will sadly be a while before the show returns to our screens.
While Razat herself is not personally a part of the Screen Actors Guild—a decision she explains comes down to her preference to dictate her own conditions and rates for independent passion projects—the industry is facing a global turning point. In some ways, it’s given her time to think about what she wants to do next.
“What I’ve tried to maintain since the beginning of my career is not to be pigeonholed,” she says. “I choose roles that are completely different from one another. Even in terms of genre, I try to choose a mix of drama, comedy, and maybe a thriller. Just like with my taste, I like to mix it up so that people don’t just see me as one specific thing.
“But that’s what I love about my job. I don’t want to do the same thing over and over.”
