22. Larz Anderson’s Diplomatic Tailcoat
Ai Fiori
Annie Kelly
2026 installation
Second Floor - Olmsted Gallery
The Inspiration
Larz Anderson, while U.S. minister to Belgium in 1911, commissioned a diplomatic uniform from London tailor Davies & Son, including this wool tailcoat with the Great Seal of the U.S. on the gold buttons.
The Flowers
Recipe: Anemones, anthurium, branches, calla lilies, orchids, ranunculus, roses, scabiosa, Italian ruscus
Florist’s inspiration: Since the Diplomatic uniform was made to be worn before international dignitaries and courts, darker, brooding tones and a variety of textures are utilized to reflect the seriousness and formality of the suit and infer the important status of its owner. Meanwhile, emphasis on ornamentation and embellishment is highlighted with playful use of metallics and lighter hues.
THE DESIGNER
Annie Kelly
Ai Fiori
Founded in late 2021, Ai Fiori LLC is a woman-owned boutique floral design firm specializing in luxurious eye-catching arrangements. Italian for “to the flowers,” the concept “Ai Fiori” blossomed while owner, Annie Kelly, was sitting in the garden of her Capri hotel many years ago. Sipping wine with friends and surrounded by a plethora of wisteria, roses, and endless beauty, Annie thought one should always go to nature and be surrounded by flowers in order to find a sense of joy and an inner peace. Annie believed the best way to share this feeling was by creating floral arrangements for others. Each Ai Fiori arrangement is designed in order to spark an emotional connection with its recipient. Seasonal blooms and foliage are first sourced from local farms and nature before they are thoughtfully and sustainably assembled.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY
Aimee Custis Photography
Aimee Custis is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Washington DC. Her rich, luminous, and emotive style draws artistic inspiration from classical painters, street photography, and storytelling.
Her inclusive, client-centric approach to wedding photography is informed heavily by a background in hospitality, non-profit event planning, and college summers as a camp counselor. Aimee's wedding work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Washingtonian Weddings. Outside of weddings, her client list includes non-profits, hotels, and elected officials. Aimee is also the web designer behind the Art in Bloom website.
Aimee (she/they) lives in Washington DC’s U Street corridor with her husband Greg and golden retriever Whiskey.
