Fleurs de Villes Floral Couture Exhibit Descends Upon Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and 900 Shops

Stop and smell the roses at Fleurs de Villes Floral Couture as it makes its first appearance in the US from September 25 to 29, 2019 at 900 Shops, located in the 900 N. Michigan tower below Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. The unique exhibition blends luxury floral couture and fresh blooms with bespoke floral-dressed mannequins and fresh flower market stalls.

Fifteen of Chicago’s leading florists, including HMR Designs, Kehoe Designs, The Revel Group, Flowers for Dreams, Flower Firm, Flora Chicago, Fleurs Chicago and more, will be paired with world-class brands to design stunning displays from fresh flowers. The five-day extravaganza kicks off on Wednesday, September 25 when the finished mannequins, each clothed in a one-of-a-kind design made up of hundreds of fresh blooms, will be exhibited at 900 North Michigan Shops until Sunday, September 29.

“Fleurs de Villes is a showcase for local, world-class floral design,” says Fleurs de Villes co-founder Karen Marshall. “Our pop-up shows are stunning examples of the artistry of flowers, and we are delighted to present our show for the first time in Chicago - connecting the public with a free sensory experience they won’t see anywhere else.”

Celebrating Fleur de Villes at Allium Restaurant

From September 26 to 29, Allium Restaurant will host Thé En Fleurs, French for "flower teas," in the afternoon from 2:30 to 4:00 pm.

Guests can imbibe on floral-inspired sweets from Pastry Chef Scott Gerken, such as honey lavender macarons, candied violet scones and rose petit fours. For savoury options, Chef Michael Zachman presents gourmet bites, such as fig and robiola tarts with lemon verbena and robiola cheese; Allium ash-cured trout with meyer lemon crema, paddle fish caviar and gold leaf; and devilled eggs with crème fraîche, black truffles and gold leaf. For USD 74 per person, guests can enjoy the above menu paired with a glass of Moët & Chandon Brut Champagne; for USD 104 per person, the flower tea will be paired three tastings of Champagne: Moët & Chandon Brut Champagne, Dom Pérignon Champagne and Dom Pérignon P2 Champagne.

In the evenings of September 26 to 29, Allium will present a floral-themed prix-fixe dinner, also a collaboration between Chefs Zachman and Gerken. This three-course menu, priced at USD 95 per person, titled Hymne Aux Fleurs (hymn to the flowers), is as follows:

• Essence of Cherry Blossom Tea: cherry blossom white tea with butterfly pea flower
• Field of Flowers: bluefin tuna carpaccio, nasturtiums and allium ash
• Sea of Flowers: Sea bass, cherry blossom dashi and edible flowers
• Flower Box: carrot cake, compressed pineapple carrot gel, coconut snow and edible flowers

Reservations are required for both the Flower Teas and prix-fixe dinners - call 312 799 4900 or book online.

About Fleurs de Villes

On the heels of international shows in London, England at Covent Garden, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s Jardin Blanc, and previous shows in Canada over the past two years, 900 Shops will present Fleurs de Villes for the first time in the United States, with highlights including the Joffrey Ballet’s production of Jane Eyre brought to life in fresh flowers by Fleur Chicago, a pop-up shop from Chicago Botanic Garden and a Hendrick’s Gin bar promoting its Original Blend and Midsummer Solstice blends. Sponsored by Floral Exhibits, Fleurs de Villes Jardin will feature daily workshops from florists and other brand partners.

After viewing fourteen fresh floral mannequins at 900 Shops, visitors are invited to view the fifteenth mannequin that will be exhibited at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago lobby. The public is encouraged to vote on their favourite mannequin for a chance to win a trip to Seattle to attend the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival in February 2020, where Fleurs de Villes is a featured attraction.

Established in 2015, Fleurs de Villes features the works of top florists in that city, creating stunning fresh floral mannequins aligned with, and inspired by, partnered brands presented in elegant gallery-like settings. From the stunning displays of the Mannequin Series to pop-up fresh flower markets, Fleurs de Villes cultivates bespoke flower events that bloom with happiness. International shows in 2019 include Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Chicago, Vancouver, Quebec City and more.