Fleurs de Villes at South Coast Plaza

Last year, my Tahoe friend, Diana shared this happening with me and I couldn't fit it into my schedule. This year we accepted the event's invitation to, "Join us at South Coast Plaza from April 19-23 for Fleurs de Villes VOYAGE – a fresh floral journey of discovery to iconic global destinations, created by some of Southern California’s top floral talent."

The spectacular 5-day floral extravaganza featured over 18 fresh floral mannequins and spectacular installations celebrating the cultures, people and heritage of destinations all over the world. The floral artists took inspiration from Mexico, South Korea, Paris and Italy to name but a few – delivering a feast of cultural storytelling that connected the world through flowers like never before.

Each masterpiece was accompanied by a wonderful description. South Korea: A hanbok is a traditional Korean dress consisting of a short jacket (jeogori) and a full skirt (chima) made from lightweight materials such as silk or cotton. The style of the hanbok has evolved over time, but it remains an important symbol of Korean culture and identity, typically worn on special occasions. This beautiful design incorporates blue, white, red, black and yellow (the traditional colors of Korea known as obangsaek) as well as a botanical nod to the traditional patchwork fabric known as saekdong. Her companion is a Siberian tiger, the national animal of South Korea that's native to the region and has long been revered as a powerful and majestic animal in Korean folklore, mythology, and art.

Baltimore/Hairspray: Set against the backdrop of 1960s Baltimore, Hairspray is the Tony Award-winning musical that celebrates the joy of life! This vibrant, colorful floral tribute honors the fabulous Tracy Turnblad, the determined and lovable teenager with big dreams (and even bigger hair) who fights for integration and equality as she dances her way onto TV's most popular show!

Laguna Niguel, CA: Nestled in the coastal town of Dana Point lies Salt Creek Beach, where California waves attract surfers from around the world who ride from dawn until dusk. Perched on a bluff overlooking Salt Creek, this world traveler has chosen The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel as her coastal paradise for an invigorating weekend surf retreat. She awakens to the sight, smell, and sounds of the sea before strolling down ocean paths to the long stretch of sandy shoreline. As she floats on her board above the water, she watches the sun rise over Catalina Island and welcomes the day.

Scotland: Hendrick's Gin is distilled in the decidedly un-ginnish tiny seaside town of Girvan. It's located on the south west coast of Scotland opposite the mysterious volcanic island of Ailsa Craig, the granite jewel of the firth of Clyde. Hendrick's is hand-crafted in tiny batches of only 500 lovely liters at a time, which gives the Master Distiller, Ms. Lesley Gracie, greater control of her careful artistry. For Hendrick's Gin, voyages extend beyond the ordinary and into the extraordinary, know no bounds and are only limited by the reaches of imagination.

Oh man, the details on each of these artworks gave us so much to admire. What eye candy!

India: A mehndi ceremony is a traditional pre-wedding ritual in India, where the bride and her female friends and family members gather to have intricate henna designs applied to their hands and feet as a way of wishing the bride good health and prosperity as she makes her journey onto marriage. The word mehndi refers to the henna paste, made from the leaves of the henna plant. The bride's hands and feet are typically adorned with intricate and beautiful henna designs including floral and paisley patterns and traditional motifs symbolizing good luck, happiness, and love for the bride and groom.

Australia: If you are looking for a road trip with breathtaking views, a visit to the Great Ocean Road in Victoria is a must-do. One of Australia's most scenic drives, this road stretches over 240 kilometers along the south-eastern coast of Australia, passing through charming coastal towns, stunning beaches, and ancient rainforests. Along the way, you can stop to see stunning rock formations, take a hike in the Great Otway National Park, and admire the stunning hues of oranges, pinks, and purples that paint the sky during sunset - the inspiration for this gorgeous floral design.

We were asked to vote for our favorite display. This one was Steve's. Mexico: This floral design is inspired by the Mexican Chiapas dress, also known as a huipil, a traditional garment worn by indigenous women in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. It is a loose-fitting tunic-style dress that is typically made of cotton or wool and often decorated with colorful designs and patterns including hand-embroidered flowers, animals, and other symbols that represent the wearer's culture and beliefs. These dresses are an important part of the cultural heritage of the indigenous communities in the region, and they are often worn for special occasions and celebrations.

Paris: Transport your mind to springtime in Paris, and imagine strolling along the Seine, enveloped by fluttering cherry blossoms, the scent of fresh pain au chocolat and a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower. The tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris, and was named after its designer, Gustave Eiffel. At 324 meters tall, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world at the time of its construction. Originally intended to be dismantled after the fair, it became a permanent fixture and has since become an iconic symbol of Paris and one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world.

Madagascar: The traditional clothing for women in Madagascar varies by region and ethnic group, but the most common is the versatile lamba. This rectangular cloth decorated with vibrant patterns and colors is one of the island's most vibrant forms of artistic expression and can be worn in many ways as a dress, shirt, shawl or headscarf. To transport goods, women have been carrying baskets on their heads for centuries. Practically it allows women to carry heavy loads, distributing the weight evenly and keeping hands free to perform other tasks. It's also considered a symbol of grace and femininity, and is seen as a way to hold onto a valued tradition and way of life amidst modernization.

Sweden: The Midsummer celebration in Sweden is a festive affair, considered one of the most important holidays of the year, where people come together to celebrate the arrival of summer. One of the most iconic symbols of this celebration is the maypole - a tall wooden pole decorated with vibrant flowers and lush greenery. As the sun begins to set on Midsummer's Eve, people gather around the maypole to sing traditional songs, play games, and dance the night away. Women dress in beautiful traditional costumes that typically include a white blouse, a brightly colored flowing skirt, and a floral wreath headpiece.

Beijing, China: World-renowned Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei was born in Beijing and her couture atelier is located in the city's Chaoyang district. Best known for her elaborate and intricate designs, her creations often feature rich embroidery, bold colors, and a fusion of traditional and contemporary elements. This stunning design is inspired by a look from her Spring 2018 Couture Collection featuring dark blue floral embroidery and a gothic crown, embodying Guo Pei's extraordinary imagination.

Toba, Japan: Mikimoto began when founder, Kokichi Mikimoto, saw the exquisite Akoya pearls slowly disappearing from the seas of Japan and decided, with his wife Ume, to try culturing these most beautiful gems. The ethereal figure before you, carefully crafted with dried florals and anthurium, represents the beauty and mystery of this dream. A dream that was realized over 130 years ago when Kokichi's wife Ume, presented him with the world's first cultured pearl.

Bora Bora: A stunning and luxurious island located in French Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean is famous for its crystal clear turquoise waters, vibrant coral reefs, and lush tropical landscape. Visitors are greeted with warm smiles, leis, and traditional music and dance. This Tahitian dancer was created using carnations, roses, chrysanthemums, mokara orchids, and ti leaves. Her backdrop is full of native plants such as orchids, heliconia, ginger, and various palms, surrounded by the sea of light blue hydrangea.

And which secured my vote for "The Best"? Italy, of course. Touring the Amalfi Coast on a Vespa is the perfect way to explore this popular, picturesque region of southern Italy. From the dramatic cliffs and turquoise sea to the charming towns, lemon groves and colorful architecture, the Amalfi Coast is a feast for the senses. Her look embodies the effortless elegance, sophistication and refined simplicity of vintage Italian style.

Interestingly, it was the only one which listed all the components used: Bleached preserved monster leaves, Dusty miller, preserved oak leaves, Lunaria flowers, Ecuadorian white coccolus, Silver dollar eucalyptus, Black tea leaves, Timeless rose petals, Lichen, white hypericum, yellow carnations, Mimosa, mini purple calla lilies, yellow turtle roses, black baccarat roses, Burgundy mums, Green lemonade roses, Moss, Bougainvillea, fresh lemons, and lemon branches.

I was especially taken with the Polka Dots made of black kukui nuts and black rice. How very, very creative!

We are both so glad we heeded Walter Hagen's advice, "You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way." Such flowers, indeed!

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2 comments:

Eric Yantis said...: The Fleurs de Villes VOYAGE, looks amazing. I love South Coast Plaza. I grew up going there and have a lot of fond childhood memories of my many trips there with my parents and brother. It’s always been a very nice mall, but not nearly as ultra lux as it is today. There used to be a wonderful crepe restaurant there called “The Magic Pan” and a really neat train themed restaurant that had actual train dining cars you could eat in. There was an FAO Schwartz too and as far as unique exhibits go like this floral extravaganza, I remember my dad taking me to their annual Lego exhibit and seeing all kinds of impressive Lego displays, we’ll before Lego stores existed. This was all back in the 80’s and all that stuff is long gone. But the carousel is still there and I’ve actually taken Annika on it a few times. It’s undoubtedly a beautiful mall with lots of different exhibits and shows. Definitely the nicest mall that I’ve ever seen.; April 22, 2023 at 10:23 PM
Erin Marlowe said...: The lobby of the hotel Bellaggio in Las Vegas always has different floral displays - this reminded me of that. Always spectacular! Kinda like Rose Parade floats!; April 24, 2023 at 12:32 PM

HAERR TRIPPIN'

Fleurs de Villes at South Coast Plaza

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