Daydreaming a Flower Fantasy: What’s the Story, Morning Glory?

By Charis Michelsen for EGW LUXURY MAGAZINE

GOWN: Anna Flowers @annaflowersdesigns FLOWERS: Bloom Boom @bloomboom_shop

HOW THE SEED WAS PLANTED FOR A FLORAL STORY

When renowned NYC fashion stylist Edward Nashen, who’s worked with Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano, Christian Dior, Guy Laroche, Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino, Christian Lacroix, and Jean Paul Gaultier, amongst others, pitched creating a glorious gown for me for the red carpet that celebrated gorgeous flowers and our shared passion for glamorous old Hollywood, which appropriately included master fashion designer Anna Flowers, I couldn’t have been more thrilled! With my massive blessing, Edward and Anna immediately went to work and began looking at fabric samples and discussing details. Anna then ran with crafting one of the most beautiful gowns I’ve ever seen or had the pleasure of wearing! It includes embroidered flowers against a backdrop of pale cream, a perfect sweetheart neckline, and under tulle with signature Anna Flowers fine details such as a ribbon of elegant embroidered lace that runs along each side of the zipper in the back. As flower petals do, a story to celebrate all things floral beautifully unfolded.

FLORAL TREASURES THAT INSPIRE YOUR BLOOM TO BOOM

While visiting Lee Hartwell Antiques, a charming antique store in the New York Catskills, famous for its exquisite fine jewelry, its owner, Lee, showed me one-of-a kind floral rings that included precious stones handcrafted by the exquisitely talented artist Marianna Trofimova, and I fell in love. Having spent time St. Petersburg, Russia, Africa, and Greece, Marianna pulls inspiration for her work from various cultures and loves to incorporate contrasts such as industrial and organic, modern and vintage, and structured and asymmetrical. To give the perfect backdrop for these gorgeous botanically inspired works of art, as well as to accessorize the incredible gowns featured in this article, I went to one of L.A.’s top florists, Bloom Boom for fresh-cut flowers. Edward is adamant that fresh flowers are always the perfect accessory and I couldn’t agree more. Bloom Boom not only has a gorgeous array of the most fabulous flowers available in Los Angeles but a boutique perfect for events that celebrates the blooming beauties it sells within on its dream-like exterior, which boasts copious amounts of colorful blossoms.

GOWN: Anna Flowers @annaflowersdesigns
FLOWERS: Bloom Boom @bloomboom_shop — GOWN: Anna Flowers @annaflowersdesigns FLOWERS: Bloom Boom @bloomboom_shop

CHOOSE GOWNS FOR YOUR PERFECT GARDEN FANTASY

When dreaming of strolling through glorious gardens, choose a gown that fits the fantasy, such as a custom design from Anna Flowers or from sister designers Bethel Helena, whose line is marked by exceptional craftswomanship, luxury fabrics, bold femininity, and a blend of edgy avant-garde with classic silhouettes that flatter every woman’s body. Bethel Helena offers breathtaking casual and evening garments fit for living a dream life every day.

CAPTURE GORGEOUS, GLORIOUS NATURE

Being surrounded by hummingbirds, swans, and other elements from nature to maximize your floral daydream can be successfully accomplished by enjoying magnificently hand-crafted brooches and other wonderful works of art by Tij Viza Martin, who pours hours and beautiful detail into each of his delightful creations. Every fashionista should own one of Tij Viza Martin’s incredible pieces. Thank you, Edward, for finding this incredible craftsperson and designer.

DEAR BOTANICS, THE ROSE IS RED, THE VIOLOT’S BLUE, NO ONE MAKES A ROSE OIL LOVELIER THAN YOU

Your stroll through magical floral gardens can be made a reality every day by enveloping your body in the luscious smell of roses by nourishing and moisturizing your skin with Dear Botanics’s Rose Glow Oil, which I discovered at a storybook farmer’s market while visiting amazing friends in the Catskills. This deliciously fragrant body oil includes a wealth of essential fatty acids, high levels of vitamins A and E, and is aromatically intoxicating with its hand-blended rose infusion. Dear Botanics offers a collection of plant-based artisanal skincare opulent in beautifying benefits to promote radiant self-care.

GOWN: Bethel Helena @bethelhelena
BROOCHES: Tij Viza Martin @vizatij
FLOWERS: Bloom Boom @bloomboom_shop — GOWN: Bethel Helena @bethelhelena BROOCHES: Tij Viza Martin @vizatij FLOWERS: Bloom Boom @bloomboom_shop

STOP TO SMELL THE LUXURY LAVENDER, TO DREAM LIKE ROYALTY

Stopping to smell the roses is always sweet but stopping into Hästens, the longtime luxury bedmaker for the Swedish Royal Court, to smell the lavender and enjoy seeing where your dreams can take you, is wonderous. This legacy luxury brand, with its iconic, signature blue and white check print offers a delicious lavender candle and employs the highest level of quality in all areas of craftsmanship for all its products, which you can experience first-hand by enjoying Hästens’ free sleep spa. Stop into Hästens to confirm for yourself why this affluent brand has been the top bedmaker for Swedish royalty for the last three generations.

BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

When picking flowers from a glorious garden or cut flowers from Bloom Boom, having a gorgeous manicure completes the magical experience. And if you’re in a mood to celebrate all things floral, why not choose nails with lovely, handcrafted botanical details, such as those by award-winning nail artisan Katerina Abourched of Moka Nail Club in Beverly Hills. There are no limits to what Katerina can do. Bring your idea for your perfect dream nails to her, and she’ll make it a reality.

CELEBRATE FLORAL-COLORED LUXURY IN MAGICAL SETTINGS

Beautiful gardens can take our breath away, but when the eclectic luxury home brand Ifsthtic held a luncheon at the romantic, elegant, and charming Il Cielo Italian restaurant to celebrate extremely talented designer Brittney Ifemembi’s new collection, which included dessert held outside in Il Cielo’s enchanting garden, which was not only decorated with gorgeous, colorful flowers but Brittney’s works of art, it was the stuff dreams are made of. Ifsthetic’s unique handmade and richly colorful artisan rugs, pillows, coasters, placemats, candleholders, sculptures, slippers for men and women, and candles dazzle with strong attention to detail and are perfect to warm up one’s home or give as a gift. Designer Karina Rizzo of Karamia Designs was amongst the celebrities who attended this stunning Brooklyn PR-curated event.

RING: Marianna Trofinova @trofiware
FLOWERS: Bloom Boom @bloomboom_shop — RING: Marianna Trofinova @trofiware FLOWERS: Bloom Boom @bloomboom_shop

A KISSER TO BUILD YOUR DREAM ON

While attending a dream luncheon or a garden party straight out of a fantasy, who wouldn’t love to wear sensational floral-colored lipstick that stays fresh-looking through an entire event? World-renowned makeup artist Natasha Moor’s Molten Matte Liquid Lipstick is not only cruelty-free, natural, chemical-free, and paraben-free, it’s moisturizing, long-wearing, waterproof, kiss-proof, and includes shade names that are positive affirmations to remind you of your power. Natasha Moor’s high-quality, trustworthy products help you feel good and are meant to inspire you to be the best version of yourself.

BE A GLOW GETTER

On the note of being the best version of yourself, employ top self-care before heading off to your Hästens bed to dream of strolling through fields of bright or pastel-colored blossoms by refreshing your skin with The Glow Getter Multi-Oil body Wash by Naturium. This gentle, nourishing, and hydrating body wash transforms from a luscious oil consistency to a gentle lather, to cleanse the skin without stripping it of essential moisture, as it’s formulated with 50% glycerin, a blend of linoleic-rich oils, and plant-derived squalene.

LOOK YOUR BLOOMING FRESHEST

To wake up looking blooming fresh, enjoy celebrity esthetician Heather Nicole’s non-invasive Plasma Skin Perfector Skin Skulpt device, a Paris Hilton favorite. Use this magic wand every other evening before bedtime to rejuvenate, tighten, and firm skin, and to gain an even skin tone, minimize the appearance of pores and blemishes, and help your skincare absorb products better. Finish with Skin Skulpt’s Omni Elixer Serum. It plumps and hydrates skin, includes a peptide complex, vitamins A, B3 B6 B12, C, & E, and stimulates collagen production and cell turnover.

DAYDREAM THEN TIP-TOE THROUGH THE TULIPS

When you wake up refreshed from dreaming in the floral colors of your own fantasy, don’t forget to apply sunscreen before heading out to tip-toe through the tulips. A wonderful and aptly titled broad spectrum daytime moisturizer, Daydream, by DRMTLGY, with SPF 40, boasts one-hundred percent mineral filters such as zinc oxide, and its reef-safe, ideal for sensitive skin, and water resistant for up to eighty minutes, making this wonderful DRMTLGY product an excellent choice.

ENJOY THE INSPIRING COLORS OF FLOWERS, EVEN WHEN LOOKING IN THE MIRROR

Celebrate summer with whimsical and creative eye makeup looks inspired by the colors of beautiful botanical blossoms. For example, try pretty peach as a mid-tone in a three-color eye makeup look. A three-color eye makeup look includes a mid-tone shade, which is similar to your skin tone’s depth of color, a contour shade, which is darker than your skin tone, and a highlight shade, which is lighter than your skin tone. You can also add a pop of bright color such as neon lime to the inner third of your upper and lower eye area to bring more interest to the eyes. For even bolder appeal, try a brightly colored smoky eye look. Smoky eye makeup creates a multidimensional eye look using a gradation of color from dark to light, beginning at the upper eyelash line and ending at the top of the eyelid, the crease/most balancing crease, or the browbone. Traditionally, at least two colors are used for creating a smoky eye makeup look. You can also apply smoky eye makeup to the lower eye area. Try using mid-tone shades or lighter shades for daywear and darker shades for evening.

AN INSPIRING MESSAGE FROM FLOWERS

Flowers are worth celebrating with their glorious colors, delicious fragrances, and the wonderful comfort and joy they bring us all. As Christian Dior said, “After women, flowers are the most lovely thing God has given the world.” Beyond being physically lovely, flowers, hold a beautiful message: No matter how you’ve been trampled on, keep growing, aiming for the light, and unapologetically showing your unique beauty.

A special thank you to Michele Marie PR.

Follow Charis Michelsen on Instagram.

Karina Rizzo of Karamia Designs, Brittney Ifemembi, founder of Ifsthetic, Charis Michelsen

CREDITS:

PHOTOGRAPHY: Daniel Weber @danielweber_photography

MODEL, MAKEUP: Charis Michelsen @charismichelsen_official

HAIR: Sylvie Marshall of Brighton Salon of Beverly Hills @brightonsalonbeverlyhills

NAILS: Katerina Abourched of Moka Nail Club @mokanailclub