The one-stop guide to styling rosettes for your ultimate Y2K summer look
Subtle summer fashion is so last year: nothing says cool like floral overload this July. Here’s the kitschy charm of rose appliques revealed
As fashion trends evolve, some elements have the power to reappear and captivate the style scene once more. For Spring-Summer 2024, rosettes are making a striking return as the latest Y2K revival trend, especially in the form of rose adornments and flower appliques. These details are gracing garments and accessories with their intricate and romantic allure. Let’s delve into the history, quirks, and excitement surrounding this trend.
Through the Ages: The History of Rosettes in Fashion
Rosettes have a long and rich history, stretching back to ancient times when they were used as decorative elements in architecture and art. In fashion, rosette appliques gained prominence during the Victorian era, as they symbolised elegance and femininity. They made a notable comeback in the 1980s, largely due to designers like Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Lacroix, who embraced their dramatic and ornamental qualities.
Rosettes Are Back: The Ultimate Trend That’s Blooming This Summer
Undercover’s Avant-Garde Fantasy
Undercover’s Spring-Summer 2024 collection takes rosettes to new heights with a bold, avant-garde approach. Designer Jun Takahashi adorned various garments with rosettes in different shapes and colours.
@theperfectmagazine An eco-system of living butterflies in their own conservatory at Jun Takahashi #butterflydress #juntakahashi #undercover #parisfashionweek #fashionshow ♬ original sound - The Perfect Magazine
The most unconventional look featured lighting terrariums with glowing roses, enhancing and expressing the trend in a unique way.
Simone Rocha’s Latest Obsession for Fabric and Real Roses in Sheer Layers
Unveiled in London, Simone Rocha’s Spring-Summer 2024 collection features tulle garments adorned with pressed roses that also complement cotton poplin tops and dresses.
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Oversized jackets and taffeta dresses are embellished with large, rose-like fabric swirls, continuing the floral theme throughout the collection. Mesh bomber jackets, maxi skirts, and other sheer garments reveal real, fresh roses with uncut stems trapped or sewn underneath.
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Blumarine’s Heavenly Y2K Revival
Nicola Brognano’s final Blumarine collection channels a dreamy Y2K aesthetic with delicate rosettes embellishing ethereal dresses and blouses. A flowing chiffon blouse with a large white rosette on the shoulder highlights the collection’s feminine allure. Sportier looks feature rosettes on distinctive denim pieces with unique details.
The show-stopping look was a transparent PVC dress with a giant rose and rhinestones, adding a definitive twist to the runway.
Marni’s Bold Rosette Experimentation
For Spring-Summer 2024, Francesco Risso’s debut Marni show in Paris—held at the late Karl Lagerfeld’s former home—showcased multi-coloured rosettes in a bold and experimental fashion.
The collection features structured dresses with an oversized fit, blending vibrant shades and textures for a striking visual impact. Metallic roses protruding dramatically are key elements, cementing their place in this summer’s rosette trend revival.
The Met Gala Effect: Rosettes Take Over the Red Carpet
The 2024 Met Gala, themed “The Garden of Time,” provided a perfect setting for custom haute couture rosettes. The red carpet sparkled with floral-inspired gowns, though it also featured a number of couture monstrosities that are best forgotten. The standout fashion pieces from last year’s event were particularly notable, featuring a surge of dresses adorned with floral appliques. In fact, the “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” theme allowed designers to unleash their creative visions, adding a modern twist to the Kaiser’s iconic couture-in-bloom collections for Chanel.
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Standout looks included Rihanna in Valentino by Pierpaolo Piccioli and Bad Bunny in Jacquemus.
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Giorgia Quaranta
Fashion Management, Digital Communication and Media, 2nd year, Milano
A version of this article originally appeared in S4S, an editorial project created by students from Istituto Marangoni’s Fashion Management, Digital Communication, and Media programme: Sirrah Frances Beltrame, Giulia Gaiati, Giorgia Quaranta, Alice Toller, and Martina Biagianti.