Is your quarantine wardrobe feeling a little tired? Are you done with the Zoom top and leggings combo or entire weeks (and months!) spent wearing athleisure? Well, I have a fun new idea for you. It’s a super comfortable option that’s basically an outfit unto itself - and if you choose correctly, it takes you from the end of summer all the way through fall.
What I’m talking about is an easy, minimally structured, comfortable and versatile dress. One that feels just right for being in the house all day, but also works with a cool pair of shoes to run errands or grab socially distanced brunch. Some people are calling this a ‘house dress’, and a more fun term that I’ve heard is a ‘nap dress’ (don’t you just love that?). It’s evolved as a pandemic trend – but it’s also a style that deserves permanent space in your stay at home wardrobe. So what makes a dress a ‘house dress’?
Relatively loose fitting – because the last thing you want when you’re on Zoom calls all day is something tight or stiff or otherwise constricting.
Flowy fabric – so it’s easy to wear when you move from home office to kitchen to couch and back again.
Otherwise, the house dress you pick is up to you – go for a pop color solid or an effervescent print or a textured neutral. The house dress trend definitely leans toward a romantic style, but if that’s not your vibe, skip the ruffles and balloon sleeves in favor of a more straightforward design. So, if you’re looking for house dress (or nap dress) outfit inspiration, check out a few outfits that show you how to wear your house dress right now AND right into fall (both inside AND outside).
LATE SUMMER INSIDE
A house dress is a no-brainer option for lazy late summer days – or for super busy late summer days, too. When you have no time to think about what to wear, grab your dress, sandals and a simple necklace for a look that takes you from hours at your desk right to dinner on your deck.
HOUSE DRESS TIP: For a versatile print that transcends seasons, stick with a saturated color or darker neutral as the base of your print (like the navy floral dress pictured). Patterns and prints based in white, ivory and very pale shades generally feel more spring/summer, so they’re not as wearable year round.
LATE SUMMER OUTSIDE
Yes, you can wear the same dress all day at home and then take it to dinner at an outdoor café – all you need is a quick change of accessories. Trade your flat sandals for a pair of heels (don’t you miss your heels?), grab a bag that you probably haven’t touched in months and put on your favorite head-turning earrings. (And read this for a supremely versatile summer layer, in case there’s a chill in the air.)
HOUSE DRESS TIP: Choice of fabric will also influence whether your house dress is best for warmer months or relatively seasonless. Linen, lightweight cottons and thin knits are all ideal for hot weather – but they’re not necessarily appropriate for fall and winter. Instead, select mid-weight knits, silks, polyesters and denser cottons for styles that you can wear most of the year.
FALL INSIDE
When the temperatures drop, it’s all about cozy for work from home days (and stay at home nights). Just add a wool or cashmere cardigan to your favorite house dress with easy slip-on sneakers – it’s basically the daytime equivalent of a nightgown and robe, so cuddle up and enjoy your newest version of day pajamas.
HOUSE DRESS TIP: Many of the house dresses that you’re seeing on Instagram or on your favorite influencers are voluminous silhouettes with tiered ruffles, big sleeves and an overall large shape. If you love the drama, go for it – but my advice with dresses that have a lot of volume is to stick with styles on the shorter side, that are above the knee. Otherwise, if you combine an oversized shape with a long length, you’re heading into muumuu territory. And if you are playing with larger shapes, details like a seamed or dropped waist and defined tiers keep it from feeling like you’re wearing a bolt of fabric with a hole cut out for your head. If you’re not into the dramatic shapes, simpler silhouettes without all the bells and whistles are just as useful options – like a classic a-line, empire waist or shirtdress style (check this out for 5 outfits that I created with one shirtdress). Also, watch out for big sleeves. They can be super fun when you’re wearing the dress alone, but when you need to throw on a cardigan or jacket, slim sleeves (or sleeveless and short sleeve styles) are much easier to maneuver. Remember – it’s all about proportions and what works on your frame, not what you’re seeing everyone else wearing.
FALL OUTSIDE
When it’s gets late October chilly, it’s time to break out the boots and jackets – and they’re both perfect additions to a house dress for a street style worthy look. Choose your favorite boots or booties, add tights if you need them, and grab your trusty denim jacket for a socially distanced trip to the pumpkin patch or just to get a pumpkin spice latte.
HOUSE DRESS TIP: While many of the house dress silhouettes are loose and shapeless, they don’t have to stay that way. When you’re at home you can keep it easy and comfortable, but when you want to dress it up a bit, add a belt! If the dress comes with a self-belt, that’s definitely an option – but upgrading to a leather or suede belt reigns in your silhouette a bit better and also adds style points to your look.
Are you struggling with your wardrobe or do you feel like you’ve completely lost your style mojo since you’ve been at home? Then check out my newest virtual service, Style Portfolio. Style Portfolio gives you the tools to jumpstart your style, with specific guidelines that help you clean your closet, shop strategically and create outfits that align your inside with your outside. Click here to read a little more about Style Portfolio or click here to discover all my virtual services.
Dress and cardigan by Vince. Denim jacket by Kut from the Kloth. All shoes by Vince except for the boots by Vince Camuto. Glasses by Warby Parker. Necklace by Gorjana. Earrings by Alexis Bittar. Bag by Tory Burch. Belt by Banana Republic.
Cover image from @waityouneedthis on Instagram.