Laura Dern Helped Fête Roger Vivier at a Magical Dinner in Los Angeles

As the end of the year looms, the final few months in Los Angeles quickly turn into a marathon of lunch, cocktail, and dinner parties, but that didn’t stop a glittering crowd from coming out to celebrate Roger Vivier and creative director Gherardo Felloni on Friday night. After a long hiatus, Felloni was back in a city that he has a particular fondness for and was the guest of honor at a dinner hosted by Laura Dern and Laura Brown on the rooftop of Holloway House in West Hollywood. “I’m so happy to be back here,” he told Vogue as he greeted guests, including Alison Janney, Christina Hendricks, Lake Bell, and Kristen Wiig. “I love Los Angeles.”

The location for the alfresco dinner, which took place under a waning full cold moon, was unmistakably L.A. (where else can you eat outdoors in December?) but had a distinctly Parisian flair thanks to the ne plus ultra floral and crystal tablescape. The dress code meanwhile reflected the opulent, bejeweled detail and exuberant color Felloni is known for bringing into the heritage brand’s design vocabulary. Actresses Halston Sage and Alexandra Shipp had both got the memo, opting for vibrant fuchsia dresses accessorized with the house’s signature buckle clutches.

As the crowd, including Jurnee Smollett, Bella Heathcote, Kathryn Newton, and Brianne Howey, took their seats, Dern kicked off the dinner with a personal memory. “I have been in love with Roger Vivier for many, many years,” she said. “When I first saw Catherine Deneuve wearing those iconic shoes in the film Belle de Jour I knew I wanted them and in my early twenties, when I first went to Paris, those shoes were the first thing I bought.” 

Over a three-course dinner of filet mignon and béarnaise frites the party discussed their upcoming projects and holiday plans. While Alexandra Daddario, in a pair of suede over-the-knee Belle Vivier metal buckle boots, caught up with her White Lotus co-star Brittany O’Grady, photographer Stuart Shining acted as the unofficial social media photographer of the evening, snapping pics of Audrey Corsa and Larsen Thompson on their smartphones. 

Before the evening drew to a close, Felloni addressed the assembled guests. “I come from the countryside of Italy, and when you have dreams, and you are alone in the middle of nowhere, people like you helped me, so I have to thank you,” he said. “ Many people, many young girls and young boys like me, they need you, so do your job with love and patience.” A message truly in tune with the spirit of the season.