Our top 5 Spring trends

I guess maybe Punxsutawney Phil was right after all.

I thought Spring was here, and just as I got a touch of Spring Fever... it's gone. Well, luckily the weather here in South Carolina is obviously unpredictable, so our top 5 Spring trends could be very useful soon!

Trend #1: Cleopatra-inspired necklines. Designers are using jeweled necklines on tops and dresses to hearken back to the days of Cleopatra, and we're loving it. Not only do these jeweled necklines dress up even the simplest of frocks, but it leaves us less to worry about in the way of accessories. Some of our favorites are the Jeannie Dress by Joyous & Free, Trina Turk's Paradise Top, and the Zinc Dress by Sweetees (which, by the way, also comes in blue).

Trend #2: Grecian goddess-inspired dresses. Whether it's one-shouldered, twisted, or off the shoulder, these drapy & flowy dresses are sure to make you feel regal and feminine. This navy off-shoulder dress from one of our junior lines has all the folds to make it perfectly Grecian, but we've updated it with a belt to define the waist. In the middle, the Vedette dress by Sweetees has embraced a couple of additional trends for spring - sheer fabrics & water color prints! And on the right, the halter neck and jeweled top make this dress great for a girl wanting to bring out her inner goddess!

From left to right: One-shouldered, printed dress by Muse; Nicole Miller's faux wrap dress, and the cerise one-shouldered knit dress by Envi.

Trend #3: Wide-Leg & Distressed Denim. Okay, maybe those of you who are a bit more conservative don't feel like you can pull off the ripped & faded look... Luckily, skinny jeans are still in & wide leg jeans are bigger than ever! Pictured below are the Liliana Wide Leg in Aegean & the Dita Petite Bootcut in Pacific Blue, both by Citizens of Humanity. Both styles are brand new this month, and they are not for sale online... So if you have questions or would like to purchase, visit the store, give us a call, or send an email!

Trend #4: Feminine details. Look for details like ruffles & bows dressing up simple silhouettes. You'll be seeing lots of sashes, wrap dresses with bows, ruffled necklines, tiered skirts & dresses, and special attention paid to hemlines.

I know you've already seen Nanette Lepore's Swept Away Dress, but we love it so much we couldn't help but show it again! Yet again, Sweetees is right on trend with the Belva top pictured in the middle (also available in white). And once more, Nanette Lepore's specialty is obviously making us feel more feminine. The Very Cherry Dress pictured on the right is a perfect example. With the flutter sleeves and bow in front, you'll definitely feel like a lady in this one.

Here we have a ruffled button-down shirt dress from one of our junior lines (which is also available in both black & royal blue). Pictured in the middle is a navy blue silky top with tons of ruffles along the top (you can't see it in this picture, but the sash also ties into a lovely bow in back!). And on the right, we have the Periwinkle dress by Scrapbook, which showcases the tiered ruffles I mentioned earlier.

And for a perfect example of the special attention being shown to hemlines... the Luv-to-Luv Dress by Nanette Lepore!

Trend #5: Last on our list, but certainly not least... Safari prints! Whether it's leopard or zebra, colorful or black & white, this is the season of the safari! This is great for us because you know zebra print is our favorite! So here are just a few of our zebra print dresses currently in stock. On the left, we have a fuschia and black wrap dress by Nicole Miller, followed by the Kensington Dress & the Dancer Dress, both by Trina Turk. Visit our website to see more of Trina's zebra collection for spring!

So there they are... our top 5. And by the way... did you know you automatically get a $10 gift certificate for becoming a fan of McAuley's on Facebook? Just leave us a wall post to let us know! http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/anderson-SC/McAuleys-Unique-Boutique/70427690081