Rosy romance

What’s more classically romantic than red roses? A gorgeous, big bouquet of red roses is the age-old way to declare feelings of romantic love. Whether in celebration of an anniversary or Valentine’s Day, there is no mistaking the implication of passion, desire and above all, love, associated with red roses. And the world of fashion too has lost its heart to these romantic flowers.

“Designers have drawn inspiration from the flower’s fragrance, its texture, its pattern and its colour,” say designer duo Ankur and Priyanka Modi of AM:PM. They add, “Red roses have often appeared in poetry, literature, classical artwork, royal wardrobes, movies and everywhere in between. But the flower began its illustrious symbolic history in Greek and Roman iconography, where it was tied to Aphrodite or the Venus — the goddess of love. Later, it became associated with the virtue of Virgin Mary in early Christian times. And by the time Shakespeare rolled around, it had already become a poetic standard that he, and later Gertrude Stein, both famously played with in their works. Throughout its long, storied history, the red rose still reigns as the ultimate symbol of passionate affection.” These fragrant blooms come in varying shades of red — carrying different symbolic meanings, explains designer Aditi Somani. “A bright red rose signifies romance, while burgundy denotes a love that has yet to be realised. We can use this to our advantage to play around while choosing our choice of dressing options. The classic red rose is often the best choice for expressing one’s deepest affection for that special someone. So a red haute dress is always a killer and failsafe option.”

Agreeing with Aditi, designer Jyoti Sachdev Iyer shares, “Deep and romantic rose patterns work fabulously in tight, fitted pencil skirts and sexy cocktail dresses. Since the pattern is rich and lush, the impact would be stunning when worn in deeper shades like maroon, dark purple or gold. Plus, with shades like these, different types of prints will help you add a touch of feminine grace.” She adds, “Try on a rose print blazer for a formal occasion. Layer it on top of a neutral top and cigarette pants, or dress it down with cuffed boyfriend jeans and a soft t-shirt. Since roses indicate loveliness, it makes for a great workspace staple, a weekend favourite and a hot night out. You can also try on lightweight and feminine rose print pants to break the monotony.”

Also, lingerie is one of the most important areas of fashion where floral prints are almost indispensable. From uber-femme pastel pink to badass crimson, ornate floral details have added a seductive touch to inner wear.

Lastly, designer Karn Malhotra advises on the to-go fabrics: “Go for flowy, dreamy, irresistible silhouettes in easy fabrics that move with the body such as tulle, chiffon, laces preferably in soft colours — cupcake pink, etc. Add a touch of glitter to your clothing if you want an edge. Sparkling roses stitched onto the sleeves of turtleneck dresses or brightly highlighted, eye-catching petals covered dresses are a few beautiful options. Also, if you are not so much into floral prints, you can upgrade to floral appliqué, a process in which additional fabric is sewn onto a design, creating a decorative 3D effect.”