RACHAEL BARKER
Tell us a little bit about what you do? What are you excited for this year? Can you tell us about some of the projects you are working on at the moment?
I’m a florist & floral consultant. I work with some of the most wonderful brands and clients in the world.
At the moment, I’m creating lots of Weddings and Parties for the Summer Season. I’ve also been working a lot with Diptyque on florals for their Events in-store. There are lots of things I’d like to tell you about but I’m not allowed to!
What is an opportunity you are grateful for in your career?
The opportunity to make people genuinely happy.
There is nothing better than making people feel totally special. I also have the opportunity to work with clients & brands that I’ve always admired both personally and aesthetically. Something that is wonderfully bittersweet is the opportunity to see and inhabit London at 3am every morning; the City is full of life with delivery drivers, chefs, cab drivers and of course, florists.
Is there anyone who acted as a mentor to you along the way?
Absolutely. Floristry and the Flower Trade is such a close-knit community- we all know and respect each other- because it’s extremely tough. Without the support of each other, it would mbe much much harder. The smallest of gestures, favours and help has gotten us all out of tricky situations.
A very special person that I have to mention is John Hardcastle; he and his son Sam own the wholesaler ‘Bloomfield’ at New Covent Garden Flower Market. He is my biggest champion, and I his.
How do you approach getting dressed everyday?
For work it’s completely different. I always take an extra outfit to wear for when I leave the Flower Market for when I’m meeting Clients or going to view a beautiful venue. Dressing at 2am is dressing for the temperature in the Market- it’s freezing in there (it’s at a controlled temperature for the flowers) and you get totally filthy! I’ve ruined endless Cashmere jumpers and lovely dresses with bleach, flower sap and gnarly branches!
My approach when I’m not at work is to wear something that I feel confident in- I love wearing striped shirts and dresses. I adore pattern, layering and a platform shoe!
What are you wearing here and what made you gravitate towards this look from HUISHAN ZHANG?
I’m wearing the Poppy Dress- it’s just so beautiful. I love it because it’s a great style for wearing around London and it’s quite glam for evening dinners- and of course, the fabric is heaven.
I’m wearing it with my Marni sandals- the most fun sandals that I own- I love the floral detailing on the straps.
Rachael Barker wears the Poppy Dress from our Iconic collection.