Editor’s Letter
It’s not that flowers were ever out of fashion to be celebrated impulsively, but this season they’ve bloomed onto runways almost everywhere that we wanted to capture their beauty in all forms with a dedicated issue. We’re not just simply “saying it with flowers”; there is poetry and philosophy, science and art to these incredible creations of nature to make a deeper dialogue. Botanical gardens, at best, are extraordinary architectures of nature and, like any work of art, can be deeply moving. Exploring the gardens of Tuscany last summer gave me insight to how intricately detailed and breathtakingly stylish these green oases can be— to have inspired Bulgari’s ‘ Italian Gardens’ high jewellery collection of diamond “flowerbeds” and sapphire “fountains”. In ‘ The Secret Gardens’ ( page 160), designers Alessandro Michele, Sarah Burton, and Stuart Vevers take creative intellect for their Spring/ Summer ’ 16 collections from their favourite city gardens; while the master of modern florals, Erdem Moralioglu, shares other places that stimulate his mind and heart (‘ Inspiration’, page 176). The stunning Georgia O’Keeffe painting Canna Red and Orange, 1926, illustrates a provocative beauty viewpoint (‘ In Full Bloom’ on page 100)— as flowers are fetishised by Robert Mapplethorpe, documented in a new book release ( page 158). The sophistication of flowers is more abstract in the world of perfumery. Centuries- old alchemy has now reached a level of refined technology and fine art that the experience of fragrance is not just sensorial but also speaks of something beyond tangible ... magical! The transformative power of perfume is mind- blowing in its ability to capture a memory, a place, the imagination, emotions, an idea. It only takes a drop ... Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing some of the most illustrious noses in the fragrance world. Jean- Claude Ellena, in- house perfumer for Hermès, took me on a personal journey up the River Nile in a felucca to show me the green mango tree on a small garden island that made his genius for Un Jardin sur le Nil. Overlooking the dark waters of Venice, Jacques Polge, head perfumer at Chanel, likened his composing of Coco Noir— as with all his fragrances— to painting a masterpiece with seven basic colours—“the ingredients remain almost always the same but the possibilities are endless.” We honour these incredible artisans in this year’s BAZAAR Fragrance Awards, alongside 40 winning creations ( page 104) that with their unique bouquets, offer different sensorial and ideational experiences. On the cover is Nicole Warne, pretty- as- a- picture in Dolce & Gabbana daisies; she is the Queen of Blogs, who from a simple Tasmanian life rose to international fame with her social media persona Gary Pepper Girl, clocking 1.6 million followers and counting (‘ Double Click’ page 74). We launch this Floral Issue with a BAZAAR Power Lunch with Nicole as our special guest, who in a room full of gorgeous blooms will talk about her social media secrets. Catch the conversation on harpersbazaar. my to discover how to be as scintillating.