Magic realism is one of the many strengths of the famed fashion house of Alexander McQueen, and at this year's Salone del Mobile that symbolism was brought to life by leading set designer Shona Heath.
Created to celebrate this year's edition of the world's foremost furniture fair, the 'Bloom at Night' window installation featured hand-crafted, night blooming flowers, hummingbirds, bees and butterflies, all suspended in mid-air as if charmed or bewitched, with a background of similarly enchanted, climbing tree branches and vines.
Under the spell of McQueen's new eponymous parfum – exclusively launched in Italy on 14 April – the fragrance is as beguiling as the installation which it inspired. ‘I wanted this fragrance to come from night flowers, the kind that exude an eternal freshness once the day is gone,’ explains McQueen creative director Sarah Burton. And that it does. Sambac jasmine, tuberose and ylang-ylang essences meld together to create a scent that is at once powerful and delicate, sweet and sultry, and yet decidedly dark and powerful; cues made perfectly clear by Heath's entrancing display.
As is now tradition, Wallpaper* partnered with McQueen and gathered Salone del Mobile's most fashionable guests at the via Pietro Verri boutique to celebrate the creative display with a few drinks, before disappearing into the night, like Heath's fantastical set threatens to do.
The installation’s components were all suspended in mid-air as if charmed or bewitched, with a background of similarly enchanted, climbing tree branches and vines.
’Bloom at Night’ was inspired by the fashion house’s eponymous new parfum, which exclusively launched in Italy on 14 April.
Heath’s fantastical fashion sets regularly appear in the pages of top fashion titles, including British Vogue. Pictured: a detail shot of the ’Bloom at Night’ installation.
‘I wanted this fragrance to come from night flowers, the kind that exude an eternal freshness once the day is gone,’ explains McQueen creative director Sarah Burton
Sambac jasmine, tuberose and ylang-ylang meld together to create a scent that is both powerful and delicate; cues made manifest in Heath’s display
The via Pietro Verri boutique hosted the installation for two days during the foremost furniture fair, Salone del Mobile
Wallpaper* gathered Milan’s most fashionable guests at the via Pietro Verri boutique to celebrate the creative display with a few drinks, before disappearing into the night
-
An eco-conscious reconfiguration of space revives a London homeAn eco-conscious reimagining of a Victorian terraced home for a growing London family, THISS Studio’s Hartley House offers sustainable, spacious living
-
A guide to the best fashion stores Copenhagen has to offerWallpaper* picks the must-visit fashion stores in Copenhagen – from big-name boutiques and historic department stores to local labels and the best in second-hand, each presenting a fresh take on Danish design
-
Indian studio Compartment S4 celebrates architectural collaborationCompartment S4, the Indian architecture studio out of Ahmedabad and Mumbai, is true to its collective nature
-
Faye Toogood brings new life to Matisse’s legacyMilan Design Week 2023: tapped by Maison Matisse, the London-based designer has taken inspiration from the French master’s forms to create a collection of heirloom-worthy objects
-
Prada Frames 2023: Milan programme announcedProgramme announced for Prada Frames 2023 at Milan Design Week, the annual symposium curated by Formafantasma at Luigi Caccia Dominioni's Teatro Filodrammatici from 17 to 19 April
-
Alessi Occasional Objects: Virgil Abloh’s take on cutleryBest Cross Pollination: Alessi's cutlery by the late designer Virgil Abloh, in collaboration with his London studio Alaska Alaska, is awarded at the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2023
-
Salone del Mobile 2023: highlights from Milan Design WeekIn pictures: our highlights from Milan Design Week, held during the 61st Salone del Mobile 2023 (18-23 April)
-
USM launches blushing pink limited edition of its modular furnitureFollowing an installation during Milan Design Week 2022, USM launches a new pink limited edition of its Haller range
-
‘You don't want space; you want to fill it’: Milan exhibitionMaking its debut during Milan Design Week 2022 at Marsèll Paradise, a new exhibition by Matylda Krzykowski, explores how we approach the space we live in (until 15 July 2022)
-
Men’s mental health takes centre stage at an art and design exhibition by Tableau‘Confessions’, which travels to Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design following its debut at Milan Design Week 2022, features commissioned work by 14 male artists, designers and architects, reflecting on toxic masculinity, vulnerability and mental health
-
Salone del Mobile 2022: highlights from Milan Design WeekIn pictures: our highlights from Milan Design Week 2022, held during the 60th edition of Salone del Mobile (7 – 12 June 2022)
