Hill House Home Nap Dress Size Guide (How to Find Your Fit)

The Nap Dress is one of those pieces that shows up everywhere once you notice it. It's soft, it's pretty, and it's easy to wear all day. But ordering online can feel like a guess, especially when the bodice is smocked and the sizes run from XXXS all the way to XXXXL.

Here's how I'd figure out the right size before ordering, plus how I'd wear one so it works for a modest wardrobe.

How Nap Dress sizing works

Hill House Home describes the Nap Dress as its signature garment, made with an elasticated smocked bodice they call Nap Smocking. That smocking is the reason sizing feels different from a regular dress. The bodice stretches to fit, so the fit at the bust and waist has some give, while the skirt below is loose and flowy.

On the Ellie Nap Dress page, the store's own note says: if you're in between sizes, size down. That makes sense with a stretchy bodice. A smaller size still stretches over the bust, and it stays closer to the body instead of looking loose.

One thing to know: each style has its own chart. When I looked at the Ellie page, it listed several different size charts for different dresses, and the numbers were not the same. So always open the size guide on the exact dress you want instead of reusing a chart from another style.

How to measure yourself

Hill House recommends taking your measurements with a soft tape measure, and asking someone to help if you need to. Here's the simple way to do it:

• Bust. Measure around the fullest part of your bust, keeping the tape level across your back. Wear the bra you'd normally wear under the dress.
• Waist. Measure around your natural waist, the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above the belly button.
• Length. The chart lists the dress length, not your height. If you want a specific hem spot, measure from the top of your shoulder down to where you'd like the dress to end, then compare.

Write the numbers down in inches, since that's how the charts are listed.

The Ellie Nap Dress size chart

This is the chart shown on Hill House Home's Ellie Nap Dress page (measurements in inches):

• XXXS: bust 26-28, waist 21-23, length 44 ½
• XXS: bust 28-30, waist 23-24, length 45
• XS: bust 30-31, waist 25-26, length 45 ½
• S: bust 32-33, waist 27-28, length 46
• M: bust 34-35, waist 28-31, length 46 ½
• L: bust 35-37, waist 31-34, length 47
• XL: bust 37-40, waist 34-36, length 47 ⅞
• XXL: bust 40-43, waist 36-39, length 48 ⅜
• XXXL: bust 43-46, waist 39-42, length 49 ¼
• XXXXL: bust 46-50, waist 42-46, length 49 ¾

Again, this chart is for the Ellie. Other Nap Dress styles on the site have their own charts, and some run with more room in the bust, so double-check before you order a different style.

If your bust and waist fall in different sizes

This happens all the time. Here's how I'd decide:

• Go by the bust first on a smocked bodice, since that's where the dress needs to fit and stretch.
• If you're in between, follow the store's note on the Ellie and size down. The smocking gives.
• If you're fuller in the bust and plan to wear a layer underneath, think about whether the extra layer adds bulk. A thin fitted top won't change much, but a thicker knit can.
• Check the reviews. Shoppers often mention their height and usual size. On one style with heavier smocking, a reviewer noted the bust felt less stretchy than other Nap Dresses and suggested sizing up if you're between sizes. That's a good reminder that fabric and smocking can change the fit from style to style.

Length and height

The Ellie chart lists lengths from about 44 ½ inches in XXXS to just under 50 inches in XXXXL. Where that lands on you depends on your height. One petite reviewer said the Ellie just hit her ankles, so the shorter you are, the longer it will look on you.

For a modest look, a longer hem is a plus. If you're tall and want more length, check the listed length on the maxi styles, which are made to fall longer.

How to wear a Nap Dress modestly

Many Nap Dresses have short puffed or ruffled sleeves and a square or open neckline. That's easy to work with. A few simple layers make it fully covered and still look intentional.

• A fitted long-sleeve top underneath. A thin turtleneck or high-neck tee in cream, ivory or a soft color from the print covers the arms and neckline. The puff sleeves sit nicely over a fitted sleeve.
• A cardigan on top. A cropped or regular cardigan buttoned over the bodice gives a sweet, put-together look and adds warmth in fall.
• Tights for shorter lengths. If the hem hits above where you want it, opaque tights in a color that matches your shoes keep the look covered.
• Boots or flats. Ankle boots, knee-high boots or ballet flats all suit the soft shape of the skirt.

When you layer underneath, keep the base top thin and fitted so the smocked bodice still sits smoothly. This is another reason the size-down advice works well: a slightly closer fit keeps the layers neat.

Quick checklist before you order

1. Measure your bust and waist in inches.
2. Open the size guide on the exact style you want.
3. Match your bust first, then check the waist.
4. In between sizes? Size down on the Ellie, unless reviews for that style say otherwise.
5. Compare the listed length to your own shoulder-to-hem measurement.
6. Plan your layers so the fit still works with a top underneath.

My take

The Nap Dress is a lovely base for modest dressing once you know your size. Measure once, read the chart for the exact style, and lean toward the smaller size when you're between two. Then add a fitted long-sleeve layer and you have an outfit that feels cozy, pretty and completely you.

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