Lotusland’s fantastical landscape is a fitting backdrop for the season’s best flora-inspired styles
Words, Creative & Fashion Direction by ALISON EDMOND
Photography by ALISTAIR TAYLOR-YOUNG
California is home to many beautiful botanical gardens across the state, but perhaps none so stunning as the historic landscape created by Ganna Walska at Lotusland in Montecito. Walska originally bought the estate in 1941 and spent the remaining years of her life importing a staggering array of exotic plants, from cacti to ferns and fruits. A fashionable beauty of the day, she was also a failed opera singer, was married six times, and was one of the inspirations behind the 1941 classic film Citizen Kane. Following in the elegant footsteps of this eccentric and legendary artiste, we paired Lotusland’s incredible fauna with the standout floral prints of the Spring 2020 season, for a match made in every decadent gardener’s heaven.
VALENTINO dress, $4,500. JANESSA LEONE hat, $265. GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI sandals, $1,350. Stylist’s own ribbon and gloves.
GIVENCHY dress, $5,340. GLADYS TAMEZ MILLINERY hat, $625. SYLVIE CORBELIN ring, $9,500. Stylist’s own ribbon.
DOLCE & GABBANA coat, $3,745, bra, $945, briefs, $995, and shoes, $2,245. SPORTI swim cap, $7. JACQUES MARIE MAGE sunglasses, $610. SYLVIE CORBELIN ring, $47,000.
CAROLINA HERRERA dress, $2,690. BEEMO cap, $32. GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI sandals, $1,250. Stylist’s own gloves.
BALENCIAGA dress, $995.
GIORGIO ARMANI dress, $9,195. JULIA CLANCEY hair clip, $500. SOPHIA WEBSTER sandals, $675.
From left: DIOR dress, price upon request, bra, $1,300, briefs, $1,200, and hat, $1,500. RIIQIICHY scarf, $9. MIA BECAR sandals, $1,000. ETRO jumpsuit, $2,150. GLADYS TAMEZ MILLINERY hat, $440. OLIVER PEOPLES sunglasses, $380. SYLVIE CORBELIN ring, $23,000. Stylist’s own belt.
FENDI dress, $4,200, and sandals, $690. JACQUES MARIE MAGE sunglasses, $550. Stylist’s own ribbon.
PRADA coat, $6,660. BROCK COLLECTION dress, $4,210. SYLVIE CORBELIN earrings, $18,000.
Makeup: SERUCELL KFS Cellular Protein Complex serum, $225. IT COSMETICS Bye Bye Lines foundation, $38. JILLIAN DEMPSEY Lid Tint in Plum, $28, and Cheek Tint in Poppy, $28. SMASHBOX Be Legendary lipstick in Coral, $21.
Model HARLETH KUUSIK at Freedom Models
Hair by CHRISTIAN MARC at Forward Artists using R+Co.
Makeup by JO STRETTELL at Tracey Mattingly using Serucell
Feature image: BALENCIAGA dress, $995, and bag, $1,290.
This story originally appeared in the March 2020 issue of C Magazine.
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