Gifts Shopping

Combining flowers and fashion is by no means a brand new idea. Over the centuries, clothing designs have borrowed much from the natural world and the colours, forms and shapes of clothing and accessories have long been informed by the ordinary British flowers Gloucester residents might find in the rolling hills of the south west, or even the flowers Leicester folk might spot in the meadows that surround their city.

But 2011 has been perhaps the biggest year yet for floral clothing, with flowers Northampton to Norwich, Derby to Dundee appearing in some of the most innovative, original clothing and accessory designs ever seen.

The spectacular looks of the catwalks of Milan, London and Paris have been recreated in locations as unlikely as the gardens of the Midlands, thanks to the florists who attended UK flower shows in 2011 decked out in their very own creations.

A number of flower shows around the UK this year have featured an interesting variety of exhibitions focussed on fashion, prompting flower enthusiasts to turn out in droves, dressed in hats, dresses and fascinators made out of real flowers found wild in the UK or at high street florists.

Flowers have long been used as a muse by designers of clothing who turn to nature for colourful, shapely ideas that have flowed into summer dresses, wedding hats and even handbags. But the floral clothing seen at flower shows around the UK this year has given flowers themselves an even more central role, although the shelf life of the clothing has been somewhat sacrificed in the process!

The new trend in floral clothing is being helped on its way by the likes of Neil Whittaker, who has been inspiring young designers all over the country to get designing with daffodils and sewing with the sunflowers.

Whittaker, who designs flower arrangements, baskets and bouquets for Interflora, won widespread plaudits earlier this year when his exquisite cottage garden flower hat impressed the judges at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show enough for him to be named the Florist of the Year 2011.

He reacted to his triumph, saying: “This was quite a challenge because you had to make the hat wearable and think about cottage garden flowers. How will they last throughout the day? Will they stand up?”

“I made a ring out of wire to give it a three dimensional look and the bow is made out of hessian.”

Whittaker added: “I’m ecstatic! All my hard work has paid off, and I’ve proved to the judges I have the skills, techniques and flair to turn my ideas into wonderful floral creations.

“Competitions always offer a great opportunity to learn, and I’ve certainly picked up a lot. It’s been a superb experience, and credit should go to everyone for the exceptionally high standard of work Web Marketing Consultant on show this year.”