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Spring doesn’t really feel like spring until the sun is routinely shining, the flowers have begun to bloom and the fashion set has stocked up on a new collection of spring dresses. Say what you will, but the season isn’t in full swing until the sartorial equinox has hit. If models, influencers and regular folks, alike, aren’t regularly outfitted in breezy maxis, floral minis and sundresses in every shade of the rainbow, spring isn’t real. And since we’re all thoroughly done with winter, the more spring pieces we can stock up on now, the better—right?
Retailers’ selections of spring dresses are always immense and exciting. No season feels fresher—or more necessary—than spring, leaving the style-scape filled with bright colors, bold prints and innovative silhouettes. This season, expect to see spring dresses decorated with ruffles (a veritable 2019 trend) and covered in crochet details (another one). Some of 2018’s most delightful fads—puffy sleeves, smocked bodices, tropical prints and vibrant snakeskins—have trickled into the zeitgeist as well, getting new life in a new year.
Other spring/summer dress trends to watch? Gingham, which has long been a favorite in the calendar’s warmest months. Organza, which is taking the historically controversial “naked dress” to new levels of transparency. And silky slips, an early aughts favorite that’s experienced quite the resurrection thus far in 2019. Combined, these trends have created a spring dress landscape that feels both classically cute and contemporary chic—and really, what more could any of us ask for?

Nothing says spring like a puff-sleeve gingham sundress.

A statement piece that combines so many of 2019’s favorite trends—ruffles, sheer fabrics, smocked details—at once.

Rendered in such a stunning shade you might be energized just looking at it.

Try to tell us the texture on this dress doesn’t look totally covetable. Just try.

Celestial fashion is everywhere this year, and it’s proving to be a fun alternative to spring florals.

The perfect go-to for days when you want to look cute at the office but don’t want to try that hard.

A distinctly fresh take on the spring maxi.

A T-shirt dress that won’t make you look lazy.

Perfect for everything from brunch to date night, this dress is all kinds of versatile.

The ’90s called—and they want you to enjoy every contemporary take on their classic silky slip dress.

The Wizard of Oz meets 2019 high fashion.

The perfect low-key dress for tossing over a swimsuit—or throwing on when you have to run errands.

Come spring, shirtdresses are always a good idea.

Because slinky isn’t the only way to do satin.

Spring’s tie-dye trend is officially in full force, and we’re shopping every possible iteration.

You had us at off-the-shoulder. And at smocked bodycon. And at frills.

Who said spring dresses had to be colorful?

A particularly elevated take on the endlessly trendy slip dress.

Denim dresses are too damn fun (and comfortable) to pass up.

Bring on the gingham.

2018’s snake print invasion has made its way into 2019, and since it’s resulting in maxi dresses this stunning, we can’t say we’re angry about it.

In case you prefer your slip dresses with a little more structure.

Swing dresses are pretty much always worth having on hand.

Sheer pieces are having a serious moment.

This feels reminiscent of so many decades we don’t even know where to place it.

If you’re gonna go gingham, you might as well go full skirt, puff-sleeve, bright pink gingham—right?

Perfect for job interviews and spring weddings, alike.

An edgier option for the fashion fiend who’s overdosed on spring florals.

Every maximalist you know just bookmarked this.

Smocked anything and everything—we can’t get enough.

A sweater dress that actually feels spring-appropriate.

Super-long shirt, or super-short dress? It’s so cute the answer doesn’t really matter.

Achieve low-maintenance chic style in seconds by slipping into this flowy piece.

Genuinely obsessed with this sleek—and affordable—maxi.

Two words: Gingham. Seersucker.

Would it really be a spring dress roundup if we didn’t include at least one floral option?

When are LBDs not on the sartorial menu?

A quintessential spring mini.

Also available in a vibrant AF aqua—in case millennial pink isn’t really your style.

Patchwork promises to be big this spring, and this maxi makes the most of the maximalist movement.

Not your average gingham spring dress.

A spring dress that feels anything but basic.

More tie-dye, because it’s happening—and Zara has stocked up accordingly.

A particularly understated take on the whole spring floral thing.

The ultimate chic office piece.

This one looks crazy comfortable.

Love paisley anything—especially in the spring.

Because off-the-shoulder necklines and statement sleeves aren’t at all mutually exclusive.

A slinkier alternative to the T-shirt dress? The tank top dress.

Catch us in all-crochet-everything this spring.

A particularly fun take on spring plaids.

A maxi so cute you’ll want to live in it this season.

A spring dress that’ll render you a walking work of art.

It’s hard to imagine anything more fun that a hot pink, puff-sleeve, drop-waist gingham midi. (A mouthful—but hey, it’s cute.)

Part mini dress, part rain jacket—all adorable.

If you’ve ever dreamt of living in your windbreaker, now you can.

Perfect for any semi-fancy occasion on your spring calendar.

A spring dress that’ll take you from the office to happy hour—and back again.

An ever-so-slightly fashion-forward take on the classic prairie dress.

A silky slip dress with enough sleeve to keep you comfortable.

Yet another maximalist patchwork maxi. Because we can’t get enough.

This crochet dress will make you feel like you’re at the beach—even if you’re seriously far from it.

Hard to argue with a puff-sleeve pink dress for spring.

I own this, and it’s exactly as luxe in person as it looks online. (It’s actually heavier than it looks, too, making it a perfect piece for season-to-season transitions.)

This dress was made for field-frolicking.

Spring’s tie-dye trend meets its organza naked dress trend—and the combination works surprisingly well.

A tie-dye slip dress? How on-trend.

Catch us sporting this one all day, every day.

A dress that’ll mentally transport you to the beach every time you slip it on.

Hot AF—in the most casual way possible.

A floral dress that feels surprisingly fresh (and not at all hackneyed).

A shoo-in for understatedly stylish wedding guest dress of the year.

A naked dress you could style over bike shorts, bodysuits or other dresses in your closet.

A no-fail addition to any closet—perfect for cocktail parties and beach vacations, alike.

Sexy is totally on the sartorial menu.

Spring can get chilly—it pays to have a vibrant sweater dress on hand.

If you don’t already have an idyllic getaway planned, this dress might just inspire you to get one on the books.

Another totally spring-friendly sweater dress, because seriously—spring isn’t all heat and humidity.

Another iteration of spring’s major ruffles trend.

Told you saturated snakeskin was out in full force.

So cozy you might be tempted to nap in it.

Classic.

The off-the-shoulder trend is really only made better by denim.

A knit dress that’s clearly lightweight enough to handle spring heat.

Hard to resist two of our favorite trends—smocked cuts and gingham textiles—in one.

This midi wants to accompany you everywhere this spring.

All kinds of fun.

OK, we’re definitely pairing this one with bike shorts.

Buying this, and styling it exactly like so.

A no-fail, office-appropriate silhouette for spring.

Spring’s snakeskin trend in its hottest iteration.

A dress cozy—and versatile—enough to take you anywhere this spring.

Perhaps the most seasonally appropriate mini on the market right now.

A not-so-naked take on spring organza.

A maxi with near-unlimited styling potential—dress up or down as you see fit.

We never met a button-front dress we didn’t like.

The more puff-sleeve gingham we can get our hands on, the better.

A dress that’ll take you from the pool to dinner—and everywhere in between.

Because you need something to wear to the beachside bar.
Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
A version of this story was originally published in April 2014.
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