Written by Alastair Owen
June 20, 2014

McQueen's Duncan McCabe did not hesitate when asked to choose a focus flower for British Flowers Week. He opted for the nation's favourite flower and the classic of the British summer: the blousy, romantic, intensely fragrant garden rose.

Duncan McCabe of McQueen's preparing designs for British Flowers Week 2014 at New Covent Garden Flower Market

And whilst we can bring you the images, we can sadly not convey the deliciously intoxicating scents of the magnificent roses from Flower Market wholesaler, Zest Flowers. Imagine walking into a rose garden and inhaling a heady blend of all five perfumes of the rose: citrus, Old Rose, Tea Rose, myrrh and musk. Heaven.

"One of the things I love about working with beautiful British garden roses is that each one is at a different stage," explains Duncan.

"Uniformity in flowers can make them look sterile, and to me, the beauty of flowers is in the imperfections. You can see that they have been, well, growing!"

Celebrating the Dome

A classic is given a fresh, modern McQueens twist, somehow infinitely more beautiful for the fact that no two roses look the same. Starring: Augusta Luise, Just Joey, Charmant and Romantic Antike.

McQueen's dome design using the British garden roses for British Flowers Week 2014 at New Covent Garden Flower Market

Romancing the Rose

Two blush pink rose petals of Charmant are encased in a single rose leaf, folded and wired individually to create each and every rosebud on this exquisite headdress.

McQueen's headdress design using the British garden roses for British Flowers Week 2014 at New Covent Garden Flower Market

Love is in the Air

"My love is like a red, red rose…" A trademark McQueens hand-tied bouquet with or without the packaging. Simple, stylish, scented… Featuring: Deep Secret and Pure Poetry.

McQueen's trademark handtied bouquet design using the British garden roses for British Flowers Week 2014 at New Covent Garden Flower Market