Flower Power

      Choosing a boutonniere or corsage for your date is not as hard as it looks. For all you who are unfamiliar with the corsage, it's an arrangement of small flowers decorated with ribbons and embellishments to match your dress. For the guys, a boutonniere is a smaller version of the corsage that matches and simply pins on the date's lapel. There are several different types of corsages, some more popular than others. In the '50s the pin-on corsage was the favorite, but more recent proms have made the wristlet and the small handheld nosegay the most popular. You can always try layering the flowers in your hair or pinning the corsage to your handbag for a more retro, less traditional style.

      As far as choosing the flowers, roses and carnations have been the most common choices. But more modern flowers, like orchids or daisies, can really spice things up.