The Best Spring Dresses for 2022: Misses, Petite, and Plus Size Offerings

Spring is a season for dresses. Easter and other holidays, baby and bridal showers, spring weddings, and just wanting to let a bit of skin be exposed to air makes dresses perfect for this time of year. Dresses are also a great way to incorporate current trends without doing a wardrobe overhaul, and most of the trends this year are wearable now and many seasons beyond. Below I share the best spring dresses for 2022 separated by trend and how to wear it for this year.

The Best Spring Dresses for 2022

This is not an exhaustive list, but I hope that these collections of spring dresses for women get you thinking not just about what to add to your wardrobe this season, but what you already own that will feel fresh and modern due to already incorporating spring trends, or by styling slightly differently. I always recommend shopping your closet before clicking a single link or driving to the store.

Black and White Graphic Dresses

one (XXS-XL) | two (0-20) | three (XXS-3X) | four (XS-XXL) | five (XXS-3X and petite) | six (12W-24W) | seven (2-18) | eight (XS-3X)

Black and white graphic dresses are always a popular look for spring as it doesn't feel too spring (you can still wear black boots and shoes), but the white feels hopeful and fresh. This spring, black and white graphic dresses are a big look and the way to make them feel current is to add a pop of color.

While red is a classic, this spring, try instead hot pink, electric turquoise, highlighter yellow, or bright orange. Highlighter/neon colors are back and adding a small dose to your black and white graphic dress I think is going to be a big trend. Add that pop with a belt, a blazer, a crossbody bag, your sunglasses, or a hair accessory. Keep the shoes black or a neutral, and consider switching out your flats for a pair of sleek boot that hits anywhere between high ankle to below the knee.

Highlighter Bright Dresses

one (XS-XL) | two (XS-XL) | three (14-24) | four (2-20/22 with regular and long) | five (2-22) | six (S-XL) | seven (1X-3X; link to sizes XXS-XL) | eight (XS-4X with petite and tall)

Speaking of highlighter brights, expect to see them in blazers, blouses, trousers, and dresses. These almost-neon brights are cheerful and youthful, but this season you will find them in silhouettes and styles perfect for grown-ass women. The color you will see more than any other will be green, from a bright grass to Kelly to emerald. Orange is also popular this spring, but keep it bright and light and far from pumpkin and more autumnal versions.

With such bright dresses, keep accessories to a minimum and choose shoes that are a light, low-contrast to your skin, or a nude-to-you shade. For bags, think either something that blends in (a light neutral) or go with the trend and use an accent color in another highlighter bright. Dewy skin and a bright lip (don't be afraid to wear tomato red or orange with pink, bright pink with orange) are the perfect way to finish a look featuring highlighter brights.

You may also like: one summer dress seven ways

Statement Printed Dresses

one (XS-L) | two (XXS-3X and petite) | three (0-12) | four (XXS-XXL with tall and petite) | five (XXS-3X and petite) | six (12-24) | seven (00-16/18) | eight (XXS-XL)

This spring, prints are powerful, and are often mixed together. While florals for spring aren't terribly groundbreaking, they're also taking a backseat for more graphic and artistic of prints. Watercolor, vintage-inspired, and non-leopard animal prints like giraffe and zebra swirl around you in trapeze minis, midi-length shirtdresses, and diaphanous maxis.

Consider belting your dress; it's a great way to tone down volume and add another print or texture. All those big belts from a decade ago can be pulled out again if they are leather, woven, or a pattern (I know I have several animal print calfhair belts accumulated this past decade+). Balance the statement prints with a boot in sleek leather in a pale neutral or juxtapose the dressy fabric with a pair of white sneakers.

The Shirtdress

one (1X-3X) | two (XXS-3X with petite options) | three (2-16) | four (XS-XXL) | five (0-18) | six (14-24) | seven (XXS-XXL with tall and petite) | eight (00-14)

The shirtdress is never out of style, but if you love this kind of dress you are in luck this spring. Classic shirttails with a self belt, fuller skirts with proper belts, shift styles of all lengths, and even formal shirtdresses will be found at retailers this spring. If you have always loved a denim shirtdress, you'll be able to find plenty of them in a range of styles this spring.

A shirtdress is classic, so feel free to style it in a classic manner with espadrilles, pointed toe flats, and your favorite sandals. However, shirtdresses also can get the Spring 2022 glow-up by replacing such shoes with a neutral ankle or taller bootie or even a Western-inspired boot. The pattern trend extends to shirtdresses; if you choose a printed shirtdress consider mixing with a patterned belt or a printed scarf to replace the belt.