Hold the Linen and Silk Dresses—Fashion People Are Opting for This Controversial Summer Dress

In a summer full of dopamine dressing and “quiet luxury” debates, the most talked-about dress of the season isn’t minimalist or maximalist—it’s ghostly romantic. Fashion people are swapping their classic linen slips and structured silks for something softer, hazier, and, yes, slightly controversial: the nightgown dress. Equal parts vintage reverie and undone glamour, this whisper-thin, barely-there trend is drifting out of the bedroom and into the sunlight.

At the forefront of the movement is Hill House’s latest capsule collection, a dreamy tribute to Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides. The brand reimagines its signature nap dresses with a Lisbon sister twist—gauzy cotton, eyelet lace, and puffed sleeves that toe the line between innocence and allure. Each style in the collection is named after one of the Lisbon sisters, evoking the film’s languid melancholy and sun-drenched suburbia. Think of a delicate frock you could wear barefoot at golden hour or to a dinner party with vintage pearls and a glass of something cold.

While the aesthetic may be rooted in nostalgia, the styling feels entirely modern. Influencers are pairing these ultra-feminine silhouettes with edgy accessories—bike shorts peeking out from sheer hemlines, chunky dad sandals, or even a backwards baseball cap—to add tension and irony. It’s the perfect summer uniform for anyone who wants to romanticize their life just enough, without taking it too seriously.

Of course, the nightgown dress comes with a side of controversy. Is it too costume-y? Too intimate? Too undone? Maybe. But that’s exactly the point. In an era where personal style trumps all, this look is less about looking “put together” and more about being undone in the most intentional way possible. After all, what’s more chic than wearing something that suggests you have nowhere to be, yet still look like the main character?

Below, shop the best nightgown-inspired summer dresses to add to your rotation this summer.

Shop the Best Nightgown Dresses