'Tis the Season! FREE Photography

When Frank Sinatra said, "the best things in life are free", he must have been talking about this. Angela Hubbard, wedding photographer extraordinaire has been touched by the spirit of giving and is running an INCREDIBLE contest. If you have an inspiring story or have overcome the odds, and need a photographer, the stars may have just aligned. Angela is running a contest and the winner will be chosen to have her shoot their wedding for free. There are other perks too, including make-up by the fabulous Hayley Miller and flowers by the Flower Factory. Don't wait though, this contest ends in a week!

For details, see Angela's Blog.

Frocksing Day!

How time flies. . .the annual FROCKSING DAY SALE is almost upon us. Mark your calendars for December 27th from 10am until 4pm. The line-up started early last year, so we hope it's warmer this year! We're doing our part and heating things up by marking down in-stock dresses by up to 80%!! This is the perfect chance to buy your New Years Eve frock. Sorry, FROCKSING DAY is at our Vancouver location only.

Our lovely brides. . .

Here are some beautiful shots to inspire. These were all customers of our Calgary store who chose Tricia Howatt as their photographer. It sure was a wise choice! Check out her beautiful collection of images. We love it when photographers and customers send us photos. Keep them coming.

frocks takes the cake!

Sorry for the silence, but we've been busy, busy, busy with wedding shows! Brock House and Creme de la Creme photos will be posted shortly.

Despite the busy show season, our window is still catching the eye of passers-by thanks to April Cakes. What better complement to our black and white dress window than STUNNING wedding cakes! Not only does April Cakes create the perfect wedding cake to match your wedding style, they also offer cake decorating classes and custom cakes for any occasion you can imagine.

If you don't know fondant from butter cream, call April Cakes to walk you through it. You'll be on your way to creating the yummiest piece of art you've ever seen. The only hard part will be cutting into it for that must-have wedding photo!

Dresses from left to right:

Simple Silhouettes - Sweet Pea, Watters - 3422, Puchibi - Jackie, Jenny Yoo - Ella, Jenny Yoo - Katia

The Nola is in Vancouver!

The long awaited and much anticipated Nola has arrived in Vancouver. Many wedding planners have asked us to let them know when it was in because their clients were eagerly waiting its arrival. It's beautiful, simple lines and luxurious fabric make it the ultimate destination bridal gown or, when ordered in colour, a sought-after formal bridesmaids' gown. We have already filled many orders for this dress even without it in the store, so we're thrilled to finally have it for all to see, feel, and try on!

The Nola (by Jenny Yoo) can only be ordered until the end of this year, so if you're hoping to wear this dress for any 2010 occasions, please book an appointment soon to confirm your order.

Also, any grads hoping to wear this gown should order quickly - only one order per school!

Calgary bridal expo!

Our booth is set to go for tomorrow's (September 27th) bridal expo at the Roudup Centre, Stampede Park, Calgary. It's the biggest fall bridal show in Calgary and is on from 10 - 5pm. We're thrilled to be a part of it for our first time this year and would love for you to drop by our booth to say hi!

We have typically shied away from big bridal shows like this in favour of more intimate boutique-style shows, but have decided to just see how it goes. If you've got any thoughts on these types of shows, we'd love to hear them.

If you have any comments or suggestions on our booth and presentation at this year's show, please let us know by email at owners@frocks.ca

19th Annual Brock House Wedding Show!

Frocks is proud to be a part of this incredible show again this year.

DreamGroup Productions Presents.... the 19th annual Brock House Wedding Show...

Sunday, October 18, 2009

UNLIKE ANY OTHER…
-over 40 wedding vendors ready to chat with you one on one
-exquisite gift bags stuffed with goodies
-cocktail lunch & wine included
-inspiring fashion show with wedding dresses, bridesmaids dresses, tuxes and more!
-tons of door prizes from The Bay & participating Exhibitors
-grand prize Honeymoon to be won

Shows at 11:00-3:00pm and 3:00-7:00pm with fashion shows (featuring FROCKS!) at 1:00pm and 5:00pm

DreamGroup & The Cinderella Project: Bring a clean and gently used Bridesmaid Dress to the Show and receive complimentary access for one attendee (**visit the website for complete rules). The dresses will be donated to Cinderella Project, providing young, often less fortunate ladies with beautiful dresses to where to their high school prom or graduation event.

For tickets and information visit www.dreamgroup.ca/weddingshow or call 604.537.3575 (tickets are available through Clubzone)

ladies in red

Emily wed her beau, Sander Duncanson in Calgary at The Ranche in Fish Creek Park on August 22, 2009. The day was captured by Corrina Walker Photography.

This wedding is proof that, even when surrounded by 6 STUNNING ladies, a bride can still stand out and, dare we say, steal the show! The key is choosing a colour that makes you pop. Whether it's navy, chocolate brown, pink, teal or red, a white wedding dress never looks more beautiful than when it's placed between vibrant bridesmaids dresses (and, of course, worn by a gorgeous bride!)

Emily and her girls look fabulous and timeless thanks to the great colour and styles chosen by this stylish bride and her amazing group of bridesmaids. Emily let her girls choose their own styles from Jenny Yoo's Silk Shantung collection in poppy red. They were a pleasure to work with and the look came together beautifully. We can't take all the credit though, look at these girls!?

Partying in platinum

We just had to post these pics we received from one of our Calgary brides, Kristina. She had a vision for her wedding from the get go and pulled it off beautifully on August 15th of this year when she married her beau, Ryan.

Her girls look stunning in Jenny Yoo 'Rachel' frocks!

Photo credit: Kevyn Meynell

Beyond pouf and bling

Too many choices can be a bad thing, but not when it comes to wedding dresses.

Jenny Yoo's wedding alternatives offer an alternative to traditional bridal gowns. Beach weddings, small, intimate ceremonies, second weddings or back yard weddings can be overwhelmed by poufy, blingy gowns.

The key to choosing a simple, classic gown is ensuring you don't go. . .well. . . plain. Pay attention to the fabric and styling and choose a silhouette that you can accessorize to make it truly your own. Cage veils, fabulous jewels or flashy shoes are great additions to a classic wedding frock.

Planning a big, traditional wedding? These dresses have also been popular with our brides planning big weddings as well. Nothing beats a classic, timeless style that will look just as great on your 25th wedding anniversary as it does now!

How Sweet it is!

September may be here, but we're not saying goodbye to the sweet days of summer quite yet.

With the help of our friends at Candy Aisle in Steveston Village, our Jenny Yoo dress window is accented with a delicious and decorative candy buffet. We've only had the window up for one day and it's received quite a response from drooling kids and brides alike!

Whether you're planning a bridal or baby shower, wedding or stagette, a candy buffet is a modern addition to your cake or dessert table. Have you ever met someone who didn't like candy?! With their incredible selection of unique candies and flair for style, Nicole and Celia at Candy Aisle can put together a candy buffet that accents the colours of your wedding style. They even recently helped someone out with blue and green candies for a Seahawks themed soiree!

The beautiful bouquet is from our talented neighbour, Sam, at Buy the Bunch. You can't beat Sam's talents for your bridal flowers.

See, we don't just know dresses!

Please contact us if you would like more information on the Candy Aisle Candy Buffets .

Attn. Spring/Summer 2010 Brides!

Our most popular designer is offering a special discount for Spring/Summer 2010 brides!

It is time for the Jenny Yoo Collection Fall Promotion. This is a great opportunity for brides who have started planning for their 2010 weddings to receive additional discounts for getting their orders in early. An additional 10% will be discounted from the original group discounting tier for all orders placed prior to the required deadline.

Deadlines
The deadline for May 2010 Weddings will be September 30.
The deadline for June 2010 Weddings will be October 31.
The deadline for July 2010 Weddings will be November 30.

The additional discount does not apply to Alternative Bridal dresses. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer except the Rehearsal Dinner Dress Promotion.

Breaking All The Rules!

For those of you who haven't been in our neck of the woods lately, here is a peak at our latest Frocks window display!

The window:Featuring two of our top designers, Lynn Lugo and Jenny Yoo, the dresses from left to right are:

1) Jenny Yoo - Becca Dress in Casper Blue eastern silk shantung

2) Lynn Lugo - Brooke Dress in Gunmetal silk charmeuse

3) Jenny Yoo - Chloe Bridal Gown in off-white silk shantung

4) Jenny Yoo - Pheobe Dress in Casper Blue eastern silk shantung

5) Puchibi - Jackie Dress (flower girl) in off-white silk shantung

6) Lynn Lugo - Giselle Dress in Gunmetal silk charmeuse

This window is breaking all the rules... but it still works! We usually recommend staying with the same fabric when you are putting your girls in different colours (this is always safest) and often recommend staying with the same colour when going with different styles, but the combination still works because the fabrics are both flowy in nature, and all but one neckline are very similar (three halters). The odd dress out (in this case the strapless) is often used to showcase the maid of honour (if she doesn't mind standing out a little from the rest of the girls! Lastly, the colours work together as the Gunmetal grey balances out the strong Casper Blue (not sure of the name, there's no fading into the night in this statement colour!)

Brides, don't try this at home, come to Frocks for some expert advice so we can help you pull off this look... that is, if you don't mind your girls turning as many heads as you!

If you would like to chime in on the current Frocks window (or even past windows) just comment on this post!

Until the next window...Frocks girls

frosting inspired style

Maybe it's just a late night craving or maybe we just needed a reason to post this fabulous photo, but we also think that any photo (food or otherwise) can inspire fashion. If you're stumped for wedding style or colours and getting tired of wedding magazines, flip through the pages of a cooking or interior design magazine and see what images appeal to you. The thought of a pink wedding may not appeal until you see yourself as white buttercream surrounded by your peony iced attendants!

'nuff said

need we say more?

(okay, in stock dresses only)

This offer from Jenny Yoo BLUE us away!

Feeling blue?

We hope so! For the month of August, one of our featured designers, Jenny Yoo, is offering an additional 10% off their discount tiers for dresses ordered in blue. This includes all of the fabulous teals and aquas we're continuing to see for 2010 weddings.

If you're inspired by the sea, the sky or otherwise thinking blue for your bridesmaids, rehearsal dinner dress or other special event outfit, August is the month to come into one of the Frocks locations.

Please call ahead to book an appointment so we may assist you (and your girls if necessary) with your selection.

Party for your toes

You may have partied all night or even just hobbled your way to a party in your finest Louboutins, but how are you going to make it home with your tootsies screaming in pain? A lovely British MAN has the answer. God save the Queen and god bless this *brilliant* (said with British accent) man.

When your littlest piggies have raised the white flag and you just can't take anymore, hobble your way over to the closest vending machine, yes, vending machine and pick up a pair of Rollasoles to get you from your soiree to home pain free. And, you don't have to give up style or wander the streets in bare feet. Silver, gold and even pink, these are adorable!

Don't dance in your stilettos quite yet. The vending machines have yet to make their way to Canada, but we're keeping an eye on their global movement and will keep you posted. We've got your toes' best interests in mind.

Your bridesmaids will be kissing your feet when you pull these out for them at midnight!

A Frocks PSA for Facebook Users!

Little did you know, (the following is from Facebook): "Facebook occasionally pairs advertisements with relevant social actions from a user's friends to create Facebook Ads. Facebook Ads make advertisements more interesting and more tailored to you and your friends."

Translation: A photo of you could pop up in an ad on your friend's Facebook page unless you opt out! To opt out:

Click on SETTINGS (located on top of page in blue bar, next to logout); Select PRIVACY SETTINGS; Select NEWS FEEDS and WALL; Select the TAB that reads Facebook Ads. There will be a drop down box; Select NO ONE.

It may seem like a hassle to log onto Facebook and opt out, but if you don't, beware! Your smiling mug could end up in a "hook-up" ad on your friend's (our spouses!) Facebook page. The blog link below tells this tale.

http://tinyurl.com/n4s4wa

Thanks to Angela Hubbard (photographer extraordinaire) for bringing this to our attention

Bag it!

We're so proud of our very own Jenny Andrews. As the founder and creator of Satchel, she has found an outlet for her stylish eye and creative talents (ahem, aside from helping our clients find their wedding and event style).

Jenny graduated from the Advanced Fashion Arts program at VCC in 2007. Her incredible graduation line included a great deal of leather. . .foreshadowing this line perhaps?

The perfect make-up bag, the leather she uses feels like buttah and she will customize the lining colour (all silk) so that the inside of your bag reflects your inner style. A fab bridal bag that you will actually reach for after the wedding, an ideal bridesmaid gift (matched to your wedding colours??) or a treat for yourself, Satchel is not your typical makeup bag.

Grab it as you head out the door and use it as a clutch. It's the perfect size and if you choose the triangle bottom, it will stand on it's own while you hunt for your ID. After all, we still look 18, right?

Find Satchel exclusively at Frocks' Vancouver location.

Made in the shade (of perfect pink)

Yes, the quest is over! It's true, the seemingly endless quest for the perfect pale pink nail polish, which seemed to result in little more than a drawer full of polishes that were slightly too. . .

purple,
white,
streaky,
sheer,
opaque...

is finally over!

This quest may not have been the most intellectual of pursuits, but the result is incredibly satisfying. THE perfect shade for brides, bridesmaids, mothers of the bride, close up hand shots when you host your own cooking show, or for finally getting that clean, polished nail look that you've seen on celebrities but could never quite match.

It won "best neutral" in InStyle's Best Beauty Buys 2009 poll (See? We weren't the only ones on a somewhat vain quest!) and had Charlize Theron's nail pro (who knew people had 'nail pros'?) saying, "I have 300 polish shades in my kit, but this is the one I use 60 percent of the time."

It's the perfect clean, sheer pink shade. It's made by Essie, known for it's great colours and quality. It's name is, wait for it, Mademoiselle. How perfect.

Any ideas for a new lifetime quest for us to pursue?

We suggest you get yourself over to Bloom Essentials in Kitsilano and treat yourself. While you're there, book a facial. Hey, think of all the money you're saving on not-quite-right shades of pink!

Let it flow!

So many of our brides, bridesmaids or party go-ers come into our stores looking for 'something flowy'. We understand the sexy appeal of a fluttery and flowy frock as you strut your stuff or dance the night away. Now is your chance to take advantage of a special Jenny Yoo promotion until the end of July. Choose any Chiffon, Charmeuse or Crinkle Chiffon Jenny Yoo dress and receive a special discount.

This is a great opportunity for 2010 brides to outfit your bridesmaids in a selection of our most popular styles!

Please feel free to call or email us with any questions
about this special offer.

Colour me red...

Happy Canada Day from all of us at Frocks! We've updated our window with some of our favourite frocks in festive red (poppy red, to exact). From left to right: Nina dress, Jackie flower girl dress by Puchibi, Jocelyn dress, Ella dress with Bianca bolero in Klauber lace (dresses by Jenny Yoo).

Red certainly isn't limited to those with July weddings. This gorgeous shade provides the basis for a chic backdrop for weddings of all seasons--it is classic on its own, paired with black, or other metallic colours (silver, gold, champagne and bronze). This season's issue of InStyle Weddings suggests a lush palette of mixed berries--imagine this juicy colour paired with blackberry, plum and raspberry for a rich look. We also love red as a jaunty foil for water colours--paired with colours such as aqua, it is kitchy and retro, and makes for a wonderful summer look.

Not only are we lucky to live in such a wonderful country, we have a timeless flag to boot!

Happy Canada Day!

To veil or not to veil...

On the fence about wearing a veil on your big day? Is your mom pushing you to wear one but you're just not sure it's your style? Or are you thinking veils are too traditional?

Here are a couple of things to consider. First, you can always wear one for the ceremony and take it off after wards - this way your mom's happy (and you might even enjoy getting a couple pictures in it too before you toss it!). Secondly, you don't need to go with a traditional, multi-tiered, poufy veil anymore. There are now many options for shorter veils, cage veils, single layer long veils or soft blushers, that have a modern or funky edge to them.

Sara Gabriel designs beautiful veils from the classics to the modern and even the funky - and all with high quality craftsmanship. Frocks is excited to now be carrying her veils in our stores (veils arrive mid-June). If we don't happen to have the perfect sample in our stores, we can order anything from her website (including jewelry or headpieces) or better yet, she can customize your veil for you.

Check out more of Sara Gabriel veils, headpieces, and jewellery on her website at http://www.saragabriel.com/

...and remember, you only get married once, so a little tulle or netting can't hurt... but then again, it's your wedding, so you have the final call!

To veil or not to veil... that is the question!

Frocks at the Dream Dress Auction!

If you're still searching for your wedding dress, come to the Dream Dress Auction and choose from 25 new wedding dresses that will be auctioned off in support of the Cinderella Project. You might just find your perfect dress at a great price and support a great cause too! For more information on the Dream Dress Auction go to http://www.dreamdressauction.com/

For the silent auction portion of the show Frocks will be donating a beautiful cocktail dress (the Giselle) from designer Lynn Lugo, in 100% silk charmeuse in smokey blue, size 8 (style, not colour, shown right). Frocks will also have a booth at the event where you can come view our top frocks and 10% of all our sales at the auction will go towards the Cinderella Project - so please come down and help support this great cause! For more info on the Cinderella Project go to http://thecinderellaproject.com/

Tickets available through the Dream Dress Auction website ($15) or at the door ($20)!

Hope to see you there,

Frocks Girls

Latest Frocks window revealed!

Our windows have been known to stop traffic (ok, maybe it's the traffic light) but they've always caused a bit of a stir with self-proclaimed fashion critics chiming in daily. So, to avoid any more traffic accidents, we've decided to post pictures of our current Frocks window display for all to view!

The window:

Featuring two of our top New York designers, Thread and Jenny Yoo, the dresses from left to right are:

1) Thread - Melanie Dress in lagoon silk taffeta, new mini length

2) Thread - Abbey Dress in plum silk taffeta, new mini length

3) Puchibi - Jackie Dress (flower girl) in off-white silk dupioni (Charsa sash in Lagoon)

4) Jenny Yoo - Ella Dress in off-white silk shantung with flower by Alice Hart

5) Thread - Liddy Dress in charcoal silk taffeta, new mini length

6) Jenny Yoo - Lucy Dress in teal silk taffeta

It can't go without mentioning that all the dresses have pockets! Besides the pockets, the only other similarity is the fabric, but the combination works because the colours are from the same family and tone (not always an easy task!). We typically suggest putting your girls in the same colour and fabric with different styles (to suit your girls' personalities and body types), but there's been a growing trend to put your bridesmaids in different colours too. If you decide to go this route, we recommend making sure the styles are not too different and, luckily for you, our designers have prepared for this trend by creating colour palettes that work well together - making your job a lot easier!

On a side note, the Liddy dress is getting lots of air time right now with its definite cocktail dress feel!

Another newsworthy dress is the Ella which has emerged as the "go to" short wedding dress (or even rehearsal dinner dress!).

If you would like to chime in on the current Frocks window (or even past windows) just comment on this post!

Until the next window...

Frocks girls

Your votes are in and we're listening!

Thank you to everyone who voted for their favourite frocks and helped us decide which dresses to carry "off the rack" for your last minute events!

Congrats also go out to the winner of a free frock - Kasia!

YOUR TOP 6 FROCKS (in order) are: 12, 1, 3, 11, 5, & 6 (see post below for styles)

We know these frocks will also make perfect LBD's so we're bringing in the majority of them in black!

Thanks again to everyone who voted.

Too Good To Be True! Win a Frock!

Frocks is going "off the rack"! The dresses you love will now also be available immediately for your last minute events. Whether you need a dress as a guest at a summer wedding or are looking for the perfect lbd for a holiday soiree, you don't need to worry that you've left things too late! We need your help to let us know which styles we should carry and you could WIN!

For your chance to win a frock* in the colour of your choice, take the following 3 steps:

1) Choose your top 3 favourite frock styles from above.

2) Act Quickly! Follow us on twitter and tweet us your choices by 6pm, Friday, April 24th, 2009

If you are already on twitter,
a.) tweet the following to @ilovefrocks - I want to win a Frock! My fave frocks are: 1, 2 and 3 (replace the nos. with your choices).

If you have yet to discover twitter,
a.) go to http://twitter.com/ilovefrocks
b.) click on "Join Today"
c.) create your account
d.) cut and paste the following into the box that says, "What are you doing?":
@ilovefrocks - I want to win a Frock! My fave frocks are: 1, 2 and 3 (replace the nos. with your choices)
e.) click "update"

Note: one entry per person.

3) If you re-tweet any one of our tweets about the contest, you'll receive an additional entry!! (limit two extra entries per person)

Thanks for your help, and good luck!

Frocks Girls


* Note: competition open to Canadian residents only; excludes bridal colours; prize dress must be ordered within 1 year from notification of win or the prize will become null and void; size will be determined by bust, hip and waist measurements and will be decided by the contestant; prize does not include alterations; all entries must be received by the deadline; The competition will run from Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 until 6pm PST Friday, April 24th, 2009; no responsibility will be accepted for late, lost or misdirected entries.