Ah, springtime. A season known for its birds, bees, flowers and trees, not to mention warmer weather (finally)! So what do we ladies do now? We shop for dresses, of course.

• Found at Civilian

This season's dresses are all about bright colors and exotic prints. The look is girly, yet casual, and both trendy and fun. Several of our favorite trends from the past make a return this season, but a few new looks may steal the spotlight. Here’s what to expect:

Grecian and Roman dresses hit the racks again this spring, as well as other ethnic-inspired pieces. Hope Nicholls, owner of Borris & Natasha, says, “For our store, it’s all about an African motif this season. We have a lot of dresses with African-like beading, and a lot of African inspired accessories as well. That’s definitely our strongest trend right now.”

Bohemian-inspired maxi dresses also make a return to the racks this season, and boutiques like Fresh on Selwyn Avenue keep an ample supply. “These dresses are great because they can be dressed up or dressed down,” Ashley Leonard, a retail associate at Fresh points out. “A lot of people think long dresses are just for dressing up, but you can totally thrown one on with a pair of gold sandals and wear it to the grocery store. A lot of them are great day dresses,” Leonard adds.

• Found at Luna

But maxi dresses aren’t the only thing in style this season. Stores stock dresses of all different lengths — from the shortest of the short to the longest of the long. “There’s really nothing that’s not in style right now,” said Nicholls. “It’s really about what looks good on you and what goes with your body type.”

• Found at Boris & Natasha

Pocketed dresses are a popular new trend this spring, and have recently been spotted in runway shows for Cynthia Steffe, Oscar de la Renta, and Narciso Rodriguez. But you don’t have to break the bank to sport this trend. “Pocketed dresses are big at our store,” Elizabeth Upchurch, a retail associate at Luna claims. “We see a lot of cute little strapless dresses with big pockets. We have a lot of less expensive styles too right now. Everything is just very fun and trendy.”

Empire waists and belted dresses will also be a smart choice this year. “Empire waists are a great look because it is a flattering cut on so many different body types,” Leonard said. “And belts are a great way to accessorize them.”

• Found at Luna

If there is one trend this season that everyone will agree on its color, color, color! Bright pinks and fuschias line the walls of almost every Charlotte boutique. Florals and prints are also big in 2009. “We are very pattern driven,” Nicholls points out. “Patterns and bright colors have always been a big trend for us, and I think that has really caught on at a lot of other stores as well this season.”