Imagine a dress that is flattering, made of natural material, can stretch with you as your size may fluctuate with health matters or pregnancy, is fancy enough to wear to a garden party event, yet comfortable enough for a nap, and costs under $200. While this might sound like a unicorn item – the Hill House Home Ellie Nap dress is a cult classic for a reason!
I’m sharing a Hill House Home Ellie Nap dress review of a number of styles, fabrics and cuts, as well as some other styles I have tried from their collection. I hope this will convince you to invest in a female-founded brand that is flattering, feminine and a versatile addition to your wardrobe. And if you want to add a Nap Dress to your collection, you can get 20% off with my referral link!
Hill House Home Ellie Nap Dress Review & Sizing Tips
The classic Ellie Nap Dress from Hill House Home features a smocked bodice, tiered skirt and elastic straps with frills. The Nap Dress does not have adjustable straps, however other styles like the Seraphina nap dress does.
The Ellie comes in many fabric types, however the most common is a 100% cotton sateen. As someone who has suffered from allergies to synthetic fabrics, the Ellie Nap Dress entered my life at the PERFECT time. I am able to wear this dress without a bra (being a C cup) and still feel support. The Ellie was actually inspired by founder, Nellie Diamond while she was breastfeeding, and she wanted an elegant dress that was free flowing, offered easy access while feeding, but could still feel put together. While I am not a mom, I really appreciate the dress’ comfortable shape, supportive smocking and that the dress can stretch to you – this would be great for any woman that might experience weight fluctuations as well.
For sizing, the brand and I both recommend you size down by one size for the Ellie Nap dress. Other styles from the brand run true to size, however, being a size 6, I usually wear a size XS Ellie Nap dress and find it to fit well, without the smocking stretching too far.
From the “classic” Ellie Nap Dress offering, I own three different prints, including the blue and white Mosaic Tiles print, the Artists’ Edition Diane Hill in a lovely pink chinoiserie print, and a flannel navy plaid from the 2022 Holiday Edition.
In 2024, there are so many new and exciting Hill House Home prints forthcoming! I can’t wait to see the wisteria print, nautical bow print, and Lily of the Valley print that Nellie Diamond teased on Instagram! I will continue to update this post as I collect Hill House dresses.
If you’re looking for a shorter option, the Ellie comes in a cropped version, the Elizabeth nap dress, which comes above the knees. I do not own an Elizabeth, as I am nearly 5’9” tall, and from pictures online, might suit someone more petite. If I had one piece of feedback to the Hill House brand it would be to have a length in between the Vivi and Ellie nap dress, to the knees ideally to offer coverage, but show off a bit more leg!
Hill House Home Tulle Ellie Nap Dress Review
Hill House has come out with a number of limited edition designs – in the HHH world, they refer to them as “Collector’s Edition”. I own two of these pieces, including a Hill House Tulle Ellie Nap Dress in purple, which I plan to wear to the Taylor Swift Eras concert in London England so I can live out my Speak Now era. If you are looking for a whimsical, special occasion dress, the Tulle Ellie Nap Dress is a wonderful choice – I even wore it to my Barbie-themed birthday party. It is so easy to wear, and many of them are now lined. While my purple version was unlined at the time, the glitter black and nude versions come with linings and would look lovely for a formal gala or fairytale event.
I love how much movement is in this dress, as well as the sheer volume of fabric. I would recommend sizing down TWO sizes – for example, I typically wear a size Small or Medium dress, but wear a size XS in a cotton Ellie Nap dress, but am wearing a size XXS in the tulle Ellie Nap Dress. The Tulle Ellie Nap Dress now comes in lined versions, which would make it the perfect special occasion dress. I am considering getting the Tulle Ellie Nap Dress in black to have a true black swan moment!
Collector’s Edition Lace Ellie Nap Dress Review
The second Ellie I added to my collection was this white lace Ellie Nap Dress. It is an unlined style, which, admittedly, has made it harder to wear. I paired it with a Jockey nude slip dress from Target (my favourite slip for under $20), and it definitely gives a cool illusion.
The fabric is soft, while maintaining a lot of structure. Apparently the lace is also machine washable, though I have not tried to do that yet! I find this dress a little bit more difficult to wear, as it feels very “bridal” however, being newly engaged, I can see a few more occasions to wear it now!
Does Hill House Home ship to Canada?
The main reason why I have so many Hill House Home dresses is because they are fantastic for shipping to Canada! For $35, you get flat rate shipping with taxes AND duties included! I love that there are no surprises, and you can estimate your order and receive it straight to your door with ease.
I have also purchased pre-loved Hill House Home dresses from Facebook groups and plan on ordering some from the Real Real as well.
Are Hill House Home Ellie Nap Dresses worth it?
You may be asking yourself whether a Hill House Home Ellie Nap Dress is worth it? While the prices have creeped up in the past couple of years, and different fabrics have commanded more money, I still believe that it is worth investing in a simple cotton Ellie Nap dress in a print or colour you love. If you live in a hot, humid climate, these dresses are breezy and can even be worn without a bra! They also pack very well for travel and are great for sightseeing and down time in your hotel room or by the pool. I find myself wearing my Blue Mosaic tiles Ellie Nap dress often at the cottage for an elevated, lounge look.
I also love that the brand taps female artists like Diane Hill to create unique prints you won’t find anywhere else. While the smocked nap dress style is often imitated, there is a good weight to the Hill House fabrics, and I personally love that the brand produces more small batches that sell out, curbing potential waste other retailers face.
Overall, I think adding one (or two!) of these Nap dresses can be a great addition to your wardrobe. Remember you can save 20% off with my referral link here!
