Nap Dresses Are The Easy Breezy Solution To Summer Dressing

The second half of summer has us wanting to wear as little clothing as possible. But we also deeply desire to live out our best “European Summer” and look effortlessly chic. The solution? An easy-breezy summer dress, in particular a nap dress. While loose-fitting, smocked dress styles have been around for a while, the flowy Victorian-esque frock has evolved from a nightgown to a mainstream day (and night) wear alternative ever since lifestyle brand Hill House Home released its Nap Dress in 2019. Since then, the dress silhouette has cemented its status as a summer must-have.

Since the newest wave of popularity, many interpretations of the versatile style have spawned. The nap dress therefore doesn’t look like just one silhouette anymore. Yes, typically the dressy-yet-laidback dress has signature details like smocked bodices, puff sleeves, and midi-length skirts, but you can also find it with frilly straps, tiered maxi skirts, and drop waists in solids, colorful hues, and eye-catching patterns now. Ahead, we’ve rounded up our favorite flowy dresses that we’d love to live in all summer.

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Hill House Home The Ellie Nap Dress

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**Hill House Home** The Ellie Nap Dress, $, available at Hill House Home

Sleeper Atlanta Off-The-Shoulder Shirred Linen Midi Dress

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**Sleeper** Atlanta Off-The-Shoulder Shirred Linen Midi Dress, $, available at Net-A-Porter

Gap x Dôen Eyelet Midi Dress

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**Gap x Dôen** Eyelet Midi Dress, $, available at Gap

Free People Ultraviolet Dress

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**Free People** Ultraviolet Dress, $, available at Free People

Madewell x Lisa Says Gah! Cutout Midi Dress

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**Madewell x Lisa Says Gah!** Cutout Midi Dress, $, available at Madewell

Zara Textured Midi Dress

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**Zara** Textured Midi Dress, $, available at Zara

Reformation Balia Linen Dress

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**Reformation** Balia Linen Dress, $, available at Reformation

On 34th Plus Size Woven Smocked Ruffled Midi Dress

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**On 34th** Woven Solid Smocked Ruffled Midi Dress, $, available at Macy’s

Anthropologie The Somerset Maxi Dress: Puff-Sleeve Edition

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**Anthropologie** The Somerset Maxi Dress: Puff-Sleeve Edition, $, available at Anthropologie

& Other Stories Puff-Sleeve Midi Dress

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**& Other Stories** Puff-Sleeve Midi Dress, $, available at & Other Stories

J.Crew Smocked Side-tie Dress

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**J.Crew** Smocked Side-tie Dress, $, available at J.Crew

Asos Design Curve Voile Picnic Midi Sundress

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**ASOS DESIGN Curve** Voile Picnic Midi Sundress, $, available at ASOS

Abercrombie & Fitch Emerson Poplin Puff Sleeve Midi Dress

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**Abercrombie & Fitch** Emerson Poplin Puff Sleeve Midi Dress, $, available at Abercrombie & Fitch

Ganni Floral Print Pleated Georgette Smock Midi Dress

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**Ganni** Floral Print Pleated Georgette Smock Midi Dress, $, available at Ganni

Quince 100% Organic Cotton Smocked Midi Dress

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**Quince** 100% Organic Cotton Smocked Midi Dress, $, available at Quince

Boden Gemma Smocked Midi Dress

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**Boden** Gemma Smocked Midi Dress, $, available at Boden

Levi’s Cici Midi Dress

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**Levi’s** Cici Midi Dress, $, available at Levi’s

Petal & Pup Morgan Tiered Dress

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**Petal and Pup** Morgan Tiered Dress, $, available at Petal and Pup

Damson Madder Grape Embroidery Tish Poplin Midi Dress

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**Damson Madder** Grape Embroidery Tish Poplin Midi Dress, $, available at Damson Madder

Cider Printed Sweetheart Neckline Knotted Split Midi Dress

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**cider** Butterfly & Floral Knotted Midi Dress, $, available at Cider

Everlane The Gauze Smock Dress

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**Everlane** The Gauze Smock Dress, $, available at Everlane

Tuckernuck Gingham Seersucker Amy Dress

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**Tuckernuck** Blue Gingham Seersucker Amy Dress, $, available at Tuckernuck

Elan Smocked Cover-Up Midi Dress

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**Elan** Smocked Cover-Up Midi Dress, $, available at Nordstrom

Ann Taylor Smocked Raglan Sleeve Flare Midi Dress

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**Ann Taylor** Smocked Raglan Sleeve Flare Midi Dress, $, available at Ann Taylor

Cos Gathered-Waist Midi Dress

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**COS** Gathered-Waist Midi Dress, $, available at COS

Bloomchic Square Neck Floral Twist Ruffle Cap Sleeve Dress

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**Bloomchic** Square Neck Floral Twist Ruffle Cap Sleeve Dress, $, available at Bloomchic

Banana Republic Linen-Blend Drapey Midi Dress

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**Banana Republic** Linen-Blend Drapey Midi Dress, $, available at Banana Republic Factory

We all have our fair share of fancy dresses from wedding guest options to snazzy holiday ones, but the one style we steadily return to are nap dresses. The flowy Victorian-meets-minimalist-chic frock has evolved from a nightgown to daywear. Now, it’s a viral investment worth making and a silhouette that is needed within the wardrobe of every dress fanatic.

How does this new and improved style differ from previous nap dresses? It’s subtle, but apparent. For starters, the frock features more structure with a smocked bodice, and the loose sleeves have evolved into delicate puff sleeves or frilly straps. Also, nap dresses are no longer only one tone and simple. Now there are eye-catching patterns, embroidery, and colorful hues to choose from.

Where the nap dress was inherently bedroom-born as a sleepwear piece that took to the streets, the nap dress 2.0 is a comfy daywear that can go from napping to brunching to lounging about your day. Halloween costumes and holiday dresses, too! Hill House Home has created Wicked-inspired designs for their famous Ellie Nap Dress. These free-flowing frocks are truly the perfect foundational piece to layer with cardigan sweaters, wool coats, and cropped jackets. If you’re still not sure how to picture this all-purpose frock, scroll forth to see the best nap dresses that we’ve lined up ahead.