Is Hill House Worth the Hype? Our Editors Put Four Dresses Over $150 to the Test

Results were a mixed bag, but we still found a couple solid pieces.

Fitness Aug 7, 2026 0 2 Add to Reading List

Is Hill House Worth the Hype? Our Editors Put Four Dresses Over $150 to the Test

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Welcome to Skimm Tested, a series where we put viral products to the test and give you our honest, unfiltered reviews.

What Margo Tested…

The Cosmina Mini Nap Dress, $218
The Alba Dress, $298

Why Margo Tested…

Margo’s Results…

The Cosima Mini Nap Dress: Martha and I both agreed that this was the easiest dress to throw on for the summer. I love that the smocking isn’t suffocatingly tight and the skirt hits me right above the knee. Like Martha, I found that I could easily wear it without a bra (though I preferred to wear it with one). I love that you can pick from so many different prints and colors, and now, I do understand why this is one of the brand’s bestsellers. You can tell that the double-lined cotton dress is high-quality and well-constructed, and a piece that you can wear for years on end.
The Alba Dress: This was the dress I was the most disappointed with. I think if you are at least 5’3”, you’d have a better experience with this one. I found the bust to be too short on me, but the shoulders were too long. I also found that as a dress, it looked better on the site than it did in real life. The lining is made of 100% polyester, with the shell itself made of 75% polyamide and 25% cotton. For a dress costing nearly $300, I’d hope for something that would look and feel more high-quality.

What Martha Tested…

The Cosima Mini Nap Dress, $218
The Bexley Dress, $178

Why Martha Tested…

Martha’s Results…

The Cosima Mini Nap Dress: This is arguably a perfect summer dress. Though the ruched part on the top is body-skimming, it has a lot of stretch so it’s not overly constricting. It also offers a ton of coverage, so I could wear it without a bra. I really appreciate that the bottom part is flowy and double-lined, so there’s absolutely zero transparency to the skirt. The skirt does kind of puff out, which is a little too babydoll for my taste, but for an occasion where I want to feel girly, it’s just right.
The Bexley Dress: I cannot understand how this dress is sold out, considering how short and see-through it is (the liner is even shorter than the outside layer). This is literally a nightgown, and I could only really step out in it as a beach cover-up or if I was trying the sheer trend. While the other dress fit perfectly in a small, this one was more generous and way too big across the bust and underarms. That being said, it is very pretty, but not something I would wear in public.

What Abby Tested…

The Coraline Dress, $278

Why Abby Tested….

Abby’s Results…

The Coraline Dress: I loved that the material on this dress was super soft and stretchy, while still holding its shape. I even fell asleep wearing it on vacation and it didn’t wrinkle. I was impressed with the construction of this dress — it’s lined, and because of that, you couldn’t see any panty line through it (even though the style is more fitted). I also found that the stitched detailing and material has held up through four wash cycles. There has yet to be any pilling or loose seams.

Sidenotes…

At 5’, Margo noted extra room in the shoulders for both Hill House dresses. If you are short like her, she’d suggest sizing down to account for roomy shoulders.
Abby noted that her one issue with The Coraline Dress is that it has seams on the top portion that are supposed to act as a fake cup. The space between the top of the dress and the seam was very narrow and ended up hitting her in the middle of her breast, which made the fit slightly awkward. She feels that the seam wasn’t necessary and could’ve easily been excluded for better size inclusivity.