Hill House’s Ellie Nap Dress
The Hill House Ellie Nap Dress is the perfect one-and-done dress, and they often release seasonal fabrics to expand your wardrobe. Wear the Ellie casually or for a date night out — there’s really no wrong way to style them! A staple of the Hill House style library, the Ellie was the original Nap Dress for the brand that has expanded beyond smocking, but hasn’t forgotten their rouched roots. This particular silhouette has been my go-to style from Hill House from the start. It is flattering, comfortable, and easy to care for. Read on for my full review of the Ellie Nap Dress:
My go to casual shoe for the Ellie? Jack Roger’s flats!
Accessories from above linked here.
A long time fan of the Hill House brand, I was so excited to visit their beautifully decorated store in West Palm Beach! Click here to read up on the IRL Hill House shopping experience.
Features of the Ellie Nap Dress
In the most basic terms, the Ellie Nap Dress from Hill House is a smocked midi dress with ruffled sleeves and a tiered skirt. The tiered skirt has four panels (three plus the piece extending from the smocked bodice). It is designed to hit around mid-shin, but can be a full maxi dress for petite women.
Smocking, for reference, refers to a rouched stitching style, which you can see on the bodice and sleeves of the Ellie (and other Nap Dresses from the brand).
Originally, the Ellie did not come with pockets, but the newer iterations of the dress now have pockets. They’re not exceedingly substantial pockets, but helpful nonetheless. I can comfortably keep my phone in them.
Fabrics the Dress Comes In
Currently, Hill House offers this Nap Dress in their classic cotton fabric and a wrinkle-resistant crepe. I have both fabrics, and the cotton is definitely more of a favorite for me. The cotton gives the dress a more laid back feel, and is more comfortable in the warmest of months here in Florida. However, that doesn’t mean I truly dislike the crepe; it just gives the dress a very different vibe.
The solid green dress below is made with the wrinkle-resistant crepe, while the green gingham dress pictured below (along with all of the other dresses I’m pictured wearing in this blog post) is the cotton fabric.
The wrinkle-resistant crepe is a sustainable woven fabric made from post-consumer plastics, which is cool. It has a heavier drape than the cotton, and feels like a kind of acrylic. A lot of Nap Dress aficionados online have very strong feelings against the crepe. I like it for a dressier option, as with the solid green dress above, but it definitely doesn’t have the same feel as my favorite, most-worn cotton Ellies. My biggest complaint about it is how easily it shows sweat. So, bear that in mind when you pick your Ellie.
Caring for the Ellie Nap Dress
One of the best things about Hill House’s Nap Dresses is that they’re so easy to wash and care for! The cotton and crepe Ellie is machine washable, though it is recommended you wash it with a full load (I assume so it doesn’t get stretched out).
For the garment’s longevity, it should be hung or laid flat to dry, though I have certainly thrown mine in the dryer before. Sometimes, I dry mine just for a few minutes to help with wrinkles. Fair warning, though, this can cause the tiered hems to shrink up a bit.
As for hang drying — and general storage of the Ellie Nap Dress — it is a good idea to drape the dress over a hanger, rather than hang it from the elastic straps. This will help prevent the straps from stretching out.
How Does the Ellie Nap Dress Fit?
At first, as a five-foot tall woman, I had originally been hesitant to order the Ellie. I thought the length would be an issue. However, it turns out that the length is really perfect, though, and hits a bit above my ankle.
In my experience, I would recommend sizing down for this style, especially if you’re petite. Typically, I purchase the Ellie in a small and find it fits like I would expect a medium or even large size women’s dress. If you have a broader back or larger chest, you may be more comfortable with your true size.
For my first Ellie Nap Dress, I had ordered a medium, which is definitely a bit on the bigger side, most noticeably in the length. However, the dresses are machine washable and can be dried in the dryer, during which time they shrink up a bit.
Notably, Hill House now offers a mini dress version of this style, which is called the Elizabeth. Interestingly, the sizing on the Elizabeth is not a true match to the Ellie; in the Elizabeth, I always get a medium, whereas I go with a small for the longer Ellie.
Shop the Ellie Nap Dress from Hill House
Styling the Ellie Nap Dress
One of the best things about this style dress is that it can be worn for pretty much any occasion. From running errands to date night, and everything in between, the Ellie will serve you well! Dress it up with a pair of wedge sandals or heels, or down with casual sandals. Lately, I’ve been adding a ribbon bow to complete the look, like the Ashley Bow from Hill House.
I tend to rotate through my top favorite purses with these dresses, and dress it up with my Gucci crossbody bag. I’ve been eyeing the YSL camera bags lately, which would also suit the ensemble!
(Left) Wearing the Ellie with my Platinum Jack Rogers, Monica Vinader necklaces, and SteamLine Luggage Mini Purse
(Right) Pairing the Ellie with Sarah Flint’s Emma Sling
My default shoe for the Ellie are my Jack Rogers sandals. These are great whether Brett and I are going out for a nice dinner or meeting up with friends at a brewery. However, I have both worn the dress with Birkenstocks and my nicest Sarah Flint heels; I just love the versatility of the dresses!
FAQ About the Ellie Nap Dress
- Is the Ellie Nap dress true to size?
No, you should generally size down in the Ellie. If you have broader shoulders or a larger chest, you may want to try your typical size. The smocking offers a lot of stretch, though, so the typical advice is to size down. - Can you machine wash this dress?
Per the website, you can machine wash the Ellie Nap dress. However, it is recommended that you use cold water, wash it in a full load, and wash it less often, in order to preserve the life of the dress. Also, lay it flat to dry, rather than putting it in the dryer. - What is the Ellie dress made of?
Currently, the Hill House Ellie dress is offered in both cotton and wrinkle-resistant crepe. - Does the dress have pockets?
Yes! The Ellie dress now has pockets (early editions of the dress do not have pockets). - How much is the Ellie Nap Dress?
The standard Ellie Nap Dress costs $150. Sometimes, the price is higher if it is a special edition style or a different fabric, as with this white eyelet version.
Ready to shop? Click here to explore the different motifs and
colors the Hill House Ellie Nap Dress is currently available in!
Looking for more Hill House reviews and details?
Check out all of my posts on the brand here!
*This post was originally published in August 2023. It was most recently updated on November 3, 2023.
