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Groundhog Day results are in, and Spring is officially coming early this year!
Your packages, however, will continue to run late (source: trust me, bro). That being said, if you’re thinking of getting new dresses for your Spring break activities, it’s best to start as soon as possible. Luckily, for your convenience, I’ve curated a list of my top five favorite clothing lines for Spring dresses, so you can engage in retail therapy to your heart’s content.
Number One: Cider
Cider was founded in September of 2020 by two college graduates, Fenco Lin, from Columbia University, and Yu Oppel, from Berkeley University. Shopcider.com was later launched in November of 2020 with a staff of just ten individuals. Since then, the company has expanded to over five hundred staff members worldwide, with an Instagram following of five million individuals. The brand operates under the slogan “your closet’s happy hour,” and seeks to encourage women to experiment with a variety of styles while combatting the environmental damage that such clotheslines usually impose on the earth, employing ecosystem friendly strategies such as packaging their clothing in biodegradable plastic, and recycling the fabric of unsold clothing units.
I personally like Cider because it offers alternative clothing options at an affordable price with consistent quality. Everything I have ordered from them has been true to size and actually resembles the pictures on the website. This year, I was very excited to see that they had recently released a New York Minute: Spring ’24 collection. As someone who’s color palette is closer to a true autumn than a cool spring, I usually shy away from Spring trends, refusing to buy into a pastel palette that does not look good on my skin tone for the mere sake of seasonality. However, the design team behind Cider understands that their clothing needs to be as diverse as their clientele, and as a result, I found a lot of clothing pieces that I could see myself wearing. This season’s Spring collection took on the coquette trend with a full send, including pieces like the Bow Rhinestone Pendant necklace ($10), Scoop Neck Contrasting Binding Mini Dress ($24), and Lace Sweetheart Sleeveless Body Suit ($24). Not only did the design team reimagine coquette trends in BIPOC-friendly colors, but they also ensured that all their new clothing units were available in plus-size. If that isn’t commitment to diversity, I don’t know what is.
Number TWo: Dolls kill
Dolls Kill was founded in 2011 by Shaudi Lynn, a DJ who wanted to take her Ebay sales to the next level, and her supportive husband, Bobby Fahari. Since the company’s inception, the brand has rescued several bankrupt and aspiring clothing lines to continue to support alternative fashion designers nationwide. Today, the company has three and a half million followers on their Instagram, a net worth of eight million dollars, and thousands of statement pieces that would be the perfect editions to your wardrobe. While they do not have an official Spring collection, they possess the equivalent under their “fairycore” clothing section on the main website, where you can find what I can only describe as a cross between Cottagecore and the dark feminine.
I recently came into possession of their Life’s No Fairytale Midi Dress ($44 dollars after a 30% price markdown) in olive green and have been obsessed with the many ways that this outfit can be styled. Handkerchief dresses such as this one have always given me a very free-spirit energy, which makes them quite easy to style in a variety of ways, at least in my opinion. I personally like to pair them with black combat boots, but I have also worn them with cowboy boots and high heels.
More literal interpretations of the site’s fairycore subgenre can be found in their Cyber Fairy Costume ($148), a sparkly purple and blue ensemble complete with leg warmers, and their Nevermind Fairy Costume ($35.98 after a 30% price markdown), a more muted version of the formerly described ensemble. These costume dresses can be styled as faerie cosplays for fantasy-themed garden tea parties, or simply worn for a creative Springtime Instagram post.
If you’re looking for something a bit more understated, however, don’t be intimidated by the costume pieces. Dolls Kill’s design team can keep it cute and classic, too. Their Sweet Sway Mini Dress ($48 dollars after a 29% markdown) is a softer handkerchief dress, sporting dusty green, flowing fabric with pink rose appliques. Additionally, their Starless Sky Maxi Dress ($78) provides the perfect sheer cover-up dress for a soft goth at the beach. Finally, their plus-sized collection pulled through with a stunning Plush Wild Attraction Mesh Top ($37.80) and matching Plus Wild Attraction Mesh Mini Skirt ($26.36 after 37% markdown).
If any of the above designs appealed to you, please start shopping, and quickly. The entire site is temporarily on a mass sale of 30% off all items using code USA, so there is little time to waste.
Number three: altar’d state
Altar’d State is a Christian women’s clothing line founded in 2009 by Brian Mason and Aaron Walters. The brand sought out to design clothing for women who want to keep up with trends while also retaining their Christian values. For Mason and Walters, this meant designing modest outfits, and ensuring that a certain percent of the company’s income went to charitable causes, such as providing clean water for those in need and combatting human trafficking. Since the company’s inception, the limitation of a faith-forward franchise’s marketability became evident, and the company had to adapt to survive, dialing back on their religious overtones. However, the heart of Altar’d State remains the same, and it is a great place to find more traditional dresses for Springtime.
Springtime garbs can be found on their online store under the rompers and jumpsuit section, which has classy pieces such as the Alluren Floral Romper ($69.95), Haisley Double Layered Romper ($69.95), and Lola Clip Dot Crossover Romper ($69.95). If you’re looking for something a little more suited for a formal event, say, a Spring wedding, the clothing brand also has a plethora of maxi dresses to choose that scream “bride’s best friend.” Some such dresses include the Chic Chiffon Bamboo Dress ($98), Silky Satin Ash Dress ($98), and Super Satin Rowan Dress ($98). Each of these dresses boast stunning hues and high-quality material, making them the perfect bridal party outfits. Additionally, the high coverage provided by these dresses enables them to double as church outfits, ensuring that you can wear them time and time again, reducing the environmental damage of fast fashion and single-use outfits.
Yes, I will address the elephant in the room — this brand is the most expensive clothing line I’ve introduced thus far, but the true price of an outfit can be calculated by dividing the original price by the number of times it will be worn, so if you’re ready to be an eco-friendly outfit repeater without shame, I wouldn’t fear the investment.
Number four: lucy in the sky
Lucy in the Sky is a clothing line founded in 2015. The company operates under three rules of thumb: act responsibly, think differently, and be optimistic. This brand label gets a lot of attention during winter formals and prom season, but they also have a variety of dresses more than suitable for day-to-day occasions. Just like Altar’d State, the designs are very timeless and classic, but with a bit more flare. While the brand has dresses for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college women alike, it should be noted that their dresses can run very short and very tight. It is something to keep in mind, as I have often been frustrated with online dress purchases where I found my mobility severely limited after trying on the clothes.
Nonetheless, if you would like to indulge in something a bit more daring, consider trying the Betty Boop Shimmer Bodycon Dress in White ($75), a sparkling ensemble that bridges the gap between winter and spring, or the Sequin Strapless Corset Dress in Pink ($65), a shimmering backless mini dress with a tulle bow accent that brings us back to the formerly mentioned coquette trend. If sparkles aren’t your thing, you can still shine in the Emaline Ruched Bodycon Dress in Blue ($65), the Chiffon Bell Sleeved Dress in Red ($65), or the show stopping Daffodil Ruffle Halter Maxi Dress in Yellow ($75).
As you may have noticed from the above-listed dress names, this website avoids playful puns when naming their clothing, which I actually find to be very helpful when I am searching for a very precise color and cut of dress. While a shopper who is new to the fashion world may find it easier to shop by thematic searches, an individual who can identify fabrics and necklines by their proper names will find the no-nonsense labeling of these dresses very useful when filtering through the brand’s extensive inventory. Don’t believe me? Give it a try! Enter a color or cut of dress in the website’s search bar, and just see if you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for.
number five: uptown cheapskate
Uptown Cheapskate was founded in 2009 by Chelsea Sloan Carrol and her brother, Scott Sloan, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Operating at 80 locations in 23 states, the trendy thrift store does not offer online shopping or delivery, but is definitely worth the drive. With brand-name resales including, but not limited to Gym Shark, Hollister, Brandy Melville, Anthropologie, and Lululemon, Uptown Cheapskate brings all the bourgeoise, with under half the price, enabling you to (to steal a slogan from Temu) “shop like a billionaire” (except, this time, from a more reputable brand than Temu).
If there is not an Uptown Cheapskate in your area, have no fear, for there are dozens of amazing, aestheticized thrift stores to choose from. One such store that I have yet to visit but have heard many good things about is Plato’s Closet, which, in addition to selling clothes, also buys used clothes item, promoting sustainability in fashion not just through what its clients consume, but also how its clients discard of unwanted clothes items. Poshmark is another great thrift store, which, unlike Uptown Cheapskate, operates entirely through online resales. Considered to be the Etsy of fashion, this thrifting site permits its users to list unwanted clothes items at whatever price they so choose. If you see something another user has listed but are unsure about the starting price, you can contact the seller directly and haggle to get the price down. For self-conscious shoppers are uncomfortable debating prices in real life, it may be easier to score good deals through online bargaining than real-time bartering.
In conclusion
Whether you’re looking for a high-quality bridesmaid maxi, a garden party midi, or a flowy, floral gown for your Springtime formal, there is bound to be a dress out there that will win your heart! However, amidst all the new fashion trends, it is important to remember the effect that your consumerism has on the environment, as well. So, don’t be afraid to research your brands, and find something that suits you as well as it suits our planet, supporting places and people that might not have the luxury to go to a college like you, read online magazines as you are now, or shop for spring dresses.