There is a reason that one of Miranda Priestly’s most iconic lines in The Devil Wears Prada is “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking,” delivered sarcastically. Flowers and floral patterns are, and always have been, ubiquitous. Sure, different iterations and motifs go in and out of vogue, from the realistic prints found in shabby chic and grandmillennial, to the painted illustrations on Rifle Paper Co.’s entire product line. But on a macro level, flowers will simply never go out of style.
And it seems as though Trader Joe’s is properly capitalizing on our love affair with beautiful things that die within days.
Floral arrangements are known for being expensive. That’s why buying someone flowers is typically saved for special or important moments, like graduations and birthdays. They can be one of the most expensive line items on a wedding planner’s spreadsheet, with industry experts suggesting that fiancés and -ées plan on flowers making up between 10 to 15 percent of their total budget.
But at Trader Joe’s, the floral section is refreshingly affordable. My closest Trader Joe’s is found at San Diego State University, which means I’m typically surrounded by shoppers between the ages of 18 and 25, with a few professorial types in the mix. When I was in college, it wasn’t uncommon for me to parcel out cans of black beans to save as much of the $0.98 can as I could, but Trader Joe’s has successfully made florals so affordable that even college kids are indulging in the temporary pleasure of a live bouquet.
The grocery store chain boasts floral prices sometimes as low as $3.99. I once accidentally grabbed an “expensive” bouquet that rung up as $9.99 at the register, and I was disappointed that I didn’t have the time to go back and grab a cheaper one. Situated right near the entry, the floral section at my local Trader Joe’s is packed every time I go, which gives me a unique opportunity to witness what those on a budget select from the display. I often see college-aged girls picking flowers up, inspecting them, and lingering on their decision. I once overheard a doting boyfriend double checking with his companion if the flowers he picked were up to snuff, to which she declined and sent him back for a different arrangement.
College kids and myself are not the only ones who have taken note. There is a Bay Area-based Instagram account dedicated to beautiful centerpieces, using the Trader Joe’s floral department as a main source. It has over 22,000 followers. Brides published a how-to article this past spring teaching brides- and grooms-to-be how to get these bundles from the grocer for their big day. The Trader Joe’s floral department is very much in the zeitgeist.
These flowers are constantly on my dining room table, offering a beautiful visual that is both consistent and rotating in nature. And when one bouquet dies, I’ll buy another.
A terraced house in Dublin with a light-filled conservatory
This end-of-terrace, ivy-covered house in Dublin is pretty special. It features hardwood flooring throughout, a fireplace in the living room, and a well-equipped kitchen with Shaker-style cabinetry. Just off the kitchen is a light-filled conservatory, showcasing generous windows that extend to the ceiling and allow for endless natural light, even on cloudy days. I like to imagine this room can be used as a formal dining room, or just a space for houseplants to live happily.
Spanning an easy-to-maintain 1,000 square feet, the ground level of the home is host to the living and dining rooms while three bedrooms can be found upstairs. The versatile attic space includes a convenient ensuite bathroom, making it ideal for either a family room or a guest bedroom.
Residents are 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from Dublin’s city center. The home is listed for €675.000 ($718,085 USD) with Sotheby’s International Realty agent Ian Chandler.