'Flowers In Fashion' - The Chelsea Flower Show 2025

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‘Flowers in Fashion’ celebrates the elegant fusion of haute couture and horticulture. Drawing inspiration from iconic fashion movements — from the dramatic silhouettes of avant-garde gowns to the rebellious spirit of punk — Chelsea in Bloom transformed petals into patterns, embodying bold statements and encapsulating the diversity and innovation of the fashion world. Each floral installation stood as a tribute to the creativity, individuality, and daring spirit that define fashion.

As you stroll along King’s Road, the connection between flora and fashion comes vividly to life. Mannequin-like statues, each uniquely styled, are adorned with meticulously arranged flowers that echo fashion’s most iconic eras — from timeless elegance to Vivienne Westwood’s anarchic flair. One might encounter a cascading floral ballgown fashioned entirely from ivory hydrangeas, while another sculpture might flaunt a spiked collar and punk-style hair — a clear nod to punk’s defiant edge.This immersive floral catwalk invites visitors not just to admire the artistry, but to reflect on how self-expression blooms — through both what we wear and how we cultivate beauty in the world around us. Using delicate, fragile blossoms to craft spectacular and intricate designs, it’s fashion reimagined: alive, evolving, and rooted in nature.

An example of this is a stunning, ornate gown adorned with white hydrangeas, paired with a delicate lace parasol and a simple string of pearls. The blossoms are used to create a voluminous hooped petticoat, reminiscent of mid-19th century fashion, which aimed to accentuate a small waist and create an exaggerated silhouette. This design was not just aesthetic but symbolic — used to manipulate the figure and reflect ideals of femininity and social stature.The parasol, both decorative and functional, highlights elegance and class. Traditionally used to shield the wearer from the sun’s rays, it served as a subtle indicator of refinement and aristocracy. The elegant string of pearls adds a final touch of purity and timeless sophistication, symbolising heritage, grace, and enduring value. This intricate gown illustrates how fashion can convey beauty, status, and elegance — blooming with full bunches of flowers that delicately adorn the skirt, it is a celebration of style through the language of nature.

Another elaborate design depicts an elegant ballerina, her bodice adorned with delicate pink Gypsophila — also known as baby’s breath — and her tutu crafted from structured leaves. This creates a striking juxtaposition between the softness and fragility of a traditional tutu and the rigid, architectural form of the foliage. The ballerina is adorned with beautiful accessories, including classic pink pointe shoes crafted from tiny pink roses, and a simple pink rose placed atop her bun, from which a pastel rose ribbon gracefully cascades. The piece serves as a nod to Les Néréides’ collaboration with the Opéra National de Paris in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Palais Garnier. In particular, it draws inspiration from the romantic ballet Giselle, which tells the tragic story of a young peasant girl who falls in love with a nobleman, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and redemption. Les Néréides, known for their intricate and whimsical jewellery, encapsulate the beauty of ballet through their designs, capturing the grandeur and artistry of the iconic Paris opera house.

This next gown is a design that fuses floral elements with a brand’s signature identity. MZ Skin, renowned for its Lightmax LED mask, serves as the inspiration for a concept that brings technology and beauty into harmony. In my take, the statue’s bodice is constructed entirely from the brand’s iconic masks, sculpted to form a futuristic, almost armor-like silhouette. From the bodice, the design flows seamlessly into a cascading skirt composed of pink, white, and purple blooms — including peonies, roses, baby’s breath, and Barberton daisies. The contrast between the sleek, high-tech masks and the softness of the flowers highlights the harmony between science and beauty — the clinical precision of skincare fused with the natural elegance of florals. Together, they create a powerful visual metaphor: transformation, renewal, and radiance, both botanical and skin-deep. This imagined gown reflects how innovation in beauty can be reinterpreted through the language of fashion and florals, resulting in a look that feels both modern and timeless.

One final floral sculpture eloquently showcases the theme: an opulent, period-inspired gown, rich in detail and theatrical in scale. Drawing inspiration from the French aristocracy, the gown is recognisable by its dramatic silhouette — particularly the wide, structured skirt, exaggerated puffy sleeves, and oversized bonnet. The bonnet, framed in flowers, echoes headwear worn by noblewomen of the 17th century, symbolising class and status. The gown itself is lavishly embroidered with a tapestry of hydrangeas, roses, orchids, and amaranthus, creating a striking palette of crimson, burgundy, dusty pinks, and purples. Accompanying this regal ensemble is a whimsical poodle-shaped sculpture, crafted entirely from ivory-white hydrangeas. This playful addition offers a charming contrast to the grandeur of the gown, reflecting the blend of utility and status once associated with such companion animals. Surrounding the display is a lush bed of florals  grounding the piece in natural elegance and further reinforcing the harmony between fashion and the organic world.

This year’s Chelsea in Bloom beautifully intertwined the elegance of both corsage and couture, illustrating how each captures a delicate balance between the fleeting and the enduring. Just as a flower blooms and eventually withers, so too does a fashion era rise and fade, making space for the next to flourish. Together, they create a powerful visual narrative for passersby, showcasing the intricacy and craftsmanship at the heart of both nature and design. In this exquisite interplay of fabric and flora, Chelsea in Bloom reminds us that both fashion and nature are forms of living art — ever-changing, deeply personal, and endlessly inspiring.

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All Images Courtesy of Claudia Limaverde Costa.

Written by Claudia Limaverde Costa

Edited by Daisy Packwood, Fashion Editor