Most people will write off the saying “it’s never too late to [insert new hobby here]” as a banal cliché — we’ve heard a variation of the same sentiment one too many times before. Though repetitive, there’s enough truth in every version of the phrase to warrant your attention: the reality is, you can start over, there’s always a little more time, and it really is better to start late than never. Lesley Admana, a Filipino-American floral designer based in Brooklyn, is living proof of it.
Like many New Yorkers quarantined in their apartments amid the pandemic, Admana picked up a new hobby: making flower arrangements. “I’ve always been one to keep fresh flowers in the home,” she says. “During the pandemic, it was a great way for me to connect to nature and step away from a screen and doomscrolling. It was a time to decompress and do something just for me.”
Turning a passion into a career can have its pitfalls, but Admana’s ability to create arrangements that more closely resemble artwork was a path she couldn’t ignore. So, she officially started over in February 2024 and traded her role as an account director at a media production company for her own floral design studio, Talulot.
Nods to her Filipino heritage are sprinkled throughout Talulot — in fact, the name is the Tagalog word for petal. She naturally gravitates toward the bold and playful color palettes that are characteristic of flowers native to the Philippines — orchids, anthuriums, ginger flowers, etc.. The results? Striking bouquets that burst with color, texture, and movement — something New York City is often missing, especially amid an oppressively overcast start to spring.
On a gloomy day in April, we paid Admana a visit to her Greenpoint apartment, where she does most of her work. It’s not often you get a chance to see an artist in their element, but just like the vases of sunny gardenias and tomato-red anthuriums, Admana is bursting with style. And, sure, being inspired by flowers for spring fashion is a cliché (albeit a positive one this time), but we can’t think of a better time for Admana — her style, her career, her arrangements — to be in full bloom.
On Her Evolving Relationship With Flowers
Her love for flowers accelerated when she moved to New York City in 2016. “During high-stress weeks, holidays, or birthdays, my fiancé used to send me flowers,” she says. “That’s when I first saw truly artful arrangements using flowers I’d never seen.” But even then, while she was impressed and inspired by these arrangements that were a far cry from whatever can be found at a grocery store, she never had “becoming a floral designer” on her bingo card. “A lot of the things I thought I wanted to do, I didn’t actually want,” she says. Her original undergrad goal was to become a doctor. “At least that’s what I told myself for eight years, but after graduating I didn’t want to be in school anymore.” Today, her world looks very different, but it’s a chapter she’s happy to write. “I have transformed into my true auntie form. My camera roll now is 70 percent flowers.” she says.
On Her Practical Style Choices
“[I’ve] been through so many eras,” she says. From vintage pieces in high school to adopting a primarily black wardrobe in college (thanks to the grey weather in Scotland, where she studied), Admana’s style didn’t really prioritize color until she became a New Yorker. “Since Talulot, my day-to-day wear is a lot more casual and practical,” she says. Anything that’s easy to move in or made of materials that clean easily (in case of pollen or other floral-related stains), became essential. Flower market runs and design days typically call for similar looks: pants with lots of pockets or overalls paired with a T-shirt or crewneck, and either clogs or sneakers. “When I set up an event, I try to integrate my personal style a little more, but I need to be cognizant of practicality. Carrying 15 centerpieces down a three-story walkup in flip flops would not be the move.”
But practicality and color aren’t mutually exclusive. Admana likes to incorporate her signature vibrancy where possible, even when she’s in a neutral outfit — something she thinks comes from being Filipino since the Philippines is an inherently colorful place. A bright pleated skirt offers a pop of color when paired with a simple cropped denim jacket. It’s maybe not an outfit she’d wear delivering an arrangement, but it’s definitely comfortable enough for a day off. It also aligns with her usual spring style, which includes lots of skirts, linen pants, and platform sandals. “I love the feeling of defrosting and wearing more airy looks, especially after months of puffy coats and clunky boots,” she says.
