As the end of the school year approaches, prom is coming up—an exciting excuse to get dressed up and spend time with your friends. For many students, this is the first formal event they get to participate in, and it’s important to them to get it just right. Corsages and boutonnieres in 77084 make a great gift for your date—they’re romantic, pretty to look at and smell great.

Whether you have a specific vision in mind for your corsage, or you need some ideas about how to pick one to coordinate with your outfit, the staff at It’s Just For You can help you find or design a one-of-a-kind corsage and boutonniere.

History of giving corsages and boutonnieres

Why do we give our dates corsages and boutonnieres at prom, anyway? They actually have a long history, although they’ve changed somewhat over the years. Corsages date back at least as far as ancient Greece, but the term came from the French phrase “bouquet de corsage,” referring to the trend of pinning fresh flowers to one’s dress bodice. Over the years, we started calling these tiny bouquets “corsages.”

In the 20^th century, giving dates corsages at social events like dances, special occasion dinners and, of course, proms became a new tradition. It was considered part of the courting process, and they were still pinned to the bodice until the mid-1900s. When spaghetti strap and strapless dresses became popular, there were fewer appropriate spaces available for a date to pin it on, which ushered in the advent of the wrist corsage. Today, wrist corsages are the most popular type available.

Boutonnieres, on the other hand, date back to the 1500s. The word “boutonniere” means “buttonhole flower” in French, which gives you an idea of where they were worn 500 years ago. Like corsages, they were worn for luck, and are still often worn at proms, formal events and weddings today.

In the 1700s, the boutonniere was worn with a frock coat—the man would leave his top button unbuttoned, putting a big (and usually brightly-colored) flower in the buttonhole instead. In the Romantic Era, men started paying more attention to their fashion and grooming and used boutonnieres to add a pop of color to monochromatic outfits.

Corsage and boutonniere trends

When it comes to prom fashion, there’s nothing really “out”—which means you have a lot of flexibility when ordering a corsage and matching boutonniere. This year, jumpsuits are popular—try pairing edgy, exotic green orchids with this fun look.

For the classic ballgown type, roses are a perennial favorite, but lilies and orchids in soft white and cream are great alternatives.

If you’re going glam with sequins or the popular one-shoulder look, set it off with deep red roses or other vividly-colored selections.

Ready to purchase your corsages and boutonnieres in 77084? At It’s Just For You, boutonnieres are $10 and wrist corsages range from $39 to $49, which include fancy greenery and accent flowers. Call us today to get started ordering your perfect prom accessories.