Florilegium

Ever drawn to the past, Corrie Nielsen looks to a medieval Latin word to summate this collection: Florilegium, literally meaning “a gathering of flowers.” This collection writes a floral story using sculpted forms and elaborate tailoring. Centered on London’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, these pieces beautifully reinterpret the flora and architecture of the Gardens. Metallic silk is wrapped around the body to create a giant, all-encompassing peony, while folds of leaves encase a transparent, glass-like bodice inspired by the Victorian Palm House of Kew. The collection depicts the study and complexity of petals, sepals, stamen, and anthers using luxurious fabrics and delicate leathers. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution is played out in Corrie’s avant-garde, dip-dyed wedding dress — one of the many showpieces in this collection.