Hattie Fox made waves when she opened her first stand-alone, aptly named "That Flower Shop" at the Ace Hotel in Shoreditch last year. Creativity was at the heart of each of Fox's displays, and the passion for her craft shines through in each of her arrangements. (We're partial to the spare pinecone, cinnamon, and clementine arrangements.) A firm believer in using British-grown flowers and seasonal foliage, this art school grad and her work are always surprising and full of personality.
Below, we caught up with Fox at her Hoxton Street studio, where she gives Opening Ceremony an exclusive wreath-making tutorial.
SHAWANA GROSVENOR: What goes into making the perfect Christmas wreath?
HATTIE FOX: You need to have good color combinations, a mixture of seasonal foliages and cinnamon, orange or something fragrant to give it a Christmassy scent. For the base of our wreath for Opening Ceremony, we used Douglas Pine, Welsh Lichen, Birch twigs, and Honeysuckle twine. For the decorations, we chose a selection of pink pinecones, small thistles, Brunia, pink Hyperican, and pepper berries, and topped it off with an Opening Ceremony ribbon.
Do you have a favorite festive plant?
I love the Welsh Lichen, which is part of the Opening Ceremony wreath. Hellebores are really beautiful and are a very traditional English Christmassy flower. Oh, and kisses underneath mistletoe!
Where is your favorite place in London at Christmas?
I like the Royal Oak on Columbia Road, for festive cider and mulled wine.
Best gift you've ever given?
Last year I bought my boyfriend an atlas and pinpointed all the places I wanted to go and said we'll be going here, here, and here... I think he thought it was more of a gift for me!
Best gift you've ever received?
I don't know, my dad bought me a tow rope once when my car kept breaking down and a road map because I always used to take short cuts, which meant driving through fields in the English countryside.
What's playing on your December studio playlist?
Leo (one of my team) insists we listen to Mariah Carey! We're listening to First Aid Kit a lot. We like movie soundtracks too; My Best Friends Wedding is the best.
Where will you be spending the holidays?
I'm going to my dad's in the countryside, probably with lots of screaming children so I'm hoping that I can go to sleep early! Afterward, I'm going to Morocco to spend my Christmas money!
Lastly, What's your spirit animal?
We talk about this all the time... I think I'm an ant!
That Flower Shop Wreath for Opening Ceremony
For the base:
Honeysuckle Twine
Douglas Pine
Welsh Lichen
Birch Twigs
For the decoration:
Pin cones (we spray-painted ours pink!)
Small Thistles
Brunia
Pink Hyperican
Pink Pepper Berry
Selection of grass (spray painted bronze)
Florists wire
Tissue Paper
Step 1: First of all, use honeysuckle twine, birch twigs held into place with wire to make a rounded shape for the base of your wreath.
Step 2: Start making small bundles of Douglas pine and wire onto your base, repeat until the base is entirely covered in greenery. We like to use lots of different kinds of pine and aim to make a crest shape by attaching small bundles on top of one another. Be sure to
Below, we caught up with Fox at her Hoxton Street studio, where she gives Opening Ceremony an exclusive wreath-making tutorial.
SHAWANA GROSVENOR: What goes into making the perfect Christmas wreath?
HATTIE FOX: You need to have good color combinations, a mixture of seasonal foliages and cinnamon, orange or something fragrant to give it a Christmassy scent. For the base of our wreath for Opening Ceremony, we used Douglas Pine, Welsh Lichen, Birch twigs, and Honeysuckle twine. For the decorations, we chose a selection of pink pinecones, small thistles, Brunia, pink Hyperican, and pepper berries, and topped it off with an Opening Ceremony ribbon.
Do you have a favorite festive plant?
I love the Welsh Lichen, which is part of the Opening Ceremony wreath. Hellebores are really beautiful and are a very traditional English Christmassy flower. Oh, and kisses underneath mistletoe!
Where is your favorite place in London at Christmas?
I like the Royal Oak on Columbia Road, for festive cider and mulled wine.
Best gift you've ever given?
Last year I bought my boyfriend an atlas and pinpointed all the places I wanted to go and said we'll be going here, here, and here... I think he thought it was more of a gift for me!
Best gift you've ever received?
I don't know, my dad bought me a tow rope once when my car kept breaking down and a road map because I always used to take short cuts, which meant driving through fields in the English countryside.
What's playing on your December studio playlist?
Leo (one of my team) insists we listen to Mariah Carey! We're listening to First Aid Kit a lot. We like movie soundtracks too; My Best Friends Wedding is the best.
Where will you be spending the holidays?
I'm going to my dad's in the countryside, probably with lots of screaming children so I'm hoping that I can go to sleep early! Afterward, I'm going to Morocco to spend my Christmas money!
Lastly, What's your spirit animal?
We talk about this all the time... I think I'm an ant!
That Flower Shop Wreath for Opening Ceremony
For the base:
Honeysuckle Twine
Douglas Pine
Welsh Lichen
Birch Twigs
For the decoration:
Pin cones (we spray-painted ours pink!)
Small Thistles
Brunia
Pink Hyperican
Pink Pepper Berry
Selection of grass (spray painted bronze)
Florists wire
Tissue Paper
Step 1: First of all, use honeysuckle twine, birch twigs held into place with wire to make a rounded shape for the base of your wreath.
Step 2: Start making small bundles of Douglas pine and wire onto your base, repeat until the base is entirely covered in greenery. We like to use lots of different kinds of pine and aim to make a crest shape by attaching small bundles on top of one another. Be sure to