We’re just a few short weeks out from prom season! Prom is a magical
night and is often described as the culmination of the American teenage
experience. It’s known for its sometimes elaborate themes, as well as formal
evening attire. The young men wear suits or tuxedos and boutonnieres, while the
young ladies wear ball gowns and corsages. For a formal dance, it goes without
saying that there will be tuxes, dresses, jewelry and fancy hairstyles. But
what about the flowers? Let’s look a little into the history of boutonnieres
and corsages.
Corsages have been part of formal wear for centuries. Derived from the
French term "bouquet
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| Prom Corsages |
de corsage," which translates to bouquet of the
bodice, because originally corsages were worn as a cluster of flowers on the
bodice of a gown. In ancient times, corsages were commonly worn to weddings as
it was believed that the flowers and herbs placed in the corsage would ward off
evil spirits. It wasn’t until the 20th century that the corsage was moved to
the wrist and given as a gift to the promgoer by her date.
Boutonnière is the French word for “buttonhole.” Once upon a time, boutonnieres were worn frequently by men as part of their usual attire. According to GentlemansGazette.com, boutonnieres became popular as lapel adornments in the early 19th century. The fashions of this time period started to include coats that folded over at the top, revealing the inside of the buttonhole. Gentlemen would push the stem of a flower through the buttonhole and feed it into a loop at the back of the lapel which would hold it in place. Today, boutonnieres are usually only worn for special occasions, such as weddings or formal dances like homecoming and prom.
To make prom night even more magical, get your flowers from Carousel Floral Gifts & Garden! Our expert designers will handcraft a
stunning corsage or boutonniere that will be the perfect complement to your
prom attire. And a bonus tip for the young men out there: Make sure you ask
your date what color she plans on wearing so that we can make a corsage that
will beautifully complement or match her gown!
