What time is it? Summertime! Well, not yet but we're close. It's springtime! And you know what that means? It's time for spring dresses! But, of course, with winter's reluctant departure, your spring dresses of choice need to be styled appropriately and, honestly, the fact that your legs can roam free under frocks that swish and swoosh without getting stuck thanks to the static of your fleece tights is something to celebrate with much anticipation.
Fashion month might have just wrapped in Paris but instead of digesting every detail of what trends we'll be seeing everywhere next fall and winter, we're putting our brains inside a VHS tape rewinder and going back to September 2019. Oomph, reading that might have made you feel ancient but recollecting memories of warmer times isn't a heavy burden! If you've been eager to try some of your favorite spring dress trends out and about since then, now it's your time.
Whether it's the (faux) leather spring dress trend that will make transitioning from winter to spring less confusing, the maxi dress trend that will still look good with a chunky-knit sweater over it, or the polka-dot dress trend that manages to capture your spring enthusiasm while still showing winter your respect, here, we've rounded up all the spring dresses to wear in 2020 — inspired by the runway's biggest trends.
Leather Love
Any time can be leather weather time if you just believe so. As warmer days start to roll in, switch your long, leather coats for leather dresses (or wear them both at the same time!) as seen on Kate Spade, Hermès, and Bottega Veneta's Spring/Summer runways.
The oversized fit of this leather spring dress makes it the perfect silhouette to style with either a pair of knee high boots or over some flared pants for a cool, layered look.
Don't be fooled by this spaghetti strapped mini dress. It might seem like too much skin for the first days of spring, but it's a true gem. If it's still too cold outside to show off your bare arms, layer this number over a turtleneck. Plus, if you haven't bid adieu to your tights, you might want to add them to your outfit equation, too.
Power (and) Puff Girls
This trend brings the power and the puff to The Powerpuff Girls' name. Just take a glimpse at the dresses Cecilie Bahnsen, Giambattista Valli, and Brock Collection created for their spring collections. The puffy sleeves make every dress the perfect mix of sugar, spice, and everything nice.
Knitty Gritty
You thought we'd be over knits come spring? Think again! We're not about to lose our limbs by wearing our warmest knits on a warm spring day. Instead, we're wearing lightweight, knit dresses similar to the ones seen on Altuzarra, Tibi, and Missoni's spring collections. The best part of this trend is that all of its iterations are super wearable — whether you opt for a neutral knit dress like Gigi Hadid or want to try out a fun, striped version.
Made from a soft Peruvian cotton-modal blend, this knit dress from Universal Standard is both lightweight and warm enough to wear during spring.
Connect the Dots
Just like florals, polka-dots feed off spring's energy. However, while florals scream, "Pollen! Nature! Sun!", polka-dots whisper, "April 25. Because it's not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light jacket." As a print, polka dots spot (pun intended) the fine line between the colder and warmer seasons, and we, as well as Tory Burch and Carolina Herrera, appreciate that on a spring dress.
Loosey Goosey
On the polar opposite side of form-fitting, knit dresses we have spring dresses with no restriction. These loose and billowy frocks have little to no restrictions and are the definition of cozy. As seen on Valentino and Roksanda's runways, they're modest and even "tent-like." So, if the only camping you want to do this season is channel the literal version of the 2019 Met Gala theme this is the spring dress trend for you.
It Takes Two
The best things in life come in twos — peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, thin mints, peanut butter, and chocolate cups... you get the idea. To us, a spring dress that has two-tones or two prints in one would also fall under the abovementioned category. Designers like Sally LaPointe, Christopher John Rogers, and Dion Lee seem to agree, too. This season look for dresses that embody Gemini's spring sign characteristics. We know we are.
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Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: Harry Styles Wears This Spring Trend Nearly Every Day
