- Now, fashion is falling hard for the anthurium once again. Loewe, under the visionary Jonathan Anderson (soon heading to Dior), put the flower front and centre in their Spring/Summer 2023 collection
- Soon after, Zendaya, Emily Ratajkowski, and Kendall Jenner were seen wearing Loewe’s anthurium designs. Jenner wore it around her neck like a modern-day Venus. With that, the flower’s fashion status was firmly cemented
Anthuriums have long held a quiet fascination for me. They are unlike any other flower, oddly precise, cleanly defined, part sculpture, part surreal creation. Sometimes I’ve loved them, especially when flipping through photographs of my parents’ wedding, where they featured prominently as symbols of prosperity and abundance. In many traditions, this tropical bloom is said to bestow blessings and offer protection; a flower of serenity.
01.At other times, I’ve found them unsettling. That bold, waxy red petal with a phallic yellow stem at its centre feels almost too audacious. Its sculptural, curved form is part alien, part tropical fantasy, part erotic sculpture. But lately, I’ve started to embrace one of nature’s quirkiest creations. The anthurium almost makes you believe in intelligent design, and the sensuality of nature. I’m exhilarated by its revival.
The anthurium is no shy and retiring bloom. It’s for those whose taste extends beyond roses and mainstream florals. And it has always had admirers. The natural modernist Georgia O’Keeffe painted the anthurium in 1923, drawn to its striking lines and forms. Her flower paintings of the 1920s, including Anthurium, were radical contributions to American modernist art. Pop artist Jim Dine painted anthuriums in haunting black and white. Robert Mapplethorpe’s lens turned the plant into a sensual specimen. In his 1987 photograph Anthurium, Chuck Close captured the bloom in stark isolation, highlighting its architectural elegance. French fashion photographer Guy Bourdin, known for his boundary-pushing imagery, included anthuriums in a provocative 1986 shoot with a topless swimmer; surreal, sensual, sublime.
With these early tastemakers as unofficial ambassadors, the anthurium became a staple of the ‘70s and ‘80s fashion crowd. It was seen in floral arrangements at hotspots like Mr. Chow and Studio 54, bold, strange, and glamorous.
Now, fashion is falling hard for the anthurium once again. Loewe, under the visionary Jonathan Anderson (soon heading to Dior), put the flower front and centre in their Spring/Summer 2023 collection. A replica of the bloom was the show’s centrepiece. The clothes themselves, surreal and strange, celebrated the eroticism of nature and the line between the real and unreal. Variations of the anthurium motif adorned tops, dresses, and heels. Its structural silhouette, too technical to seem natural, captivated audiences and fashion editors alike.
My Parents Wedding
02.Soon after, Zendaya, Emily Ratajkowski, and Kendall Jenner were seen wearing Loewe’s anthurium designs. Jenner wore it around her neck like a modern-day Venus. With that, the flower’s fashion status was firmly cemented. Anthurium red is now seen across Louis Vuitton catwalks and stores. If the monstera was the leafy backdrop for selfies, the anthurium may just be its bold, fashionable replacement.
In the world of floral design, the anthurium is also thriving. Its retro appeal fits perfectly with the revival of ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s aesthetics, eras that are having a moment in both fashion and interiors. In today’s chaotic world, people are seeking anchors, old values, familiar motifs. The anthurium, with its mix of nostalgia and exoticism, offers just that: a symbol of tradition and luxury, but also of avant-garde flair.
03.This thought really struck me during a visit to Cinnamon Life at the City of Dreams. Their florists have masterfully embraced the anthurium’s eccentric beauty. Scattered throughout the hotel, the floral installations are true works of art, daring, elegant, and thoughtfully composed.
Sometimes using bold, contemporary colour combinations reminiscent of the Fauves, the early 20th-century French painters who glorified colour above all else, the displays exude both confidence and creativity.
Yet no one is using the anthurium purely for aesthetics. Its symbolism is part of the allure. Those vibrant red leaves and striking yellow spadix have long been associated with love and lust, even likened to Cupid’s arrows in Greek mythology. Across cultures, the anthurium represents hospitality, abundance, protection, and passion. It is a bloom that transcends borders and traditions, standing as a testament to how deeply flowers can touch the human soul. Caring for anthuriums is notoriously tricky, they require just the right balance of light, humidity, and attention. But if cared for properly, they will reward you not only with beauty, but by purifying your air. Whether you are drawn to their form or their meaning, there has never been a better time to embrace the anthurium. From forgotten houseplant to symbol of bold modern beauty, the anthurium has officially bloomed once more.
