I don’t wear dresses for much of the year, but when the weather gets warmer they’re all I want to wear, and the ones I reach for most often are shirtdresses, because they are such a simple, one-and-done way of looking put together. I especially like how clean and crisp a white one looks, and this one from J. Crew is pretty perfect.

I think the terra cotta hue on this Alex Mill dress is quite sophisticated, and I dig the band collar too.

This animal print number is slightly snugger-fitting than your average shirtdress, but I like that about it. And the color combination is just so fun.

Lavender stripes are so sweet and summery.

And I like this red and white striped poplin specimen too: it just looks so easy.

This one is a slightly more feminine take on the silhouette, and the lace panels are a cool touch.

Here’s a denim dress with a nice amount of stretch to keep things comfy.

I like the slightly fuller skirt here.

This flared dress is just desperately cute, and would be perfect and cool on a really hot day.

This three-quarter sleeve dress also comes in white, and I’m having a really tough time deciding which I like better.

A pretty lattice floral against a rich red background: sublime.

This one from Rag & Bone looks like it’s on the shorter side, but I think that might just be because of the model’s height. I am crazy for the stripe combination: blue and black, my favorite.

The subtle pinstripes on this maxi-ish dress are a nice touch.

A light chambray dress that I’d wear with some layered necklaces.

I like the khaki hue of this tie-front dress, and the fact that it dips slightly lower in the back.

This babydoll silhouette reminds me of something I might have worn in around 1989 and purchased at Street Life on lower Broadway.

A gauze dress that’s probably sheer enough to require a slip. Or it could make a great beach cover-up.

Blue gingham with a little flounce at the hem is just a touch of fun.

A Chanel-like jacket or sweater with jeans is a pretty classic spring look—as the peerless Emmauelle Alt shows here—and it’s one I’ve had on my mind lately as the weather gets increasingly bearable.

This adorable cardigan from Alex Mill is so fun with those punchy bright colors, but it’s pretty elegant too.

A J.Crew coat that looks like it costs way more than it does.

This chic knitted cardigan has just a hint of metallic thread, which is cool.

I have raved before about Iro’s Shavani jacket, which is a great blazer substitute for those who think they look awful in blazers.

I like the nubby texture of this metallic boucle jacket, and the fact that it has what looks like a windowpane plaid pattern.

A very ladylike tweed cardigan with cool chain details, which are very Chanel.

When I was at Lucky, one of the fashion editors had a gorgeous and understated Chanel jacket that was a dead ringer for this one.

The striped details here are so sportif.

This red striped jacket is so versatile and also nicely marked down.

You can find many Chanel-like items in the Ines de la Fressange collection at Uniqlo, including this fantastic striped sweater, which is a real steal.

Another nicely textured sweater, in a really good blue, from J. Crew.

I’d toughen up this sweet pink sweater by wearing it over a plain white tee, and with my most beaten-in jeans.

I am crazy for the rows of gold buttons on this cropped knit jacket—so Euro-chic.

A white tweed jacket that I’d wear—predictably—over a hoodie.

There are fewer aesthetic crimes worse than bad tie-dye, and there is so damn much of it out there too.  But there is also such a thing as good tie dye, and you can find it if you stick to a couple of rules, and locate pieces with no more than two colors on the same garment, and with mostly symmetrical patterns. This Claire V sweatshirt is such a good mood in an article of clothing.

This quilted jacket from Emerson Fry could be a pretty clutch transitional piece this spring.

I’d think this sleeveless tee from Raquel Allegra would be aces peeking out from under under a blazer.

Three stripes at the hem on this easy dress endow it with just the slightest hippie girl vibe.

I’d wear this cocoon dress with leggings and a shrunken leather jacket.

A cute tote with a winning sentiment.

Good American is a clothing brand that’s owned by a Kardashian so I want to dislike it, but the truth is, they consistently deliver wearable pieces at good prices and in a wide range of sizes. Like these leggings, in the most awesome mustard yellow.

I like how symmetrical the pattern is here.

This modal sweatshirt would be perfect for a workout-then-brunch situation, when that type of situation again exists.

This easy cotton dress is both a steal and seriously cute.

I dig the marigold yellow of this hoodie; there are also matching sweatpants.

I’d wear this sports bra for non-sporting activities, and let just a bit of it peek out from under my top.

There are more than two colors on this long-sleeved tee, which goes against my tie dye rules, but the colors are so faded out that they don’t overwhelm.

I’d wear this chic body-con dress with an oversized cardigan to camouflage all my chunkier bits.