If it’s all the same to you, I’m just going to skip layering for a few months. I’m taking a break from cardigans over button-downs over t-shirts under coats and blah blah, because, frankly, spring fever has set in and I am craving a floral print and a pair of sandals. It’s gotten to the point that anything that remotely smacks of winter turns my stomach. And I live in Florida, where winter lasted three days and temps dipped into the 50s. And still, spring fever has set in, and all I want to wear, all summer long, is a dress and sandals. It’s my warm-weather uniform because it combines simplicity and style and allows me to keep my cool. What could be better? But with so many dresses to choose from, a girl needs to assess her options before grabbing the first fancy frock she sees. Here, the prettiest trends and best spring dresses of the season:

The Trends

1. Lace

By now, you’ve probably spotted a white lace dress somewhere. White is arguably the color of the season, and lace its BFF. It’s light and airy and feminine, and there’s a style to suit every taste, budget and body type.

2. Floral

Bold florals and teeny ditsy patterns share equal space on racks this season. Wallpaper and Asian-inspired floral prints are trendy, as are bold tropical flowers and ladylike English-garden inspired blooms.

3. Color

White, and it’s springtime companion, navy (and blue in general) are this season’s essential hues, but they share almost equal space with blush pink, mint and coral.

4. Checks

Gingham is the print of choice this season, edging out stripes as the season’s must-have. Try it in small doses, in a sweet pair of shorts or a top, or in a pretty, go-everywhere dress.

The Best Spring Dresses

Floral Skater Dress

The floral skater style dress has been everywhere for a couple of seasons, and one of the reasons is that it’s almost universally flattering. Ignore the very young-sounding name, and you’ll notice that most of them are just fit and flare dresses. This style has more fit than flare, making it ideal for an hourglass or boyish body type. If the skirt was rounder and not tapered at the hem, it would work equally well on curvy hips.

Oriental Maple Leaf skater dress, $115, Oasis

Lace Pencil Dress

An evening-worthy version of the season’s essential, this dress uses blush and black to to accent a simple lace dress. The pencil style skirt makes it flattering for proportional, hourglass body types.

Diana Midi Lace Dress, $79, PixieMarket.com

Architectural Dress

A classic shift or fit and flare dress with a little extra drama and some angles thrown in, these dresses make a strong sculptural statement. The key is to make sure that the shape of the dress flatters yours. With it’s emphasis on the shoulders and the hem, this dress minimizes curvy hips.

Geometric print floral dress, $76, FrontRowShop.com

Slinky Maxi

Maxi dresses are just as strong as ever, and this bold floral in a slinky jersey materials offers a fresh interpretation. This fluid, comfortable style is pretty much universally flattering.

Rachel Pally flutter sleeve maxi, $242, Amazon

Contrast Lace Dress

If white lace isn’t your thing, this sleek style features pretty contrast lace detail in a style that’s versatile enough for church, work or date night. The shape makes it work on most body types as well, but hourglass shapes will be especially flattered by the waist detail.

Blue contrast lace pencil dress, $34.33, SheInside.com

Gingham Dress

The print du jour in a pretty, 50s inspired silhouette that’s great for minimizing a curvy bum and hips.

Pull Up A Cherry dress in Black Gingham, $64.99, ModCloth

Mixed Print Dress

If you still haven’t mastered mixing prints, let Byron Lars do it. He’s a pro. The designer’s pieces for Anthropologie are truly collectible, and this style is ideal for an hourglass or boyish body type.

Beguile by Byron Lars pieced brocade dress, $268, Anthropologie

Blush Shift Dress

I don’t say this lightly, but if my entire wardrobe came from Australian designer Alice McCall. I would be happy. Pretty, pretty and pretty, and more affordable when on sale. This dress is great for downplaying curvy hips, and the details make it truly special.

Alice McCall Daliesque dress in Floss Pink, $160, AliceMccall.com

Tempted? Click on the linked picture to begin shopping. I’d love to hear your favorites, and whether you decide to ditch separates and adopt my dress-and-sandal outfit formula this summer.