Dot Dot Smile Size Guide: How the Unicorn, Ruffle, and Cat Dresses Fit

If you've been eyeing a Dot Dot Smile dress for your little one, you've probably noticed the sizing isn't quite like other kids' brands. Dot Dot Smile runs small, and the three most popular styles — the unicorn, the ruffle, and the cat — each fit a little differently. This guide walks you through how each dress fits, how to size up, and where to grab the best deal.

Quick note before we dive in: Dot Dot Smile currently runs 10% OFF All Orders on their coupon page, so grab that code before you order anything.

The Short Version: Dot Dot Smile Runs Small

Most parents agree: order one to two sizes up, especially if your child is between sizes or you want the dress to last more than one season. Dot Dot Smile dresses are made of soft, stretchy knit fabric, so they give a little — but the cut is snug in the chest and shorter in length than you might expect.

A great real-world data point: a size 5/6 girls unicorn dress fits many kids who normally wear a 4T or 5, and it still has room to grow. If you want to see actual photos of that sizing in action, check out this Dot Dot Smile size 5/6 girls unicorn listing — it's a helpful reference for what the 5/6 looks like on.

For an honest overall take on quality and fit across several styles, the Adorable Children's Dresses! Dot Dot Smile Review is one of the most thorough write-ups out there.

How the Dot Dot Smile Unicorn Dress Fits

The dot dot smile unicorn dress is easily the brand's most-loved print — a rainbow-and-unicorn twirl dress that photographs beautifully and survives the washing machine.

Fit notes:

• Runs small in the chest; the skirt is a true A-line twirl cut.
• The stretchy knit means a slightly big size still looks fitted, not baggy.
• If your child wears 18–24 months, the 2/3T unicorn dress usually fits with a bit of room to grow.
• Because it's the most popular dot dot smile dress style, it sells out fastest — size up early rather than waiting.

Sizing tip: for a toddler who's in the middle of a growth spurt, go two sizes up on the unicorn dress. The length may look generous at first, but the soft hem means it can be worn a bit shorter as a tunic until she grows into it.

How the Dot Dot Smile Ruffle Dress Fits

The dot dot smile ruffle dress adds a fluttery ruffle at the shoulder and hem detail that makes it a favorite for parties and photos.

Fit notes:

• The ruffle adds visual width at the shoulder, so the dress itself can run the same or slightly smaller than the unicorn style.
• Because of the ruffle placement, many parents prefer this style slightly roomy — a snug ruffle across the shoulders isn't comfortable.
• Size up one size for everyday wear, two sizes if you want it to last a full year.

If you're browsing dot dot smile dress styles, the ruffle is the most "dressed up" of the three, and it pairs perfectly with a plain long-sleeve tee underneath in cooler months.

How the Dot Dot Smile Cat Dress Fits

The dot dot smile cat dress features the brand's adorable cat print and tends to be the most forgiving of the three cuts.

Fit notes:

• Slightly roomier through the body than the unicorn dress, thanks to a more relaxed cut.
• Great crossover piece — it works as a dress early on, then as a tunic with leggings later.
• Still size up one size as a baseline; the cat dress just tolerates a "between sizes" child better than the other two.

Sizing Chart Snapshot

Here's a quick general guide (remember: these run small, so lean toward the larger end):

Treat this as a starting point. Fit varies between the unicorn, ruffle, and cat styles, and every kiddo is built differently.

What About the Empire Dress and Romper?

Two other styles come up a lot in sizing conversations:

• The dot dot smile empire dress has a higher, gathered waist. It runs true to the brand's small sizing but the empire waist gives a bit more room through the tummy — a nice pick for chunkier toddlers.
• The dot dot smile romper fits closer to the dresses but check the inseam; taller kids often need the next size up in rompers compared to dresses.

What About Dot Dot Smile Going Out of Business?

You may have seen chatter about dot dot smile going out of business. Availability has been spotty at times, and certain prints and sizes come and go. That's all the more reason to:

1. Grab the current 10% OFF All Orders code on the Dot Dot Smile coupon page.
2. Order the size you need when it's in stock rather than waiting.
3. Check resale marketplaces like Mercari for sold-out sizes — that 5/6 unicorn listing linked above is a good example of what's out there.

Final Sizing Tips

• When in doubt, size up — the stretchy fabric makes bigger sizes wearable longer.
• The unicorn dress runs the smallest of the three; the cat dress the most forgiving.
• Ruffle dress fans should prioritize shoulder room.
• Wash cold and hang dry to keep prints and fit intact.

Ready to shop? Start with the dot dot smile unicorn dress, then grab the dot dot smile ruffle dress and dot dot smile cat dress for the full rotation — and don't forget the 10% OFF All Orders offer on the coupon page before checkout.