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Lookbook 2021: META Transcends to Reflect Multi-Layered Belief Systems That Bring Solace During Times of Uncertainty

This week, we continue the six-part series reporting on floral trends we see emerging for 2021 and beyond. Our flower.style lookbook finds colors, flowers and moods that reflect the current fascinations, aspirations, lifestyles and play styles of floral professionals, enthusiasts and consumers. 

The unique color stories and floral combinations—illustrated with original images and specific color palettes—provide a springboard for inspiration, focusing on nature, home, spiritualism, reaction, resilience and amusement as apropos themes for the aesthetic response to the current pandemic reality.

Our third trend, META, comes from the Greek word for beyond, after or behind. The “beyond” sense of meta still lingers in words like metaphysics or meta-economy, and as a prefix meaning of “meta” denotes something that is more comprehensive or transcending. For our purposes, it contemplates the beyondness of individual faith.

As the quest for meaning peaks during uncertain times, we often see a rise in spiritualism, blended beliefs and faith—with subsequent expressions both literal and symbolic. From Christianity to Zen Buddhism and everything in between and on either side, the icons and motifs gather to inform the elements of meta. With a sense of reverence and ritual, this transcendence prompts a range of liturgically-based purples and wines, Zen-inspired blues and mystical metallics add a base of meditative neutrals. Flowers follow with multiple iterations that alternate between Eastern and Western concepts, with both evoking feelings of calm and solace.

Creative Director: Talmage McLaurin began his floral career in a family-owned flower business. In 1990, he launched a 23-year career in floral publishing, during which he contributed to more than 400 issues of Florists’ Review and Super Floral magazines, and was featured in more than 20 books for florists as the Creative Director and Publisher for Florists’ Review Enterprises. He was inducted into American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) in 1988 and has made eight presentations at their National Symposiums. In 2008, Talmage received the AIFD award of Distinguished Service to the Floral Industry. Talmage resides in Ft. Lauderdale and is part of the creative teams at Sunshine Bouquet Company, Esmeralda Farms and Nature’s Flowers in Miami, Florida.

Color Consultant: Leatrice Eiseman is Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute and founder of the Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training, where her work includes color consulting for industry and forecasting. She is the author of ten books on color and presents color seminars internationally. Lee contributes to a color forecast for professionals, Pantone View Home, on a yearly basis and contributes to the Pantone View Color Planner twice yearly. Seasonally, she contributes to Pantone’s Fashion Color Report and the selection of Pantone’s Color of the Year. She is a member of Fashion Group International, Industrial Design Society of America, an associate member of American Society of Interior Designers and a founding member of The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the American Film Institute. Among several of her awards, both the New York Times and Fortune Magazine have featured her as one of the top decision makers for her work in color.

Photographer: Maxine Helfman is a self-taught, late bloomer. After spending years as a stylist and photo art director, the only way to truly realize her vision was to get behind the camera. She has since been shooting commercially for advertising and editorial clients, while pursuing personal projects. Her work has been recognized by PX3, IPA, Lucie Awards, CNN, Critical Mass, British Journal of Photography, PDM and Communication Arts. Her images are part of the permanent collection of Sant Barbara Museum of Art and The Museum of Fine Arts Houston.