Dear Dolly:

I am a 48 year old “girl” and getting married for the second time. The wedding is family only and the reception will be small. I do not care to go the wedding dress route but want a dress that is stylish, age appropriate and elegant. What do you suggest?

Congrats! Luckily, the conservative beige skirt suit is no longer considered the rule for a second wedding. For spring, updated white dresses with added embellishments are everywhere and a great way to look like a bride—albeit a sophisticated, fashionable and appropriate one. I love the idea of a white simple sheath dress under a beautiful coat that can cover your arms if you need it. Look for rosettes that add color to a white dress, metallic gold on the trim or woven throughout the dress, or simple bows or ruffles that flatter the figure. White satin is also in vogue this season and is so elegant. Wear strappy sandals with pretty pale toes and put your hair up—so many stylish updos these days. But remember you’re in love, you’ll be beautiful no matter what you wear!

Dear Dolly:

I’ve heard that spring is all about dresses. Where can I find the best in Baltimore?

I went on a field trip and this is what I found: At Vasarri, I found short and long dresses and a great selection of designers at affordable prices. Short dresses are what’s happening for day AND evening this spring and they had some beautiful ones. From Escada, Zenobia, Carmen Marc Valvo, Badgley Mischka, Rene Lezard, Roberto Cavalli, Pink Tartan, Hugo Boss, Jon, Dina Bar-El, Vera Wang, Vivienne Tam and Douglas Hannant, there were many dresses available in cotton, silk, satin and rich royal colors. The store orders only three at a time so you won’t see yourself coming and going. Dolly loved that!

A few new, young, hip stores completed my quest for the dress. Holly G in Federal Hill carries fun dresses by Eva Franco, Wendy Hill, Chelsea Flower and Marie Marie, just for starters. Bubble hems, empire waists and trapeze shifts were front and center and all adorable. Most dresses were under $200, too! Over at Greenspring Station, Fresh is packed full of dresses. BCBG, Betsey Johnson, Lia Kes, Dallin Chase, Norma Kamali and Koranina were just some of the designers I saw and all for under $400. Urban Chic, South Moon Under, Panache, L’Apparenza, Trillium, Classic Serendipity, Ruth Shaw, Jones + Jones, Collections, Box of Rain and Octavia are also worth visiting for spring frocks.

Dear Dolly:

What kind of shoes do I wear with the short A-line dresses for spring?

As hemlines come up and the new dresses are looser, your shoes are key to your overall look. A good way to look at it is the lighter the dress, the heavier the shoe. Think chunk. Not corrective-shoe chunk but stacked-heel-in-a-platform-sling-back-chunk that is so in for spring, any age can wear it. And the wedge is still hot—you should own at least one pair—and pretty flats never go out of style (especially if you have good legs). But don’t wear that new dress too short—you don’t want to look like Little Orphan Annie!