I haven’t taken proper photos in a while. I feel very rusty and I’m trying to get comfortable again in front of the camera! Part of the problem is that I haven’t had too many clothing items that have really made me feel good. It’s hard to muster up the energy during nap times when I put on clothes and don’t feel 100%. But this dress? I feel great in it.
It’s Hill House’s Lily dress. I was thrilled when they announced this new silhouette. You guys know how much I love my nap dresses, but I wore them so frequently last summer while pregnant that I’m not sure I’m super excited about wearing them again for a while. (Does that happen to anyone else?! I was wearing one almost every day towards the end…. and right after giving birth too.)
The Lily dress looked like my “dream dress” on paper and I was crossing my fingers that I felt the same way when I tried it on. Happy to report that yes. It is a beautiful, beautiful dress!!!!
The Lily dress is nearly perfect. I’ve been struggling so much with dresses lately. I feel like so much of what’s out there right now just isn’t very me. (Like where have all the classic, simple dresses gone?!)
Here’s what I love about the dress:
The length is perfect. The silhouette is perfect. There’s a hidden snap at the waist for a perfect fit. I love that the belt is removable and adjustable so you can style it in a few different ways. The sleeves hit the perfect spot and I love the little cuff. It can be dressed up or down– seriously this would work with sneakers for a farmer’s market run, over a bathing suit, and even in some offices for work. Most importantly, I really do feel amazing in it!
I have one mini-issue and two things I’d change:
The dress is linen. While linen is incredibly beautiful, it is high maintenance and this linen is particularly hard to iron. I usually steam my clothing, but the wrinkles didn’t budge with steam and even after I ironed it, some of the wrinkles are still there. But it is linen and that is to be expected….
One easy thing I wish the dress had was a hidden snap at the chest. There is a mini snap at the waist and it would have been great to have it near the bust as well. And I wish the navy read a little more navy– in certain light it looks more of a royal blue than navy. But these are two small things.
The silhouette is so perfect and I feel like Hill House could really run with it and release it in a bunch of different fabrics. I would love to see it in a black cotton, for sure. And I think it’d be darling in a gingham check and stripe.
Here it is with the the sash in the front and the bow tied in the back.
For sizing, I think this runs big. I’m wearing the XS, but I’d say I’m a size small right now from J. Crew if that’s helpful. I purchased both the small and the XS because I wasn’t sure, but the small too big even with the belt.
