Consumer goes for glitter
“Bling, bling is everywhere: in fashion, in jewellery, sunglasses, cars… etc. etc.. But, Vintage Glamour is more sophisticated. It looks very luxurious indeed and that makes it a perfect theme for Christmas,” says Gary Loen, florist/designer from Uden in the South of Holland. “The whole bling, bling culture came over from America three or four years ago on the back of R&B music and can now be found all over Europe. It manifests itself in flashy necklaces and wristwatches and in rhinestone covered mobile phones. If it glitters it’s good! Vintage Glamour on the other hand is by no means vulgar. On the contrary, I used it in my work last Christmas – I like to keep a year ahead of the trends – and my sales figures were very good. For example, I used glitter on Anthuriums – only on the flower spike – and on a number of different luxury orchids. White Chrysanthemums with silver glitter also sold well. I also displayed glittering twigs in a whole range of colours. My displays were deliberately low key, sticking to graduated shades of the same colour and avoiding a carnival look. Otherwise it would have been no better or different to what the supermarkets had to offer.”

	Glamour Bouquet – Parallel tied bouquet of Dianthus ‘Prado Mint’ (18253), green Muscari (19202) and black alder twigs. The stems are tied with rhinestone bands.
	Torch – Butterfly vases with Eustoma russellianum ‘Mariachi White’ (12036) and pink/white (9881), Dianthus ‘Epoca’ (13270) and white (7832). The tie is decorated with a classical brooch.

Shabby Chic – Parallel tied bouquets of Anigozanthos ‘Mini Sunlight’ (10893), Eustoma russellianum ‘Mariachi Yellow’ (14946) and Rosa Avalanche+ (16207), decorated with glitter.
Mother of Pearl – Dianthus ‘Epoca’ (13270), Eustoma russellianum ‘Mariachi Yellow’ (14946), Polianthes tuberosa (2482), Rosa Old Dutch (25316) and birch twigs, in a vase with a mother of pearl sheen.