Vintage accessories: the corsage

The corsage is probably fashion's first ever accessory: a spray of flowers pinned to clothes has always been the fastest - and most inexpensive - ways to decorate an outfit. But always glamorous... 

Olivia de Havilland

 

Lisa Fonssagrives

Ingrid Bergman

Marlene Dietrich

Marlene with Douglas Fairbanks Jr, 1937

Vogue, 1946

Vogue, 1959

Carole Lombard

Marilyn Monroe

Sunny Harnett

Jacques Fath ball gown, 1953

Vogue, c.1940s

Jean Shrimpton

Manolo Blahnik and Anjelica Huston

Dress by Maggy Rouff, 1932

Model, c.1930s

Fashion editorial shot in Mexico for Vogue, 1968

Ann Sothern. Love the zebra set.

Suzy Parker

Rita Hayworth 

Jeanne Crain in furs with a festive corsage

Vogue, 1949

Vogue, 1951

Life Magazine, c.1930s

Dina Merrill. Great manicure.

Life Magazine, 1951

Grace Kelly with real orchids on her neck

Maureen O'Hara

Tallulah Bankhead. Butter wouldn't melt...

Hedy Lamarr

Rita Hayworth and her luscious red hair

French model Capucine, c.1950s

Debutante, c.1930s

Marlene Dietrich: timeless style 

Vogue 1951

Corsages continue appear on the runway every season. These blooms couldn't look less 'prom date'... 

Giambattista Valli

Marc Jacobs

Dita von Teese in Alexis Mabille

Agyness Dean

Heidi Klum in vintage James Galanos

Fashion Gone Rogue

One of the reasons for a renewed interest in corsages is Carrie Bradshaw. For the first two seasons she was rarely seen without a flower pinned to her dress or coat.  

For the final episode Carrie wore a Sonia Rykiel jumper with oversize fabric rosette, as a nod to her love of corsages. Unsurprisingly, it sold out everywhere. 

Since Juno Says Hello began in 2009, we've sold several corsage dresses. This was one of my personal favourites - part of a collection that I bought from the estate of one of the original financiers of Disneyland California. A 1960s jade silk crepe dress with a shocking pink rose corsage on the back:

We sold this dress last year - a beautiful 1950s black grosgrain silk wrap-style frock with blue velvet rose detail:

We have an original 1950s prom dress in stock at the moment: pale lemon net with cornflower blue corsages on the skirt and bodice. To view in our online boutique click here. 

Basia Zarzycka makes beautiful silk corsages using Victorian tools and flower presses. It's very difficult to leave her shop on Sloane Square empty handed! To view a selection of her corsages online click here. Please add other recommendations in the comments box. 

The next blog will be beauty-focused: manicures. From the half-moon tips of the 1940s femme fatale to the red talons of the 1980s, plus beauty editorial pages from vintage Vogues and a competition to win Tom Ford nail polish. 

Corsage with champagne