Carnations Classy and Commercial
outlandish claim that carnations were making a comeback, the time came for fl ower and fashion fans alike to kick their très-luxe blooms to the curb as the carnation fi nally got its comeuppance. The much maligned carnation, or dianthus which
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makes it sound more lush, is often seen as a petrol station forecourt fl ower – left behind by popular culture along with shoulder pads and bumbags. Well guess what… according to Vogue, shoulder pads, bumbags, harem pants, leather trousers and a wealth of other weird and wonderful fashions have managed to make it back onto the radar. So we reckon, along with Carrie Bradshaw AND stiletto- making extraordinaire Manolo Blahnik to name but a few, that the time has come to restore the carnation’s once regal status. We’ve found some dianthus designs to drool over,
collated everything you might need to know about stocking them, interviewed a design expert, and done a little digging to fi nd that the humble carnation is actually steeped in a rich and glamorous history – no Edwardian aristocrat would have been without a glasshouse full of deeply scented dianthus!
hen it comes to trendsetting, Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw pretty much tops the Richter scale. So when, back in 2003, Miss Bradshaw made the pretty
I think carnations are making a comeback Carrie Bradshaw - Sex and the City
Did you know...?
The word Dianthus means divine fl ower. It is derived from the Greek words Dios (God) and anthos (fl ower).
The scarlet carnation is the state fl ower of Ohio, and the national fl ower of Spain.
The dianthus is the offi cial emblem of Mother’s Day in the U.S. and Canada - Miss. Anna Jarvis (The founder of American Mother’s Day) used them during the fi rst Mother’s Day celebration because carnations were her mother’s favourite fl ower.
Studies are taking place to determine how the dianthus accomplished such wide species diversity in such a short period of time. In fact, according to botanist Luis Valente, new species of carnation have occurred at an average rate of 2.2 to 7.6 species per million years - faster than any other known genus.
They have been used to fl avour wines, beers and liquors for over 400 years.
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Most people think that carnations are a common, vulgar, petrol-station fl ower. But I think they are fun, and they grow all over Sicily. They are also very handy as they make the perfect pom-pom. Manolo Blahnik
F&wb Autumn/Winter 2013
More than 550 varieties of dianthus are listed in British nurseries.
They’re related to Sweet Williams.
One of Oscar Wilde’s most noticeable trademarks was the wearing of a green carnation in his buttonhole. This later became known as a symbol of one’s homosexuality. The green carnation symbol is now openly used by many organisations in connection with the gay community.
Image courtesy of Featurefl ash /
Shutterstock.com
Image courtesy of Featurefl ash /
Shutterstock.com
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