26 Spring Dresses That Feel as Good as They Look (2024)

AYR went from making my all-time favorite button-down shirts to designing the spring dresses I'm most excited to shop this season. The fabrics are breathable but not flimsy, and the silhouettes are structured without feeling stuffy. In other words? This dress is the ultimate comfort-meets-style balancing act, in this polka dot shade and two additional colors.

Sizes: XS–XL

Materials: 78% Cotton, 20% Nylon, 2% Spandex

Shopper review: "What a magnificent dress! I ordered the blue color way in 2 sizes. If you are undecided, go with the smaller one."

In my experience, some of the best spring dresses are ones that go on effortlessly. With the fit of a timeless polo sweater and the feel of a weekend lounge set, this under-$100 knit dress is an automatic 'Add to Cart.'

Sizes: 0–20

Materials: 89% acrylic, 11% linen

RHODE co-founder Purna Khatau named this cheery dress as her favorite from the label's spring collection. "I just love a gingham for spring, and the smocking gives you a nice shape with the tiers," she explains. "It's also a new shape for us and shows the evolution of RHODE."

Sizes: 0–14

Materials: 100% Cotton

Searching for work dresses can feel like diving into a sea of boring short-sleeve sheaths and uninspiring colors. This dress is a jolt to the status quo, with a runway-approved asymmetric skirt and cooly gathered fabric along the side, in mood-boosting shades like pink, cobalt blue, and this shamrock green.

Sizes: XS–L

Materials: 65% Cotton, 28% Nylon, 7% Elastane

There's a coastal cowgirl essence to this Isabel Marant Étoile dress that I absolutely adore. But if going full-Western with cowboy boots doesn't quite gel with your personal style, this dress is just as covetable with wraparound sandals in a bright leather.

Sizes: 2–12

Materials: 100% cotton

I look at this Dôen dress and immediately want to go bask in the sunshine with an iced coffee and the latest Emily Henry novel. From the ruffled straps to the easygoing fit, it's a dress with the aura of peak spring styling. (Minimalists, note that it also comes in black.)

Sizes: XXS–XXL

Materials: 100% Organic Cotton

Another easy and breezy spring dress that comes with the added bonus of effusive praise from other shoppers. Scroll through the reviews, and you'll notice several women saying they've purchased it in multiple colors. The fit, hand-feel, and overall look are all that good.

Sizes: XXS–XL, 1X–3X

Materials: Cotton

Shopper review: "This dress is so versatile that it's perfect for any occasion, whether it's a day at the park or a day at the office. Its beauty is undeniable, and I'm in awe of its amazing design."

I'm not saying you have to swim against the denim maxi skirt current this spring. But if you'd rather feel distinct from the street style crowd instead of following it, a structured denim mini with a below-the-waist belt detail is in order.

Sizes: XS–L

Materials: 100% Cotton

Rachel Comey can do no wrong in my eyes. This unconventional spring dress samples a few major ready-to-wear trends—sheer layers, hints of metallics, drop-waist silhouette—in one piece that feels totally one-of-a-kind. Bookmark this tab for when you have a last-minute wedding invite or party and need a dress in a hurry: It's available with two-day Prime shipping.

Sizes: 0–12

Materials: 54% polyester, 21% silk, 16% polyamide, 9% metallic

The '90s slip silhouette and the juxtaposing fabrics give this dress the too-cool energy of a rare thrift store grail. But you don't have to do any searching to make it a dress you'll wear all spring—and it comes in extended sizes.

Sizes: XS–4XL

Materials: 94% Recycled Poly 6% Lycra

We owe a lot of spring's most shop-worthy looks to the Miu Miu runway, including this zip-up dress. Part windbreaker and part paneled midi, it gives off a vibe that you just won an epic tennis match before changing into your first-place-winning dress. Unzip it all the way and let a sheer top layered over a ribbed tank top peek out from underneath to channel the runway.

Sizes: IT36–IT50

Material: Silk

This isn't your average tie-dye dress. Busayo designs with a Yoruba dyeing technique called "adire" that originated in 20th century Nigeria. The results capture all the joy of spring dressing and feel distinctive to the label.

Sizes: XS–XXL

Materials: 100% Cotton

Cult Gaia has a proven track record for designing the dresses of the season, particularly for shoppers who like a bodycon moment. With this dress, the label is doing what it does best: form-fitting silhouette, keyhole cutout, and a strikingly bright color. My favorite detail? The way the knotted bodice creates a bow-like effect at the top.

Sizes: XS–XL

Materials: 100% viscose

A dress that's, quite simply, the epitome of springtime botanicals. I love that this dress has all the comfort Hill House fans expect from a nap dress, but the cut and fit of the skirt are elevated to an extra degree. The white canvas for the print leads me to think this dress would be so ideal for a spring bridal shower.

Sizes: XXS–XXL

Materials: 100% BCI Cotton

Shopper review: "Matilda in Spring Chintz is just so pretty. She's the big sister dress, classic, elegant, and has a flowy high-low skirt. The movement of the skirt is beautiful. It's a soft, slightly crisp off-cream cotton base. This dress, and collection, is also lined and to me, speaks to higher quality. It runs true to size, and possibly smaller on the top, so size up if you're bigger busted."

Button-down dresses in airy poplin fabrics are a de rigueur dress style for spring. Why not go for one that feels more directional than the usual, with an elbow-length sleeve and an asymmetric neckline? It has all the polish of the classic style plus an obvious It-factor.

Sizes: 34–46

Materials: 100% Cotton

This is your sign to finally try one of Mara Hoffman's dresses in her signature popcorn fabric. Our editors can attest that they hug all the right places and are comfortable enough to wear for hours on end, whether it's to a rehearsal dinner, an evening co*cktail party, or a casual spring picnic.

Sizes: XXS–3XL

Materials: 100% Tencel Modal

Breathable, fast-drying dresses are an absolute essential as days get longer and the sunshine gets warmer. I already own this exact slip dress in a cupro blend and am all-in on a second one in linen—the fit and fabrication match-up is too good to only shop once.

Sizes: 00–24

Materials: 100% Linen

Jonathan Cohen's florals never feel predictable, including the print on this pleated, sleeveless dress. The wispy blossoms here have the effect of being pressed and preserved—as if they were intended to be worn forever.

Sizes: XS–XL

Materials: 100% Viscose

This rippling column dress by Another Tomorrow is all business in the front. It's totally work-appropriate with a blazer thrown on top. Turn it around, and it reveals a cool back cutout ideal for wearing with a kitten slide sandal at a summer dinner.

Sizes: IT36–IT50

Materials: 100% Viscose

What's not to love about a smart mini that you can also wear on a late night out? Whether you wear it with cowboy boots and a slicked-back bun or neon mule heels and a shimmering drop earring, it's an understatedly sexy dress.

Sizes: IT36–IT46

Materials: 100% Cotton