I’m always excited for the dawn of spring. Warmer weather means impromptu aperol spritzes outside at corner bars, writing in my favorite cafes while sipping a strawberry matcha, and long aimless walks in the park with a friend just to feel the sun on my skin. It’s truly euphoric, especially in a city like New York, where the winter can get a little depressing. And while I love the warmer weather, I am always a little sad to put away my coat collection and shed my layers.

Dressing for spring is easy because you can just throw on a top and a skirt or a breezy dress and be done. And maybe that’s the problem for me! I love to put on outfits that challenge me and sometimes my spring dresses just feel a little too simple and expected. Thankfully, Miu Miu has an alternative dress they’re making trend that is anything but easy to style.

On the Spring/Summer 2026 runway one of the most notable items was the apron dress. Some were frilly and patterned. Others were structured and made of leather. All of them were worn on top of multiple other garments, from bra tops to leather jackets to other apron dresses.

Mrs. Prada’s ode to the working woman involved making their uniform high fashion. She turned it into something that shouldn’t be hidden but instead put on full display. Apron dresses weren’t to be worn with shame; they should be worn as a proud statement. But of course the silhouette of the dress requires the wearer to think about dresses differently as a whole. You can’t just throw on an apron dress and be done with it. You really need to be strategic.

And to me, that’s part of the fun. It would also explain why so many cool girls in New York seem to be trying out the style as spring starts. Everyone is a main character because they have so much going on. Apron dresses just feel right for New Yorkers, especially when they can be worn every which way to represent the vast personalities and aesthetics that call this place home. You can certainly catch me mourning my afghan coats this April, but I think styling apron dresses will help fill the layering hole in my heart.

Shop Apron dresses, below.