Dot Dot Smile Dress Review: Are the Unicorn, Ruffle, and Cat Dresses Worth It?
# Dot Dot Smile Dress Review: Are the Unicorn, Ruffle, and Cat Dresses Worth It?
If you've spent any time scrolling through mom groups or Instagram, you've probably seen the twirly, whimsical dresses from Dot Dot Smile. With their signature flutter sleeves, soft fabric, and playful prints, they've become a staple in a lot of little girls' wardrobes. But with so many options — and a price tag to match — the big question is: are they actually worth it?
In this review, we'll take a close look at three of the most popular styles: the dot dot smile unicorn dress, the dot dot smile ruffle dress, and the dot dot smile cat dress. We'll cover fabric quality, sizing, fit, washing durability, and where to snag the best deal (hint: there's a 10% off coupon here right now).
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What Is Dot Dot Smile?
Dot Dot Smile is a children's clothing brand best known for its flowing, twirl-friendly dresses, rompers, and matching accessories. The brand built its following on comfortable, soft fabrics, playful prints, and a dreamy boho aesthetic that photographs beautifully — which is exactly why it exploded on social media.
One important note before we dive in: there has been chatter online about Dot Dot Smile going out of business. The brand has scaled back significantly from its peak, which means inventory can be limited and harder to find. The good news? Many of the classic styles — including the ones reviewed below — are still available through retailers carrying the brand, and there's a thriving resale market if you're hunting a sold-out print. If you see a style you love in stock, don't wait too long.
Review 1: The Dot Dot Smile Unicorn Dress
Let's start with the star of the show. The dot dot smile unicorn dress is arguably the brand's most iconic print — and after putting it through its paces, it's easy to see why.
Design & Details
The unicorn print is printed in soft pastels across a full-skirted silhouette, and it pairs perfectly with the flutter sleeve design Dot Dot Smile is known for. The skirt is generously cut, so it twirls beautifully — a must-have feature in our house. There's a subtle empire waistline that gives the dress its signature flowy shape, and it's the kind of design that works for everything from birthday parties to everyday playground wear.
Fabric & Fit
The fabric is a soft, stretchy blend that's gentle on sensitive skin. It's breathable enough for summer but layers nicely over a long-sleeve tee in cooler months. The sizing runs true to size with a bit of room to grow — the empire dress cut means kids get extra wear out of it before they outgrow the length.
Our Verdict
If you're only buying one Dot Dot Smile piece, this is it. The dot dot smile unicorn dress checks every box: comfort, twirl factor, and a print kids genuinely love. It's the style we reach for most often.
Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Review 2: The Dot Dot Smile Ruffle Dress
The dot dot smile ruffle dress takes the classic silhouette and adds extra ruffle detailing along the shoulders and hem for a fancier, more dressed-up look.
Design & Details
The ruffles add lovely movement and dimension, making this the dress we'd pick for photos, weddings, or special occasions. It's a slightly more elevated take on the standard dot dot smile dress styles, but it keeps the same comfortable fit.
Fabric & Fit
Same soft, stretchy fabric as the rest of the line. The ruffles are sewn on securely — after multiple washes, ours haven't warped, unraveled, or lost their shape. The dress washes well on cold and comes out of the dryer (low heat) looking nearly new.
Our Verdict
A beautiful option if you want something a little more formal without sacrificing comfort. It's pricier-feeling than a basic tee dress, but it photographs like a boutique gown.
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Review 3: The Dot Dot Smile Cat Dress
For kids who love animals more than rainbows and sparkles, the dot dot smile cat dress is an adorable alternative to the unicorn print.
Design & Details
The cat print features sweet little feline faces scattered across the fabric. It's playful without being loud, and it pairs easily with leggings, boots, or sandals. Like the unicorn dress, it has that flowy, twirl-worthy skirt and gentle flutter sleeves.
Fabric & Fit
Identical fabric quality to the unicorn dress — soft, stretchy, and comfortable enough that our toddler asks to wear it as pajamas. The print has held up well through repeated washing with no noticeable fading.
Our Verdict
If your kiddo is a cat person, this one's a no-brainer. It's every bit as well-made as the unicorn dress, just with a different personality.
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
How the Three Styles Compare
| Feature | Unicorn Dress | Ruffle Dress | Cat Dress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Everyday & twirling | Special occasions | Animal-loving kids |
| Twirl factor | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Wash durability | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Sizing | True to size | True to size | True to size |
All three share the same core construction, so your choice really comes down to print and occasion. Many families end up building a small collection of dot dot smile dress styles since the pieces mix and match so easily — and the brand also makes a dot dot smile romper in several of the same prints if your little one prefers shorts.
What Real Reviewers Say
We're not the only fans. A thorough independent review at Adorable Children's Dresses! Dot Dot Smile Review praises the brand for its soft fabrics and generous, grow-with-me fits — echoing exactly what we found in our own testing.
And if a style you want is sold out, don't despair: the resale market is active. For example, there's currently a Unicorn Dress DotDotSmile M (8) Like new listed on Mercari — a great way to grab a discontinued print at a discount while Dot Dot Smile's lineup remains limited.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Incredibly soft, skin-friendly fabric
- Beautiful twirl factor kids love
- Prints hold up wash after wash
- True-to-size with room to grow
- Iconic prints (the unicorn dress especially)
Cons:
- Higher price point than big-box dresses
- Limited availability — some styles sell out fast
- Fewer new releases than the brand had at its peak
Final Verdict: Are Dot Dot Smile Dresses Worth It?
Yes — with a caveat. The quality, comfort, and design genuinely justify the price, and these are the dresses our kids reach for again and again. The caveat is availability: given the brand's reduced lineup and the buzz about Dot Dot Smile going out of business, your best move is to buy the style you want when you see it in stock.
How to Get the Best Deal
Before you order, grab the current promotion — you can get 10% OFF all orders using the link on our Dot Dot Smile coupon code page. It stacks on top of already-stocked sale items, which is the cheapest way to get these dresses new.
Our picks, one more time:
- 🦄 Best overall: dot dot smile unicorn dress
- 🎀 Best for special occasions: dot dot smile ruffle dress
- 🐱 Best alternative print: dot dot smile cat dress
Have you tried Dot Dot Smile? Which print is your kiddo's favorite? Drop a comment below!
Frequently asked questions
Are Dot Dot Smile dresses good quality?
Yes. All three dresses we tested are made from a soft, stretchy blend that holds up well to repeated washing, features secure stitching, and offers a comfortable, true-to-size fit.
How does Dot Dot Smile sizing run?
Dot Dot Smile dresses run true to size with a little room to grow, thanks to the flowy empire-waist cut. If your child is between sizes, sizing up will extend how long the dress fits.
Is Dot Dot Smile going out of business?
There has been online discussion about Dot Dot Smile going out of business or scaling back. The brand's lineup is more limited than it once was, so popular styles can sell out. Resale sites like Mercari are good options for discontinued prints.
Where can I find a Dot Dot Smile coupon code?
You can currently get 10% off all orders through our Dot Dot Smile coupon code page.
How should I wash Dot Dot Smile dresses?
Wash on cold and tumble dry low. After multiple washes, the prints showed no fading and the ruffles kept their shape in our testing.