Babydoll dress: what it is, how to recognise and style it

How to recognise it

A high waist seam, a short full skirt falling from the bust and girlish details: ruffles, puff sleeves, lace, a round neckline. It is usually above the knee.

Where it comes from

The name comes from the 1956 film Baby Doll, whose heroine wore a short nightdress. In the 1990s grunge paired these dresses with chunky boots.

Who and when it suits

Loose and comfortable, it suits summer, festivals and every day. With tall or chunky boots it looks more modern, with ballet flats more romantic.

Variations and look-alikes

It comes with puff sleeves, on straps, with ruffles or lace, in cotton, chiffon or corduroy for autumn. A longer knee-length version looks more restrained. It differs from an empire dress in length and volume: a babydoll is short and full, an empire dress long and flowing.

How to style it

With chunky boots for a grunge look.
With ballet flats for a romantic one.
Keep the outer layer simple with a short dress.

Similar styles

Empire waist dressAn empire waist dress has its waistline raised to just under the bust, with the skirt falling loosely and long from there.A-line dressAn A-line dress is fitted through the bust and waist and widens evenly from the waist to the hem, so from the front it looks like the letter A.Circle skirtA circle skirt is cut from a full circle of fabric with a hole for the waist, so it falls in wide waves at the hem and flares out when you spin.Off-the-shoulder dressAn off-the-shoulder dress has a neckline that runs below the shoulders across the upper arms, leaving the shoulders and collarbones bare.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

01Where does the name babydoll come from?

From the 1956 film Baby Doll, whose heroine wore a short nightdress.

02How is a babydoll different from an empire dress?

Both have a high waist, but a babydoll is short and full, while an empire dress is usually long and fluid.

Babydoll dress