In collaboration with Laura Kim, the Co-Creative Director of Oscar de la Renta, and James Whiteside, the Principal Dancer and Choreographer of the American Ballet Theatre, the Fleuriste pop-up is a celebration of the “hopeful future of art and design” post-pandemic. The venue featured floral arrangements lining every corner, and 4 specialty cocktails designed for the event: Rose-Colored Spritz, The Ballerino, Fleurita, and Spritz up your Spritz. The evening’s events also included a breathtaking ballet performance by James Whiteside, and a conversation between Laura and James. We had the chance to catch up with Laura Kim, James Whiteside, and Earlecia Richelle, the brand ambassador for St Germain and artist behind the night’s cocktails.
Earlecia, formerly a fashion student, stumbled into cocktail design when she entered cocktail competitions and won against the city’s best bartenders. She told us about her journey from those competitions to now becoming the national brand ambassador, and what her bespoke cocktails for each Laura and James were inspired by. For Laura’s “Rose-Colored Spritz”, she chose the designer’s favorite drink, rose, and added yuzu and a cherry blossom filled ice cube to pay homage to her asian heritage. Finally, the floral flavors in the drink reflect her illustrious career at Oscar de la Renta and their brand’s design. For James’ “Ballerino,” the Italian word for male ballet dancer, the shape of the glass evokes a pointe slipper. The drink’s base is a classic old fashioned, like James’ taste, but the twists reflect James’ boundary-defying interests like drag and ballet.
CREDIT the Source: Fleuriste St Germain: A Floral Celebration of Art and Design