When Kirsten Dunst arrived at the 21st Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica on January 17, 2016, she brought a sense of vintage-inspired elegance to the blue carpet.
Celebrating her win for the second season of Fargo, the actress opted for a look that balanced intricate texture with classic silhouettes.
Kirsten Dunst wears her short blonde hair down at the 21st Critics’ Choice Awards held on January 17, 2016, in Santa Monica (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / Apega / FayesVision / Brian To / WENN)
Dunst, who earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of Peggy Blumquist in the FX series, wore a beaded tiered gown by Karl Lagerfeld.
She coordinated the dress with then-boyfriend and co-star Jesse Plemons, accessorizing with Fred Leighton jewelry and a Salvatore Ferragamo clutch.
The highlight of the look was her “Papillon de Nuit” bow pumps from Roger Vivier Couture—a sculptural design that perfectly captured the house’s more romantic, high-fashion edge.
First introduced during the Spring/Summer 2016 era under then–creative director Bruno Frisoni, the “Papillon de Nuit” (French for “night butterfly”) stands as one of the most recognizable expressions of Roger Vivier’s mid-2010s aesthetic. While the brand is historically synonymous with its polished chrome buckles, this particular style shifted the focus toward movement and form.
Nude Roger Vivier “Papillon de Nuit” pumps elongate the line of her leg with a sharply pointed toe and low-cut d’Orsay vamp, allowing the dramatic heel bow to take center stage
Kirsten appeared genuinely moved by the recognition for her work on Fargo, where she played a small-town hairdresser caught in a web of crime alongside her husband, Ed Blumquist (played by Plemons).
A vintage-inspired Fred Leighton bracelet and statement ring add a refined, heirloom sparkle against the gown’s intricate beading
The defining feature of the Roger Vivier “Papillon de Nuit” is its dramatic, multi-layered satin bow—placed not at the toe, but at the heel—fanning out behind the ankle like wings in motion.
Set against a sharply pointed toe and a slim stiletto, often in a d’Orsay cut that exposes the arch, the silhouette feels both delicate and architectural.
Kirsten Dunst balances texture and structure in a tiered, beaded Chanel Haute Couture gown, anchored by sculptural nude pumps that subtly echo the look’s soft neutrality
Rendered most often in silk, satin, or fine suede—frequently in soft “skin-tone” neutrals like the nude pair Dunst wore—the design allows the exaggerated bow to act as the focal point, transforming the shoe into a statement from every angle.
Roger Vivier’s “Papillon de Nuit” design transforms the classic pump into a sculptural object, with oversized satin bows and crystal-tipped heels creating movement from every angle
Though versions were available at retail, the “Papillon de Nuit” was frequently aligned with Roger Vivier’s more exclusive Rendez-Vous and Couture offerings, reflecting the hand-finished craftsmanship behind its intricate construction.
More than a decorative flourish, the design echoes Roger Vivier’s original philosophy of treating shoes as sculptural objects—an idea rooted in his background as a trained sculptor and inventor of the modern stiletto. Here, that legacy is reinterpreted through a softer, more romantic lens.
The black satin version highlights the architectural heel bow and slender stiletto, emphasizing the design’s couture craftsmanship and dramatic rear profile
Now discontinued, the style has taken on collector status, regularly surfacing on luxury resale platforms, while its signature oversized bow continues to influence the house’s eveningwear designs under current creative director Gherardo Felloni. You can find similar bow-embellished styles at Nordstrom and Zappos.
More Roger Vivier Moments Worth Revisiting
With Kirsten Dunst’s “Papillon de Nuit” pumps adding such a sculptural finish to her Critics’ Choice look, it feels fitting to close with a few more Roger Vivier stories that show just how versatile the house can be—from crystal-buckle classics to sharp evening pumps and red-carpet sandals that bring the brand’s signature mix of polish, femininity, and architectural flair into focus.
👠 Explore Roger Vivier Shoe & Fashion Stories:
- 📚 Roger Vivier: The designer who revolutionized high heels with the stiletto is the strongest evergreen starting point, tracing the house’s legacy from the invention of the stiletto to the sculptural signatures that still shape modern red-carpet footwear.
- ✨ Kirsten Dunst’s Roger Vivier red-carpet moments shows how the maison’s Marlene heels sharpen embellished evening looks with polish, history, and quiet couture glamour.
- 🌊 Shailene Woodley’s Venice Film Festival look pairs Roger Vivier “Épine” sandals with a jewel-toned Fendi sequined gown for a sleek, architectural finish.
- 🖤 Katie Holmes at the Met Gala in Roger Vivier is a strong example of the brand’s ability to bring architectural clarity and subtle sparkle to a dramatic couture statement.
- 💛 Kate Bosworth’s Schiaparelli Couture look with Roger Vivier “Sexy Choc Strass” pumps highlights the house’s crystal-buckle glamour through metallic gold leather, pointed toes, and a sharp four-inch heel.
- 🎬 Brie Larson’s Roger Vivier “Sin” sandals in Tokyo captures the brand’s sultrier Spring 2016 mood, with asymmetrical satin straps and slender stilettos anchoring two standout press-tour looks.