The 16 Best Spring Dresses for 2024

From light and bright to slinky and sexy.

MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 21: Gabriella Berdugo (wears a red / blue / white print pattern silk scarf on the head, black sunglasses, silver earrings, gold necklaces, a yellow shoulder-off / short dress, a pale yellow jacket, a pale yellow and white tweed crossbody bag from Chanel, neon pink and black shiny leather with embroidered pattern block heels knees western boots, outside Alberta Ferretti , during the Milan Fashion Week - Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 on September 21, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

While spring fashion is great for many things—shedding your winter parka! Wearing color for the first time in months!—the weather can make it tricky to know what to wear. Some days are chilly, others are so summer weather-adjacent that you sweat through all of your layers. The best spring dresses need to be both layer-friendly and breezy for those warmer days.

But what makes the perfect spring dress? I turned to Caroline Maguire, the Fashion Director at Shopbop, to learn about this season's key dress silhouettes and trending spring 2023 colors. This season's offerings cover a ton of sartorial ground: The Spring/Summer runways proved that colors like bright blue, fuchsia, and bold yellow are going to be popular, alongside softer shades like digital lavender

"This season leaves lots of room for creativity, and I’ll be opting for a mix of fun, brilliant bright shades and sexy, muted neon hues," says Maguire on her personal color picks for the season ahead. But opting for colors doesn't mean that you should do away with your basic frocks: "On the opposite end of the spectrum, easy little white dresses are on my must-have list for the late spring." 

When it comes to silhouettes, Maguire is taking inspiration from the '90s and leaning hard into slip dresses. "I’m keen on minimalistic colorways, and I’m excited to add The Little White Dress, a.k.a. “The LWD,” to my wardrobe, along with some chic lingerie silhouettes with lace detailing," she says. Lace also touches on the continuation of 2022's sheer trend, which has been completely revamped for the new year. Instead of looking for mesh or chiffon options, the addition of lace into the sheer dressing universe makes for a sweeter, more elegant touch to the look. 

But if you're looking for a dress that will add a little warmth, consider a knit or ribbed option. "Midi and maxi knit dresses continue to stay on my mind year-round," says Maguire. "You can layer this style with an oversized blazer for chillier days and accessorize with a fun sock and a lug-soled boot to complete the look." 

If you're ready to shop, keep scrolling. Ahead, shop the best spring dresses, broken down by silhouette and color: brights, little white dresses, slip dresses, and knitted picks. 

Best Spring Dresses

Bright Spring Dresses

Spring Slip Dresses

White Spring Dresses

Knit Spring Dresses

Meet The Expert

Caroline Maguire
Caroline Maguire

As Shopbop Fashion Director, Caroline Maguire brings her signature style, keen eye, and over 15 years of industry experience to the role. Since joining the organization in April 2016, Caroline has partnered closely with creative, buying, PR, and marketing team members to determine fashion direction across the company. She also serves as Shopbop’s primary brand ambassador in press interviews and media appearances, and delivers key style takeaways to the customer in creative onsite editorials. 

Fashion E-Commerce Editor

Julia Marzovilla is the Fashion E-Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she covers everything from the latest beauty and fashion launches and sales to celebrity outfits and news. She also creates shopping guides that span every vertical on the site. Prior to joining the Marie Claire team, she contributed similar shopping stories to sites such as Bustle, InStyle, The Zoe Report, Who What Wear, and STYLECASTER. In her spare time, Julia can be found creating shopping guides for all of her friends, spending too much money on yet another pair of black boots, and cooking in her far-too-small kitchen.