Floral prints are a dime a dozen. But floral prints based on real arrangements of chrysanthemum, carnation, and dahlia by master Belgian florists are, as far as we know, completely singular. Thierry Boutemy, the fleuriste behind Opening Ceremony's new collaboration, is as whimsical as his designs. Below, we ask the man behind the arrangements in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette and Vogue's Lady Gaga COVER about his memories of wild herbs in Normandy, his mood boards of crushed flowers, and why he was once considered a bad florist.
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OPENING CEREMONY: What flowers did you choose for the collection?
How did you create the prints in this collection? Are they based on real floral arrangements?
NATHALIE CAMPION [Thierry's assistant]: Thierry made many different mood boards of flowers, some with natural flowers, others with dyed flowers, others with grassy plants or even cacti. For him, the most important thing was to play with the material, the colors, and the different textures. He also wanted to work with the type of dirt you find on your socks after walking through damp, wild fields. Certain flowers he crushed on the mood boards to create impressions from their pigments. He created the boards by reflecting on images in his mind and interpreting them as flowers. Everything about his process is instinctive.
I read that you studied agriculture as well as flower design. How did this influence your work?
Badly. These studies are much too scholarly and rigid. Freedom is completely banned; they try to make students follow norms. [In school] the horticulture that we were learning didn't interest me at all. I learned how to become independent, to get off the beaten track. I was considered a bad florist.
How did you meet Sofia Coppola? Tell us the story!
What are the flowers like in Normandy where you're from?
I am from Avranches. It’s wild flowers from the field; simple, seasonal. We also have what we today consider to be bad weeds but which are very pretty, like the wind that blows through them. True nature. They wilt naturally; no one cuts them but they stay beautiful.
Shop Thierry Boutemy for Opening Ceremony Men's and WomeN's
OPENING CEREMONY: What flowers did you choose for the collection?
THIERRY BOUTEMY: Every composition was different. One includes blue rose, blue chrysanthemum, dahlia, carnation, and peony. Another is dahlia, delphinium, rose, cosmos, and lily. A third is smashed flowers: poppy, delphinium, sweat pea, eucalyptus, phytolacca.
How did you create the prints in this collection? Are they based on real floral arrangements?
NATHALIE CAMPION [Thierry's assistant]: Thierry made many different mood boards of flowers, some with natural flowers, others with dyed flowers, others with grassy plants or even cacti. For him, the most important thing was to play with the material, the colors, and the different textures. He also wanted to work with the type of dirt you find on your socks after walking through damp, wild fields. Certain flowers he crushed on the mood boards to create impressions from their pigments. He created the boards by reflecting on images in his mind and interpreting them as flowers. Everything about his process is instinctive.
THIERRY BOUTEMY: With clients, I cannot explain what I do, so there is a great deal of confidence. I cannot be reassuring. It is very rare that I make drawings or sketches beforehand. I go to the markets myself and choose the flowers. Even if I have a vision in my head for a project, when I start to build the installation there is always the magic of instinct.
I read that you studied agriculture as well as flower design. How did this influence your work?
Badly. These studies are much too scholarly and rigid. Freedom is completely banned; they try to make students follow norms. [In school] the horticulture that we were learning didn't interest me at all. I learned how to become independent, to get off the beaten track. I was considered a bad florist.
How did you meet Sofia Coppola? Tell us the story!
Everything changed the day I started to work for the Sofia Coppola film, Marie Antoinette. This project is and will remain the best project, because I [felt] innocence from the beginning. When I saw Sofia and she saw me, it’s like [we knew] words were not necessary. We understood each other immediately. I’m a child; I’m innocent. I think she is too.
What are the flowers like in Normandy where you're from?
I am from Avranches. It’s wild flowers from the field; simple, seasonal. We also have what we today consider to be bad weeds but which are very pretty, like the wind that blows through them. True nature. They wilt naturally; no one cuts them but they stay beautiful.