A corsage is a small arrangement of flowers worn on clothing, typically pinned to a dress or worn on the wrist with an elastic band. Picture a few elegant blooms, maybe roses or orchids, tied together with ribbon and greenery. At school dances like proms or homecomings, dates often exchange corsages and boutonnieres (the matching flower worn by boys on their jacket lapels).

The tradition started in ancient Greece, where people wore flowers to celebrate special occasions. Today, corsages appear at weddings, where mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom wear them, and at other formal celebrations.

Wearing a corsage signals that an occasion matters. The flowers are fresh and carefully arranged, and someone took the time to choose them thoughtfully.