Michael George Flowers

Profile

Long before 2001, when the late Michael George (1948 - 2014) moved from Bergdorf to his former 2,200-square-foot Tudor City studio, designers like Calvin Klein and Tom Ford sought out his signature architectural arrangements of white calla lilies, paperwhites, or cream-colored roses. To achieve George’s graphic, monochromatic look, stems are shaped with dazzling precision and set into clear, sandblasted or black glass vases. The result is a lean but moneyed minimalist chic, like an understated couture ensemble too swank to boast a logo. The near-sculptural floral compositions, which nod as much to O’Keefe as Fragonard, have won the loyalty of domestic moguls like Martha Stewart, whose layouts and on-air demos often showcase George’s work. With a constant influx of custom orders for society weddings and big-ticket corporate and charity events, the studio functions more as a workshop than a retail outlet. Hefty minimums for gift orders of Italian blue muscari or the shop’s classic, best-selling red-rose arrangement tend to deter walk-in customers, but on-the-spot bouquets can be arranged from a seasonal stock of flowers. — Nitasha Tiku

Extra

Weddings

George was one of the pioneers of the fuss-free floral look. Masses of a single type of flower often comprise arrangements (mostly calla lilies, roses, or tulips—sometimes 300 or more in a bunch). Bridal bouquets and centerpieces from $150.

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Best of New York Awards

• Best Flower Arranging (2004)