The History of the Corsage

The corsage has a very interesting history indeed. It was worn by the Greek many centuries ago even before the French coined the “boutique de corsage” name from which we derive the modern name for the bodice. So what was this and why was it very important? You may ask. The corsage derived its name from the part of the body on which it was worn. This was a lining of flowers that were worn between the breasts. Even today, it is still made of flowers but the difference between now and then is that the corsage is now worn on the wrist or any other part of the body. However, the one that is worn on the bust still holds a lot of significance.

Corsages were not worn for fun. On the contrary, they were worn with a purpose. They were mostly worn in funerals and weddings and they helped make identification of the family better. Even today, they are still worn for that same purpose. They have evolved over time and with the lingerie industry blossoming, they too have not been left behind. For example, they are mostly confused with the corset, which is tighter. A long time ago, the corsage was actually a woman’s bodice or jacket. Even today, most people prefer to wear their on the shoulders, usually the left shoulder.

Why is the corsage important? As said earlier it helps identify members of family that is related to the people playing the biggest role in the event. Women have been known to be colorful and this applies to the women who lived long before the 1900s. It was only after 1900 that the corsage changed from being a part of the bodice and it went to the left shoulder. As you can see form images from long ago posted online, you will realize that the neatly arranged bunches of flowers that made the corsage were carefully selected to match with the color of the clothing of the wearer.

The corsage has a long history indeed and it proves that like lingerie, women have worn flowers since time immemorial.