Meet the nap dress, an ultra-comfortable WFH staple we’re obsessed with

Updated 2:25 PM EDT, Thu March 25, 2021
By Noelle Ike

Easy, breezy, and totally comfortable. The Nap Dress, trademarked by lifestyle brand Hill House, is just one of the latest iterations of house dresses. And while house dresses have been around for decades and potentially even centuries (the style is said to have originated from a Victorian gown), the romantic garment is experiencing quite the renaissance.

Nap dresses are “loose-fitting, flowy and feminine,” says Amanda Sanders, a lifestyle expert, and stylist to celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Rock, and Jennifer Coolidge. Oftentimes the only fitted part of the dress is around the bust, and other key features include “heavy smocking, over-exaggerated puff sleeves, and a typically long, slightly pleated skirt.” While nap dresses may be comfortable enough to sleep in, their purpose goes far beyond that of a nightgown. The brilliance of the nap dress and similar house dresses are that they’re generally dressy enough to wear to the office, comfortable enough for running errands, and romantic enough for a weekend date. 

Sanders notes that you’re likely to see nap dresses even more as we head into warmer weather and as we emerge from quarantine with the idea that perhaps we don’t have to sacrifice comfort to look good. Ahead, we’ve rounded up a range of top-rated or tried-and-true nap dresses (as well as other super-comfy dresses) that check all our boxes when it comes to comfort, versatility, and of course — style.