Fresh flower dresses: how florists create them

A dress made of fresh flowers is one of the most spectacular things a florist can create. Such outfits are made for photo shoots, fashion shows, festivals and flower shows. Here is how they are made, which flowers can cope, why a flower dress lasts only a few hours and which floral accessories to choose for a wedding or celebration.

Long-lasting flowers for arrangements are in our chrysanthemums and spray roses sections.

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Where you see flower dresses

• Photo shoots and advertising — the most common occasion: the outfit is assembled right before the shoot.
• Fashion shows — designers use fresh flowers as trim or create whole looks from them.
• Flower shows and festivals — florists compete with complex constructions.
• Weddings — more often as floral accessories than a whole dress.

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How they are made

The base is usually a corset, a dress of sturdy fabric or a frame. Flowers are attached with cold floral glue, pins or wire, and water tubes are used for especially delicate blooms. The work takes several hours, so the dress is assembled shortly before the model goes out, and the flowers are kept cool and misted with water.

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Which flowers work

Dense, hardy flowers last best: dendrobium orchids, chrysanthemums, carnations, spray roses, craspedia and succulents, although the latter are heavier. Delicate flowers — hydrangea, lisianthus, sweet peas — quickly lose their looks without water. Lilies are used with care: their pollen leaves stubborn stains, so the stamens are removed.

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How long a flower dress lasts

Without water most cut flowers stay fresh from a few hours to a day, depending on the variety, temperature and humidity. So a fresh flower dress is a one-occasion outfit. For a longer-lasting look, preserved and dried flowers are used — see "Preserved and dried flowers".

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Floral accessories: a practical alternative

• A flower crown — a classic for weddings and photo shoots; how to make one is covered in "Bridal flower crown".
• Flowers in the hair — a few buds or an orchid sprig.
• A wrist corsage — popular with bridesmaids and graduates.
• A buttonhole — for the groom and guests.

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Tips if you want to try

• Start with a small piece — a corset, a belt or a cape.
• Work in a cool room and keep the flowers in water until the last moment.
• Use cold floral glue, not hot glue, so the petals don't get burnt.
• Consider whether the model is allergic to pollen or plant sap.
• Schedule the shoot right after the outfit is assembled.

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FAQ

How long does a fresh flower dress last?

Usually a few hours, so it is assembled shortly before a shoot or show.

Which flowers work best?

Dense, hardy ones: dendrobium orchids, chrysanthemums, carnations and spray roses.

How are flowers attached to fabric?

With cold floral glue, pins or wire onto a sturdy base.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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