Say "I Do" to these Top Trends for 2013

This year's bridal market, where we sifted through a white sea of 2013 designer gowns and bridesmaid dresses, may have been the most fabulous yet!  One thing we know for sure is that it's going to be a good year to be a bride.

The Fancy Frocks ladies carefully chose inventory for the coming season to include some of the top bridal trends:

• 1. Illusion necklines, backs and sleeves that were detailed with lace, pearls or beading, and in some cases all three.
• 2. Interesting backs.  Think about it.  During the ceremony the bride's back is to her guests most of the time. And while she is dancing, what are we looking at?  Her back.  From low-cut backs to illusion to keyholes, the back is where it 's at.
• 3.  Lace is still trending big time for brides, and now it has even trickled over to the bridesmaids.  Don't miss the Affairs collection by Mori-Lee coming soon to Fancy Frocks in Murrells Inlet.  It includes darling short lace dresses in black for bridesmaids, and white or ivory for brides - great for rehearsal, reception, going away or even a casual wedding.

Keeping up with the latest trends is just one of the measures Fancy Frocks takes to be sure we can help each of our customers find her perfect dress.  Our consultants take pride in offering a relaxed and fun shopping experience with honest, friendly customer service.

“Will you be my bridesmaid?” Bride

The Western bridesmaid tradition is thought to have originated from Roman Law, which required ten
witnesses at a wedding in order to outsmart evil spirits (believed to attend marriage ceremonies) by
dressing in identical clothing to the bride and groom, so that the evil spirits would not know who was
getting married. Today, bridesmaid dresses are still commonly chosen in harmony with the look and feel of the

wedding. bridesmaids continue to serve a vital role in the wedding process, not by fending off hexes and robbers,
but by providing key support staff for the bride. No wonder we rely on our dearest friends and family members! The
payoff is that walk down the aisle, looking absolutely beautiful in a gown that is stylish, sophisticated, colorful and
absolutely wearable.

In general, brides start shopping for bridesmaid dresses shortly after they order their own gown - about six to
seven months before the wedding. The reason for the early preparation is that complex orders can take awhile
to be delivered: You want to leave plenty of time to deal with fittings, alterations and, of course, Murphy's Law
(whatever can go wrong will go wrong).The bride usually brings at least one of her bridemaids along. She wants
the bridesmaids to have a voice in choosing the dress so that they will feel confident wearing it, even if that means
different styles for each bridesmaid. When deciding where to purchase, A full service bridal shop is the most
comprehensive choice, providing information and advice on measurements, sizing, undergarments, shoes and order
time. They provide fabric swatches and usually have seamstresses on staff to perform all necessary alterations. They
are professionals, and usually charge slightly higher prices than discount retailers. However, it is their business to
make sure the wedding day goes perfectly. Brides often find it convenient to choose one shop they like and purchase
everything there, including the bridesmaid dresses, shoes and accessories. With so much to do convenience is
paramount.

When all is said and done, the payoff for being a bridesmaid is that walk down the aisle, looking absolutely beautiful
in a gown that is stylish, sophisticated, colorful and absolutely wearable. (And the reception, of course!)

“A Joy Shared Is A Joy Doubled”.

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

There is some historical discrepancy as to the origin of the tuxedo. Some accounts attribute the tux to Edward Albert, Prince of Wales, who commissioned a short smoking jacket from Savile Row founder Henry Poole & Co. in 1860.

Other histories pinpoint the tux's introduction to a natty gent who, frustrated by tails that interfered with his dancing, wore a tailless dress coat to New York's Tuxedo Park resort's Autumn Ball in 1886.

If you favor the latter account - let's go ahead and go with the American version - the tuxedo would mark its 125th anniversary this fall. A fine moment in sartorial history, indeed. Let's mark the occasion by tipping our hat to the tux - by far the most dashing apparel in a man's wardrobe.

When choosing a tux, look for trousers (never cuffed) that are slimmer and sport a higher waist than normal suit pants, which offers a proportion better suited for a tux jacket, formal shirt and cummerbund.

Stay away from synthetic materials - go with Super 100 wools.

Tux details can include stripes and braids on trousers and satin on lapels. Satin, with its subtle sheen, is a traditional choice for an accent fabric. Grosgrain pants stripes are quite natty.

Wing-collar shirts are best with a bow tie; lie-down collars are best with a solid silk necktie.

Don't forget: Cummerbund pleats face up; cuff links for French-cuffed sleeves; studs for exposed shirt placket.

If you're investing in a grown-up tux, you might as well spring for good shoes, too. And throw in evening hosiery.

Short, stocky guys.
Jackets with slim shawl collars are a good bet. You don’t need any of those broad-shoulder euro-style tuxes; that would be overkill. Instead jackets with natural shoulder lines are best. For pants, avoid styles that have too much break on the foot (can look sloppy); instead, try reverse double-pleated trousers.

Short, slender guys.
Skip the double-breasted styles and look at single-breasted jackets with a low button and wide lapels.

Tall, slender guys.
These folks have it easy—just about everything works. Double-breasted tuxes with those euro-style broad shoulders are fine, as are those hip three-button styles that close high on the chest. Trousers can have more break at the foot.

Tall, stocky guys.
Jacket length is a tough one here; try styles with shawl collars. Consider a jacket with a bit of room to allow for movement.

Ms. Universe & Sherri Hill

Ms. Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo in Sherri Hill

Mac Duggal Perfect Pageant Dress

Check out all the pageant winners across America in this must-have gown!

$50.00 GIFT CERT for only $25.00!

Christmas is fast approaching, let us help you finish up your holiday shopping. Visit us now through December 22nd and receive $25 off of a $50 Fancy Frocks gift certificate towards a purchase of a dress!

Our New Arrivals!

The good stuff keeps coming! Yesterday these beauties arrived at Fancy Frocks. The first gown is the Dalton by Maggie Sottero. This gown is sequined lace over satin is a stunning ensemble with a hint of nostalgia in this fit and flare gown featuring illusion lace sweetheart neckline and long sleeves. Finished with zipper back closure.

The second is a silk shantung evening gown with asymmetrical neckline, beaded bodice with fold-over trim on neckline. A slightly dropped waist with gathered waist band and jeweled side accent and fitted skirt with godet insets. This gown would be perfect for your special occasion.

New Mori Lee Julietta Arrivals!

Look at our new Gorgeous Plus Size Gowns!! They are available in sizes 16W to 32W! We will be having a Plus size trunk show in March! Sign up below to hear about all of our events in store!

New Maggie Sottero Gowns

Come in and see our new arrivals!!

12 Must Read Tips Before Shopping for you Wedding Gown

12 Must Read Tips Before Shopping for Your Wedding Dress

1. Set your budget first!

When that perfect man puts a ring on it, the first thing you want to do is run to the nearest bridal salon. Whoa....slow down. Take a deep breath. You need to first sit down with all parties involved and discuss budget. There is nothing worse than falling in love with a dress that you cannot afford. Once you have a budget in mind you are ready to go. A rule of thumb, about 10% of the cost of your entire wedding budget should be set aside for you wedding gown.

2. Shop early

Not that you will need any coaxing, but you should start dress shopping 10 months before your wedding. Sounds crazy doesn't it! Well, here's the breakdown. You may spend up to a month finding "the one." Then comes ordering the gown, you will be looking at 6 months for that dress to arrive in the store! It is always best to leave an additional month in between in case the designer is running a little late, this will alleviate stress for you! You want alterations right? Well, even if you don't, you will probably need them, 9 out of 10 girls do. You will want to set aside about 6 weeks for alterations to be completed. So lets recap shall we. 1 month to find the gown, 6 to order it, 1 extra, 1 1/2 for alterations. That's 9 1/2 months! Keep in mind, if you are having a bridal portrait, please add the additional time necessary for that as well!

3. Determine Dress Code

If you are getting married at a church, speak with the man/woman in charge about any attire restrictions that they may have. Consider the formality of the reception. Etiquette says that you dress to match the reception not the ceremony. Never dress down because your ceremony location is not a cathedral church. Even if you are getting married on the beach, still dress like a bride!

4. Go In With a Vision of Event

Do you want to be romantic, classic, elegant or glamorous? Research these - knowing which one describes the look you want for your wedding - will make telling your salesperson what you want a whole lot easier. Think about your everyday style as a place to start.

5. Make Requests

Just because the bridal salon carries your favorite designer, does not mean that they carry the entire collection. If you are looking for a specific style, give them a call. If they do not have that one, but others similar, take time to go in and see what they have. If you can try gowns on in the same fabric, style, color & shape you will get the same idea of the dress that you cannot find.

6. Book Appointments

While you may get lucky and find a salesperson available for you when you arrive on a whim, its probably best to schedule an appointment. Shopping for a wedding gown is filled with questions. It is not someone you want to do alone. Scheduling an appointment with insure that you will have undivided attention.

7. Shop During the Week

Shopping during normal business hours Monday-Friday when the crowds are small. You will get more attention from the sales staff if you shop on a weekday rather than a Saturday. There will be fewer people hogging the mirrors!

8. Be Open-Minded

When you are in the bridal salon, don't eliminate anything at first glance. Even though certain styles work best certain body types, don't let these "rules" narrow your search too much. It helps to first try on a different kinds of dresses and then decide which shape and style you look and felt best in. So if the salesperson brings you something she says you must try, try it! Even if you're not loving the way it looks on the hanger. 9 out of 10 brides end up falling for a wedding gown the salesperson had to persuade her to try on.

9. Shop With Only a Few People

Limit your shopping partners to one or two of your closest friends to help you start your search. This way you have too many ideas clashing and feel pressured by others' opinions. Your entourage should also have a very clear understanding about your goal and your bridal style and budget. Also consider taking one solo trip to the bridal salon first to form your own opinion about what you like. 

10. Buy a Dress That Fits Now

Even if you're planning on dropping 15 pounds before your wedding, your body type isn't going to completely change just because you started swapping cookies for carrots. So you'll want to buy a dress that fits your body the way it is now. It's a lot easier (and cheaper) to have a dress taken in, than let out, or even worse have a gusset put in! Wedding gowns run small too, so don't be alarmed when you are ordering a size much larger than your normal size!