Fashion and Galleria Cavour pay homage to the world of flowers
In May, the Galleria Cavour façade that opens onto Via Farini and the piazza of the same name reserved a real coup de théâtre for visitors and citizens of Bologna, showing itself in a completely new guise thanks to the enhancement project that Gioia Martini has been working on for some time now. Magnificent giant flowers have thus covered the entire entrance, which runs from the three identifying porticoes to the balconies.
It is a tribute to Spring but also to beauty. In a constantly changing industry like fashion, flowers remain an enduring presence, capable of traversing epochs and styles. From the famous touches of Madame de Pompadour, who loved to embellish her gowns with floral decorations made by hand using ribbons and lace, to the flowers in Frida Kahlo’s hair, which became part of her artistic identity, to the hippy or Swinging London declinations: flowers have inspired and narrated styles and generations since the time of Marco Polo, when the Silk Road was a crossroads of exchanges and cultural contaminations and Chinese floral fantasies fascinated Europe, evoking secret gardens, blossoming cherry trees and enchanted forests.
In fashion, flowers have never been mere decoration, but symbols of personal expression and identity: to wear them is to celebrate nature, vital energy and beauty.
It is not surprising, therefore, that many designers have made flowers their distinctive emblem. Just think of Chanel’s camellia, Mademoiselle Coco‘s favourite flower because of its perfect shape and discreet elegance: an ideal synthesis to sum up her style. Even today, this flower is still a symbol of the fashion house, present in clothes, jewellery and accessories.
Christian Dior, a passionate gardener, loved the roses from his garden in Granville: a bond so deep that they are an integral part of the brand’s identity. The poppy, delicate and poetic, was chosen by Kenzo as an evocative tool to strengthen the brand’s link with the Orient. Marc Jacobs has found in the daisy the embodiment of his playful and vital vision, while Miuccia Prada has always used floral imagery in an unconventional way. The iris, recurring in her collections, has often become not only a decorative element, but a tool for reflection: an identity crasis of sweetness and strength, tradition and avant-garde.
And how not to be seduced by Versace’s tropical prints? From the iconic 1995 collections to the more recent La Vacanza lines, the brand has been able to project its aesthetic towards a sensual, lush, almost wild nature.
The floral charm has also conquered the world of high jewellery. Examples of this are “The Tiffany Garden” collection and Jean Schlumberger‘s creations, in which precious stones and botanical motifs merge into authentic dreamlike masterpieces. The famous maison Vhernier, one of the most popular within Bartorelli Jewellery, has even dedicated an entire line to the Calla flower: minimalist and elegant like its creations.
Fashion and flowers: a timeless love story, which blossoms again this spring in the elegant and evocative setting of Galleria Cavour.