enya FASHION QUEEN

TEXT by Miyu Lin ｜ TRANSLATION by Sherry Chen

從外人眼中，文華國際花苑總監陳妍嵐Sarah宛如是從富饒的沃土中被呵護培育而成的一株美好花朵，帶著與生俱來的優異DNA，加上個人後天的堅持與努力，優雅盛放的容顏是如此令人欣羨、憧憬。

From an outsider’s perspective, the Director of Mandarin Florist Taipei, Sarah Chen, appears like an elegant flower shriving in fertile soil. Yet with her exceptional genes, fortified by her perseverance and diligence, her blossoming grace and demeanor inspire genuine admiration.

擁有如花般氣質的陳妍嵐Sarah，對花也情有獨鍾，選擇與花共舞成為她的終身志業。主理「文華國際花苑」至今卓然有成，十數年的專業經驗打下了傲人成績，如今已是眾多國際精品、公司企業、政商名人與藝人朋友的唯一指定。

Sarah Chen has a temperament reminiscent of flowers. Motivated by her unique affection for flowers, she chose to pursue the path of floristry, swirling among the blossoms for a lifetime journey. As the proprietor of Mandarin Florist Taipei, Sarah has garnered impressive success. With over a decade of professional experience, she has successfully made her team the exclusive choice of numerous international brands, corporate enterprises, political figures, and celebrity friends.

從生活出發的花藝

Sarah當年於英國留學時曾遊歷歐洲各地，深受歐洲花藝與自然庭園影響，她表示：「花藝是美學的實踐，更是生活與心情的表達，用花朵，展現對優雅的追求與美好的期待，就是文華苑的精神。」

就是這份從生活出發的初心原點，引領著Sarah於今年與團隊共同激盪出「生活花藝」的創意概念。Sarah回想起，剛開始接觸花藝後特別是商業花藝，發現不單是客戶，或者是身邊的家人朋友，總有一部分人對於花藝是感覺到有距離的，且認為自己的所知非常有限。在溝通的過程中，可以感受到多數人對於美麗花卉的憧憬期待，與創作設計的欽羨。

於是，「我們便開始思考，難道花藝真是和人們生活距離如此遙遠的一件事嗎？從一個觀察者的角度來看，花草其實原就充滿在我們生活周遭，除去規則與技法，看到單純大自然給予的美好，體現讓花草住進生活裡，開始捻花惹草就是花藝的起步。」Sarah語氣真切地說道。

所以，在文華苑呈現的作品中，商業花藝有花藝師們多年經驗的設計，生活花藝則是在選材，配色上有著讓人一看就懂的小訣竅：容易取得的玻璃瓶或杯碗盤都能作為花器，配色有如穿搭從同色系到對比或繽紛。而專為客人提供的到府居家佈置，也能在同一空間中經由花藝點綴，讓氣氛煥然一新。

當問到生活花藝是否也能與節慶結合時，Sarah眼裡閃動著光芒表示，「當然可以。節日往往是呈現生活花藝最適合的時間點，舉凡大家熟知的聖誕節懸掛聖誕花圈，中國新年時備置冬青、水仙等應景花卉……對於花草的用心其實就是人們對於節慶的期待。五月份即將到來的母親節，花禮幾乎已經成為讓媽媽們開心的必備好禮之一，畢竟，沒有不愛花的女人（笑）」。

在規劃母親節花禮的初期，Sarah不經意回想起不久前，世界彷彿停止了運作一般，但，同時間，人跟人之間的情感卻是更加的湧動，每個相聚時刻都彌足珍貴。那麼，再回到生活常軌的現在，花禮是否能更貼近心意呢？

Sarah於是想到，「是否能將收到花的喜悅，加碼成為一段讓媽媽愉快享受手作的時光，一個互相陪伴共同創作的午後，一份手作滿足的成就感……？」因此Sarah與團隊將當季的花卉經由花藝師選材及搭配，以精裝禮盒的概念包裝，考慮到保鮮、運送等細節而設計出花材寶盒，不僅節省了為挑選材料所花費的時間與精力，更有著專業的挑選及品管，並能一次購齊多樣種類花材，不論是自己喜歡花藝手作，或是，送給喜歡花藝手作的對方，相信在收到花材寶盒的那一刻就開始對作品充滿期待。

Floral Symphony: Blossoming from Life

While studying abroad in the UK, Sarah traveled extensively throughout Europe. European natural gardening and floristry have become the inspirational foundation of her career. Reflecting on her experience, Sarah expressed, “The art of floristry embodies aesthetics, serving as a reflection of life and emotions. Through flowers, we showcase our pursuit of elegance and our yearning for beauty—this is the essence of Mandarin Florist Taipei.”

This year, the same aspiration rooted in life propelled Sarah and her team to spark the creative concept of ‘Floral Art of Life.’ Sarah recalls when she first started delving into floristry, particularly in the commercial realm, she observed a general unfamiliarity among her clients, friends, and family. They believed their knowledge of floristry was very limited. Yet through thoughtful communication, she sensed that most people harbor longing and anticipation for beautiful flowers, coupled with admiration for creative design.

“We began to ponder why floristry truly creates a distance in people’s lives. From an observer’s perspective, flowers and plants abound in our daily lives. Setting aside rules and techniques, once we appreciate the simple beauty bestowed by nature, we could embody the concept of integrating flowers and plants into our lives. The act of casually arranging flowers marks the beginning of floristry,” said Sarah genuinely.

Therefore, in the creations by Mandarin Florist Taipei, while commercial floristry showcases meticulously crafted designs by experienced florists, everyday floral arrangements incorporate simple tips and techniques in selecting floral ingredients and color matching. Any readily available glass bottles or vessels can replace vases, and color combinations range from monochromatic to contrasting or vibrant, akin to fashion styling. Home decoration services also provide floral arrangements that embellish spaces, enhancing the overall atmosphere.

When asked if everyday floral arrangements could integrate with festivals, Sarah’s eyes sparked with enthusiasm, “Of course! Festivals are often the perfect time to showcase everyday floral arrangements. Whether it’s Christmas wreaths, or holly and narcissus for Chinese New Year, the effort we dedicated to floral art reflects our anticipation for festivals. As Mother’s Day approaches in May, floral gifts have almost become a must-have to make mothers happy. After all, there’s no woman who doesn’t love flowers,’ Sarah chuckled.

In the early stages of planning Mother’s Day floral gifts, Sarah inadvertently recalled the times when the world seemed to halt, yet bonds and connections between individuals enhanced even more, making every moment of gathering precious. If we return to normalcy, would floral gifts continue to resonate with us? Sarah thought, “Could we elevate the joy of receiving flowers into a delightful time for mothers to enjoy crafting? An afternoon of companionship and creative collaboration blooming into handcrafting that fills the heart? Therefore, Sarah and her team curated seasonal flowers selected and arranged by florists and packaged with deluxe gift boxes. Considering details such as preservation and transportation, they designed a floral ingredient treasure box. These boxes not only saved time and effort spent on selecting materials but also ensured professional selection and quality of the floral. With numerous floral ingredients available in a single purchase, whether for personal floral crafting or gifting, we look forward to the anticipation for their creation.

從同理開始的交流

在耀眼的事業成就之外，幸福美滿的家庭生活也是Sarah令人艷羨的光環。這其中，培育出貼心懂事的兒女，是Sarah投注諸多心力的一大成果。近年，孩子們逐漸成長，轉眼一雙年長的兒女已經是正在留學與準備留學的階段，但小女兒還是活潑可愛的小少女。面對年齡差距大的兒女們，Sarah的親子教育有何獨到的心得嗎？

「我常常會回想自己在那個年齡的時候會希望遇到什麼樣的大人。試著從那個角度切入，打開與孩子溝通的橋樑。我覺得孩子不管遇到再困難的事，只要他願意說出來分享，都可一起面對並解決，並在這個過程中一起學習成長。當然，每個孩子都是獨立的個體，無法用同樣的框架套在每個孩子身上，在小的時候，就讓他們盡量嘗試不同體驗去找到自己的興趣。從自己的興趣中強化自己，進而從中得到自信。」

Sarah表示，親子溝通，很多時候是人生經驗的傳承與修正，更多的時候則是以同理心去思考，認真地看待每一次孩子願意交心的機會。當然，已經接近成年的孩子，會有更多對於未來人生藍圖規畫的討論，或提供自己當年留學的經驗與孩子交流；而對於還是單純天真的小女兒，則是要多關心與同理她在學業與同儕人際之間的小小煩惱。

在妥善主理事業與家庭之餘，與閨密好友們的相約則是Sarah最紓壓的方式之一。閨密好姐妹間常會交流各種話題，彼此提供建議，或是給予勇氣支持。於是，好友相聚間，總能聽到笑點頗低的Sarah忘情歡笑，盡興投入其中，enjoy好姐妹們安排的每個相聚時刻。當然，屬於花藝的演出，Sarah也必當仁不讓，只要有需求，即獻出最屬於Sarah式的生活花藝美學。

Exchange Starts with Empathy

Beyond her dazzling career achievements, Sarah’s blissful family life is also admirable. Among them, nourishing thoughtful and sensible children is one of Sarah’s profound accomplishments that she has invested much effort into. In recent years, as her children have grown up, her eldest children are either studying or preparing to study abroad. Her youngest daughter remains an adorable and lively young girl. With the age differences, what insights would Sarah have on parenting?

I often reflect on what kind of adults I aspired to encounter when I was at their age. I try to bridge the dialogue from their perspective. I believe that no matter what difficulties the child encounters, as long as they are willing to share, we can solve them and grow together. Each child is inherently unique, and we cannot replicate the framework. It’s best to encourage them to explore their interests through diverse experiences when they’re young. It helps them build confidence and strengthen their passions. 

Sarah emphasizes that parent-child communication is often a transmission and adjustment of life experiences. She would empathize and take the opportunity seriously when children are willing to confide. For juveniles, the topic usually surrounds future life plans, and Sarah would share her experiences studying abroad with them. As for her innocent and naive baby daughter, it is important to pay closer attention to empathize with her minor academic and peer relationship concerns.

In addition to managing her career and family, regular meetups with her besties are one of Sarah’s most relieving activities. Her close friends often exchange various topics, provide advice, and offer encouragement and support. Therefore, during girls’ gatherings, you can always hear the wholehearted laughter from Sarah as she fully engages and cherishes the moments thoughtfully arranged by her close friends. When it comes to floristry, Sarah naturally takes the lead. When there are floristry requests, Sarah will offer her distinctive aesthetic recommendations for everyday floral arrangements.

從原點開始的自信

當問到「如何綜合花藝總監、名媛、母親、妻子等等數個角色來形塑自己的形象？」時，Sarah瞇起了溫柔的眼睛微笑著說：「我其實沒有特別為自己塑造形象。我是個既隨性也蠻有想法的人，喜歡就喜歡，不喜歡也不會勉強自己。」

她會確認，所做的每一件事、每個決定，都是發自內心真正喜歡、認同的。然後，順著內心的聲音去完成每一件事、每個角色的需求。」原來，Sarah如此幾近完美的形象，其最初始原點來自於「忠於自己，做自己」的人生準則。這也正呼應心理學的論述，只有照顧好自己，自信快樂不委屈，才有可能分享正向能量給周圍我們所在乎的人們。
然而，編輯仍然想問Sarah，對於目前自信快樂的自己，日常造型有什麼必備的重點嗎？

「我現在打扮比較中性而且輕鬆。喜歡Over size。 平常喜歡穿西裝外套，所以還蠻常配帶胸針。現在穿衣服只想取悅自己，喜歡有個性的飾品。不會特別跟風，因為我覺得每個人適合的都不同。」這麼說著的Sarah笑開了眉眼。而正身著華服的她證實了她身上確實有著能將各種風格化為Sarah’s Style的品味魔力。

Confidence Stemmed from the Origin

When asked, “How do you integrate your roles as a floristry director, socialite, mother, and wife to shape your identity?” Sarah squinted her eyes with a gentle smile, “I don’t exactly shape my identity. I’m spontaneous and have convictions. I like whatever I like. I won’t force myself to do something I don’t like.”

She ensures that every action she takes and every decision she makes comes from the heart and is in agreement with herself. She then follows her heart to complete every task and role. It turns out that Sarah’s nearly perfect image originates from her ethos of “being truthful to oneself.” The philosophy aligns with the psychological discourse of psychology, highlighting the importance of self-care, confidence, happiness, and not feeling wronged, all of which can radiate positivity to those who are significant to us.

Nevertheless, the editor still intends to inquire with Sarah about any essentials in her everyday styling routine that contribute to her current state of confidence and happiness.

“I dress more gender-neutral and casual now. I like oversized clothing and usually wear suits, so I often wear brooches. Now I’m dressing to please myself. I like statement accessories and don’t follow trends because I feel everyone has their style,” said Sarah with her radiant smile in her elegant attire that reassures her distinctive taste to turn all fashion styles into “Sarah’ Style.”