Cate Blanchett in Roger Vivier: How the ‘Sneaky Viv’ Sparked the Luxury Sneaker Revolution

When Cate Blanchett arrived at Narita International Airport in Chiba, Japan, in January 2016, she demonstrated how to balance high-fashion silhouettes with the practicalities of long-haul travel.

Cate Blanchett keeps her airport look understated with angular cat-eye sunglasses, a navy knit top, and tailored Chloé overalls at Narita International Airport in Japan on January 20, 2016 (Credit: Kento Nara / Future Image / WENN / HRC)

Her outfit centered on Chloé “Snow Capsule” overalls—a stretch-wool-and-cotton-blend piece inspired by 1970s French alpine style.

By layering a navy sweatshirt under the twill overalls and carrying a heavy black cardigan, Blanchett used smart textures to create a temperature-controlled environment.

She finished the look with oversized sunglasses and Roger Vivier’s “Sneaky Viv” sneakers from the maison’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection — a style that marked a turning point for the historic French house as it entered the growing luxury sneaker market under then-creative director Bruno Frisoni.

Cate Blanchett balances utility and luxury in slim-cut overalls and Roger Vivier’s crystal-buckle Sneaky Viv sneakers while navigating Narita Airport with a black cardigan in hand

Before the mid-2010s sneaker boom reshaped luxury fashion, Roger Vivier was primarily associated with sculptural heels, polished pumps, and the iconic Pilgrim buckle immortalized by Catherine Deneuve in the 1967 film Belle de Jour. The Sneaky Viv translated those formal house codes into a relaxed slip-on silhouette, helping position embellished sneakers as legitimate luxury footwear rather than purely athletic shoes.

Crafted in Italy, the laceless design paired a thick white rubber sole with sleek patent leather uppers, allowing the crystal-encrusted Vivier buckle to remain the focal point. The contrast between the sporty skate-inspired base and the ornate jeweled hardware gave the sneaker its distinct identity — polished enough for tailoring and eveningwear, yet effortless enough for airport dressing.

Roger Vivier’s Sneaky Viv slip-ons combine satin-finish uppers, thick rubber soles, and the maison’s signature crystal buckle for a polished take on airport sneakers

Cate Blanchett’s styling captured exactly why the Sneaky Viv resonated during the era’s shift toward elevated casualwear. Combined with her Chloé overalls and understated navy layers, the sneakers softened the formality traditionally associated with Roger Vivier while still preserving the refined elegance tied to the maison’s heritage.

The Sneaky Viv also helped pave the way for the wider luxury sneaker movement that dominated the late 2010s, years before oversized technical runners became the industry norm.

The jeweled buckle and clean laceless silhouette highlight why Roger Vivier’s Sneaky Viv became an early standout in the mid-2010s luxury sneaker movement

While later Roger Vivier designs, such as the Viv’ Run, introduced chunkier performance-inspired shapes, the Sneaky Viv remains one of the brand’s cleanest and most timeless sneaker designs — closer to today’s quiet-luxury aesthetic than the logo-heavy footwear trends that followed.

While seasonal colors and materials vary from year to year, the silhouette remains a reference point for elevated travel footwear. You can find current iterations of Roger Vivier designs at Nordstrom and Mytheresa.

From Crystal Buckles to Airport Sneakers: Roger Vivier’s Luxury-Sneaker Legacy

Cate Blanchett’s Narita Airport look shows why the Roger Vivier Sneaky Viv still feels relevant years later: it softens the maison’s formal-buckle heritage without losing its polish.

For more celebrity sneaker moments, designer footwear history, and luxury styles that helped reshape casual dressing, explore these related features.