Bruno Frisoni has been hired to recreate the work of Roger Vivier (The Man Who Invented Stilettos)
"He always made the most exceptional shoes," said Bruno Frisoni, the designer charged with reinventing the late great master's work. "To keep the philosophy of Vivier, it was vital that I go back to the archives, but it was also important to put my own modern stamp on the collection."

Frisoni's new range sweeps from evening sandals to plain daytime leather boots and includes knee boots made of pink crocodile selling for $17,430. As part of the brand's luxury allure, the new collection will not be as widely available as Vivier's shoes once were. Customers can purchase shoes via private appointments at the new Roger Vivier showroom at 29 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, or later at the Roger Vivier store slated to open on the ground floor of the same building in March 2004.

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Japanese artist Takashi Murukami's film Dolls, with its images of a heroine tied by rope to her lover, gave Frisoni the idea for the chic sandals whose straps have been replaced by twisted and plaited grosgrain ribbons.

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Roger Vivier (1913 - 1998)
Talented shoe designer, Roger Vivier designed extravagant, decorated shoes that he described as sculptures. He is credited with the invention of the stiletto spike heel by using a thin rod of steel encased in plastic that was able to support the wearers weight. He was described as the "Fragonard of the shoe" and his shoes as "the Faberge of footwear." Ava Gardner, Queen Elizabeth II and The Beatles were all fans of his shoes.

He designed shoes for Christian Dior between 1953 and 1963. During his time their he created a number of new heel shapes including the comma and the stiletto. Silk, pearl and bead trimmings, lace, paste, appliqué and jewels were all used to decorate his unique shoes.

In the 60s Vivier made silk-satin knee boots, outlined in jewels, and thigh-high evening boots in a black elasticised knit with beads. The most copied shoes of the decade were his Pilgrim pumps with silver buckles

Vivier's shoes are now highly sought after by museums all over the world. His shoes are on display at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Musée du Costume et de la Mode at the Louvre.

Vivier made the shoes that Queen Elizabeth 11 wore for her coronation.