This Carrie Bradshaw-Approved Trend Is For Wedding Guests And Festival-Goers Alike (2024)

It’s the mid-Noughties, and ladies up and down the United Kingdom have become customisation queens. Your mum is manically knotting silk scarves around handbag straps, using ancient origami techniques to tie cardigans and sweaters, and splurging on a florist’s worth of fabric corsages to affix to blazers and boleros. Call it the cult of Gok Wan. Witness women praying to the pages of What Not To Wear, and sitting, mouths agape, in the cinema, as Carrie Bradshaw’s fetish for the floral brooch reaches Brobdingnagian proportions in the first Sex And The City movie, thanks to a certain hibiscus-adorned Eugene Alexander dress.

Carrie Bradshaw, the original corsage queen.

Craig Blankenhorn/Hbo/Darren Star Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock

SJP sporting a hibiscus-adorned Eugene Alexander dress in Sex And The City: The Movie.

Craig Blankenhorn/New Line Cinema/Kobal/Shutterstock

A decade ago, the corsage registered more as a symbol of my mum’s makeover-inspired madness than an authentic fashion accessory (I was too busy ogling Miss Sixty denim and belly button bars). But Carrie Bradshaw’s captivation with the corsage always piqued my interest. After all, she is the woman capable of making literally any accessory appealing – not just Manolo Blahnik Mary-Janes and Fendi Baguette bags but also knee-high argyle socks and bandanas. Carrie wore her corsages as a choker, she sported them pinned to fur coats, white vest tops and asymmetric minidresses, to meet sexually deviant politicians and engage in bisexual games of Spin the Bottle. She wore them on the streets of Paris in the show’s final season, and even on the set of And Just Like That.

Saks Potts SS23

Prada SS23

While the corsage has prissy, twee connotations – historically the chosen adornment of prom-bound American teens or green-fingered grannies – the floral fixture is in the midst of a style resurgence. It wasn’t just floral prints that bloomed all over the spring runways. 3D roses blossomed over cardigans and boob tubes, voluminous skirts and dresses, even unfurling as oversized accessories. They trailed like mossy wall coverings at Prada, they were gargantuan on shirting at Dries Van Noten, and they grew like gardeners’ cuttings at Bottega Veneta. Saks Potts, The Garment, Chopova Lowena, Commission and Collina Strada also couldn’t get enough of the corsage.

Chopova Lowena SS23

Bottega Veneta SS23

The key to looking more fashion-forward than fusty is to style your corsage with a bit of edge. Take Chopova Lowena’s spring/summer 2023 collection, which fused the “tacky, pink and wonderful” annual Rose Queen pageant in the Bulgarian village of Kazanlak with aesthetic nods to violent lacrosse playing and heavy metal. Mrs Prada, a diehard corsage fan, styled the rose petals which flowered on demure cardies with a gothic Pat McGrath-executed beauty look featuring creepy, long eyelashes. And Commission, in the cult brand’s signature style, took romantic fashion mainstays, like ruffles and fabric florals, and juxtaposed them with blunt bobs, thick kohl eyeliner and razor-sharp tailoring.

It-girls can also offer some pointers on how to make the trend feel fresh. For her first postpartum red-carpet appearance in April 2022, Kylie Jenner chose a custom gown by longtime favourite Coperni adorned with latex flowers. Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa and Hailey Bieber, on the other hand, are all fans of Fancì Club. Back in July 2022, Hadid wore a Y2K-throwback denim corset, miniskirt and floral brooch by the Vietnam-based label, while Dua Lipa loves the hot-pink Garden Of Eden Dress and Hailey Bieber recently wore a bespoke black version of the brand’s White Apple co*cktail Dress.

Kylie Jenner in latex Coperni adorned with petals in April 2022.

Bella Hadid in a diehard Y2K ensemble: denim and a floral corsage.

And yet – while we may truly have the runways (and Instagram) to thank for the floral accessory’s recent resurgence – for me, the cult of the corsage will always be associated with the dressing doctrines of Gok Wan. The person who will be most overjoyed with its rosy return? My mum.

Shop Vogue’s corsage edit

This Carrie Bradshaw-Approved Trend Is For Wedding Guests And Festival-Goers Alike (3)

Jean Paul Gaultier Striped Embellished Miniskirt

This Carrie Bradshaw-Approved Trend Is For Wedding Guests And Festival-Goers Alike (4)

Coperni Appliquéd Metallic Fil Coupé Voile Minidress

This Carrie Bradshaw-Approved Trend Is For Wedding Guests And Festival-Goers Alike (5)

Blumarine Ruched Corsage Jersey Midi Dress

This Carrie Bradshaw-Approved Trend Is For Wedding Guests And Festival-Goers Alike (6)

Bottega Veneta Pouch Floral-Appliqué Leather Clutch Bag

This Carrie Bradshaw-Approved Trend Is For Wedding Guests And Festival-Goers Alike (7)

H&M Appliqué Halter Neck Dress

This Carrie Bradshaw-Approved Trend Is For Wedding Guests And Festival-Goers Alike (8)

Mara Hoffman Midi Dress

This Carrie Bradshaw-Approved Trend Is For Wedding Guests And Festival-Goers Alike (9)

Rodarte Rose-Appliqué Silk-Satin Midi Dress

This Carrie Bradshaw-Approved Trend Is For Wedding Guests And Festival-Goers Alike (10)

Giuseppe Di Morabito Corsage Cut-Out Crêpe Minidress

This Carrie Bradshaw-Approved Trend Is For Wedding Guests And Festival-Goers Alike (11)

Prada Floral-Appliqué Sleeveless Midi Dress

This Carrie Bradshaw-Approved Trend Is For Wedding Guests And Festival-Goers Alike (12)

Saint Laurent Velvet-Trimmed Ruched Satin-Jersey Maxi Dress

This Carrie Bradshaw-Approved Trend Is For Wedding Guests And Festival-Goers Alike (2024)

FAQs

Are wrist corsages still a thing? ›

Typically the corsages will be worn on the shoulder of the girls dresses, but they can also be worn on the wrist as well.

Are corsages still a thing for weddings? ›

Yes, corsages are still, very much, a thing — and not just for proms or formal dances. At a wedding, you'll traditionally give corsages to special guests, like your mom and grandmother, as a token of appreciation.

Are prom corsages still a thing? ›

In 2024, the trend is all about creating custom pieces that reflect the unique style and personality of each individual. Whether you opt for a classic or bold look, corsages and boutonnieres are sure to add a special touch to your Prom experience.

Do wedding guests wear corsages? ›

Corsages are often worn by the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom, as well as sisters, bridesmaids and flower girls. However, there's no strict rule about who wedding corsages apply to — some couples even ask all of their female guests to wear one.

Who gets wrist corsage at a wedding? ›

The bride's mother, groom's mother, all the grandmothers, and any female readers during your ceremony traditionally wear a corsage on their wrist, or a pinned corsage to their clothing. If you have a female officiant that you really connect with, you could even consider giving them a corsage as well.

What to do instead of wrist corsage? ›

15 Elegant Mother of the Bride Corsages & Alternatives
  • Floral Necklace. If flowers can be attached to a wristband and worn as a bracelet, why not mix it up and add them to a necklace instead? ...
  • Floral Hair Accessory. ...
  • Nosegay Bouquet. ...
  • Tussie Mussie. ...
  • Small Boutonniere. ...
  • Ring Corsage. ...
  • Floral Hoop. ...
  • Floral Spray for a Clutch Bag.
Jan 10, 2023

What is the style for prom 2024? ›

From elegant long mermaid gowns, romantic cottagecore dresses, sleek prom suits, trendy black sheer dresses that could have come straight out of the Euphoria set, and gothic gowns inspired by Wednesday Addams, and affordable prom dresses on Amazon, there's no shortage of options.

Why are girls getting bouquets instead of corsages for prom? ›

Here are reasons you may want to choose a bouquet for prom: A bouquet looks amazing in prom photos. More flowers are in a bouquet floral arrangement than in a corsage. You don't have to wear the bouquet on your wrist all night.

What do boys give girls for prom? ›

Buy A Corsage Or Flowers

Prom tradition says the guy presents his date with a beautiful floral corsage. What's a corsage, you ask? It's a small bouquet of flowers worn on a female's wrist. (Your date will likely buy a similar boutonniere for the lapel of your tux.)

Who has button holes at wedding? ›

Traditionally the Groom and groomsmen (ushers and page boys) along with fathers of the bride and groom will all wear a buttonhole. If budget allows then it is also a nice gesture from brothers and grandfathers to also wear a buttonhole.

Do mothers of the bride still wear corsages? ›

Traditionally, the Mother of the Bride and the Mother of the Groom wear a corsage at the wedding. These days, a corsage can take many forms. Classic pin-on corsages are still popular but many mums prefer to wear a wrist corsage or even a corsage which can pin on to their clutch bag.

Are boutonnieres out of style? ›

Although some people believe that boutonnieres are out of style, they are still seen at many weddings and can add a touch of elegance to the groom's attire. While boutonnieres remain a staple for traditional weddings, there are alternatives nowadays. Opinions vary on the current style status of boutonnieres.

What is the most common style of corsages today? ›

Two popular styles are wrist corsages and small hand-held nosegays (and they look great with strapless dresses!). Popular flowers are mini (or sweetheart) roses, standard roses, dendrobium orchids, alstroemeria, lilies, mini carnations and other small flowers such as cornflowers and freesia.

Do kids still do corsages? ›

Yes to corsages and yes to boutonnières. Most kids like a traditional prom with traditional trappings, like tuxes, long dresses, etc.

Are corsages a thing of the past? ›

As dress styles changed, pinning the corsage to the dress became impractical, and wrist corsages became the norm. Today's corsages are similar to those made in previous decades, though generally smaller.

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