‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
                               By any other name would smell as sweet.’

Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare

Shakespeare is not the only one who fell under the spell of a rose. Jean-Paul Gaultier, Carolina Herrera, Milly, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chloé and Cartier also followed the path in the hypnotizing rose garden to discover the pure beauty that sparkled the creation of wondrous garments and perfumes. The rose has been seducing, inspiring and igniting passions and even furies. The latter led to the dynastic wars for the throne of England, called the Wars of the Roses (1455-1487), between the two royal houses: the White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster. When the final battle gave Henry VII the crown of England, he married Elizabeth of York and reunited two dynasties, merging two rival roses into one emblem – the Tudor rose.

Despite its delicate roots, the rose grows strong in the history of other countries, being designated the official national flower of the United States of America in 1986 and one of the symbols of New York state in 1955.

“Americans have always loved the flowers with which God decorates our land. More often than any other flower, we hold the rose dear as the symbol of life and love and devotion, of beauty and eternity. For the love of man and woman, for the love of mankind and God, for the love of country, Americans who would speak the language of the heart do so with a rose.”

Proclamation No. 5574., Roland Reagan

So I speak the language of the heart with the rose on my mind and my Brahmin Ophelia Blue Lyon purse, the blue rose blouse (NY&Company, similar, similar), lace skirt (Zara, similar, similar), belt (Ann Taylor, similar) and Coach heels (similar).

This lustrous top feels silky and soft. The subtle neckline adorned with a ribbon and two blue roses creates the romance with the handbag while the glorious blue color engages in a love affair with its pastel shade of the skirt. The elaborate lace courts the rose pattern on the bag promising the perfect marriage. What a love story!

The Coach Sofia Semi Matte platform heels are a pure delight, all about the details. Soft leather, beautiful color, sexy peep toe, buckle accents, wooden heels and ‘Coach’ signature gold lace lips make these shoes a true sensation on a rendezvous, with or without a rose. The stunning caramel color provides a sweet match with the belt, leather handle, trim and details of the purse.

The picture wouldn’t be perfect without the romantic jewelry pieces. The Periwinkle-Tone Crystal Filigree stretch bracelet (M. Haskell) featuring the intricate design with sparkling stones highlights the ornate blue rose pattern on the handbag and delivers a trompe l’oeil lace illusion. It blends with the pastel blue lace skirt to create an extravagant, botanical network design straight from the Baroque period. The blue stone silvertone ring (JCPenny, similar) emanates a celestial sparkle adding to the shiny stones of the bracelet.

The dazzling Mother-of-Pearl Floral necklace and earring set (Monet from JCPenny, similar earrings) represents a magnificent wreath of pearly white roses in bloom. The mother-of-pearl surrounded by glistering crystal stones offers a striking contrast against the blue top and adds a touch of glamour with a hint of feminine romanticism. Elegant and sophisticated, this rose set pairs beautifully with the roses attached to the blouse and the rose pattern on the bag, contributing to the delightful ensemble on which a rose climbs from the purse to the earring.

There is a rosebush called the Rose of Hildesheim that climbs on the wall of a cathedral in Germany and is considered to be the oldest living rose in the world: the Thousand-year Rose. The rose is about 10 meters (33 ft) high and its roots survived bombings during the Second World War and blossomed again among the ruins. The legend says that in 815, the son of Charlemagne, Emperor Louis the Pious was hunting in the forest and got lost. He arrived at the mound covered with wild rose and while praying for help over the reliquary of the Virgin Mary that he had with him, he fell asleep. When he woke up, the ground was all in snow but the rose bush was in bloom and his reliquary laying among the roses was covered in ice. After his fellow hunters finally found him, the Emperor promised to build a cathedral where the mound with the rose was. He constructed the cathedral and spared the rose that is now still blossoming behind the altar.

Romanticized or not, the rose charm spreads across different fields of artistic creations and designs. In fashion, the rose motif developed into a recurring trend that comes back each year bringing the bloom even in winter. From Aphrodite to Cleopatra, to a modern woman that seeks the refined elegance, bold in colors or subtle, delicate floral accents embellish any look with a dash of chic femininity and sophistication that’s hidden under the sweet name – rose.