How did Passover and Easter sneak up on us so fast?

They’re nearly here, which begs the question: What kind of dress will you wear? It’s spring, after all, so bring on the big colors and fun patterns, and let’s take a look at some of the best looks that embody the season.

There’s something terrific about a shirt dress — I love its balance of femininity and no-nonsense style. And the Clara Cotton Shirt Dress ($198 on us.boden.com) combines both, with a huge splash of spring color. Just take a look at the big, bold patterns it comes in — like the bright blue paisley hearts; the multicolored flower tiles (with bright pink blossoms all over); or the stripes in emerald green, happy pink, and the royal blue on others.

Maxi dresses have a reputation for being beach-y and casual, but when it comes to Passover-perfect outfits, they can be as buttoned-up as any other design. Take Marie Oliver’s Vaughn A-Line Floral-Print Maxi Dress ($345 on neimanmarcus.com), which manages to be both maxi and streamlined, fun and sophisticated at the same time. I adore the bright pops of light green that sing of spring against the blue background in its print, as well as the pale yellow flowers and natural elements that swirl across the whole design in a boho manner, while still remaining refined.

“Florals? For spring?” is now a beloved quip, thanks to the iconic Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada.”  But florals for spring are a stereotype for good reason. Who wouldn’t want a dress that mimics the bright blooms all around? And the Celine Maxi Crinkle Chiffon Dress ($398 on nicoblu.com) is an excellent choice. It’s light. It’s airy. And in any number of beautiful floral patterns, it’s cheerful as the new season itself. Its got raglan sleeves, twill neckline tassels, and a seamless, forgiving waist. And after Easter or Passover are over, I love that you can cinch it with a fancy belt and wear it again for almost any special occasion.

And speaking of a shift, you can also just make that your next design option. The Sleeveless Diplomat Mini Dress ($278 on francesvalentine.com) is both a shift cut and an A-line in one. In a lustrous dupioni fabric, its sleeveless design has two pockets on the side to keep things feeling casual, but also has no shortage of flirty attitude, thanks to the two bows with adorable pleats down the backside.

For an extra touch, mist your arms and legs with a few quick sprays of kai Body Glow ($38 on kaifragrance.com) and you’ll be fresh as a daisy thanks to its mix of jojoba oil, aloe, chamomile and cucumber extracts.

The Clara Cotton Shirt Dress (Photo usboden.com)
Marie Oliver’s Vaughn A-Line Floral-Print Maxi Dress. (Photo marieoliver.com)
The Celine Maxi Crinkle Chiffon Dress. (Photo nicoblu.com)