25 spring dresses that made me break my no-spend month

The humble shirt dress is, in my opinion, the obvious, easiest and chicest option. And the runways appear to agree. Everyone from Givenchy to McQueen and Miu Miu featured poplin designs in their SS26 collections; a few with nipped-in waists, others with pleated details. All of them easily adaptable to suit the weather.

Elsewhere, fans of The Devil Wears Prada saga might suggest that a floral dress isn't anything new for spring, but even Miranda Priestly would deem the rosy prints found at Celine ‘groundbreaking’. And on the high street? It seems that denim is no longer reserved for your best jeans. I've fallen in love with the denim dresses spotted at Topshop, Odd Muse and ASOS.

As already recommended, my top tip is to opt for styles with a bit of coverage in case it's colder outside than it looks. If you prefer a short hemline, go for a style with long sleeves; if you'd rather have your legs covered, go for sleeveless midi/maxi styles. All of the dresses I've picked below tick that box, or can easily be layered with a trench coat or spring jacket, should we all be fooled by another ‘false spring’.

I've been a fashion writer for over five years now, and have worked in the retail industry for more than 10. I attend press days and brand launches at least twice a week, so I'll often hear about the newest collections before they reach the best online clothing stores – meaning you get the inside scoop from me earlier than everyone else. Spring dresses are one of my favourite things to wear to work, lunch, shopping and everything in between, so you can trust me because I'm literally buying and wearing them too.