Fashion Preview: Spring Dresses 2012

We can't talk about spring dresses 2012 without mentioning the work of Diane von Furstenberg, creator of the iconic wrap dress. Furstenberg's spring collection features larger-than-life prints and bright colors like violet, lemon, and turquoise. Her spring dresses shied away from the maxi dress length and generally fell to mid-calf. Embracing the current return of seventies glam, Furstenberg's shimmery gold dress was beautiful and exquisitely draped. To mimic Furstenberg's spring Grecian-inspired collection, go with a draped dress in a bold color and pair it with simple styling and strapped sandles.

As usual, Betsey Johnson's collection was one of the most whimsical collections to hit the catwalk this spring. Betsey's theme this season was "cyclists," but don't let that fool you into thinking she sent nothing but bike shorts down the runway. The season was beautifully retro-inspired, with tons of flouncy 50's and 60's skirts that would narrow any waistline. The collection also held some classy mermaid spring dresses 2012 that looked straight out of a film noir movie. While most of the Betsey Johnson collection held more colors than a neon rainbow, the collection also held some sheer all-black pieces, including a sexy showstopping lace dress that revealed the model's black lingerie; it was bold and a little risque, but beautiful all the same. If you're unafraid to show a little skin this spring, look for sheer black lace spring dresses 2012 in order to mimic this head-turning fashion trend. For a sweeter look, search for a Navy-inspired dress like the ones Betsey Johnson showed this spring; the sexy and short sailor dresses looked straight out of a 40's pin-up calendar.

Marc Jacobs bypassed the whimsy of the 50's and 60's and went straight for the glitz and glamor of the 70's. His collection featured long flared pants, halters, frizzy long hair, and oversized hats. Jacobs' color palette was an eclectic mix of plums, mustards, mauves, and oranges. Like many other designers this season, Jacobs also sent several gold metallic pieces down the runway. To mimic Jacobs' celebrated collection, look for 70's inspired halter spring dresses 2012 with plenty of flow and mix them up with carefully selected over-the-top accessories. Think large hats and sparkling pendants. Plunging necklines are another great way to show off fashion's newfound 70's aesthetic. For a showstopping spring 2011 look, hunt for gold metallic dresses and pair it with some 70's-inspired dramatic eye makeup.