Courtesy of Hill House Home
Now and then, when a fashion piece is really good (in every sort of way), it becomes one for the masses. Such was the case with Hill House Home’s Nap Dress. No doubt you’ve seen it, whether on your Instagram feed or IRL. Maybe you even own one or two (but let’s be honest, maybe the count is up to three). That’s the type of power this dress—and every iteration that has followed—wields.
Since the ruffled, tiered silhouette became synonymous with stylish comfort dressing and a life spent (mostly) at home, Hill House Home, which also offers a variety of home goods, has branched out to swimwear and accessories, in addition to a wider range of clothes. Now, it’s coming for your footwear collection with two new styles: a platform heel, which happens to be one of the top fall 2022 shoe trends, and a slide sandal. To top it off, the launch comes with some shimmering jewelry, too.
We spoke with Hill House Home founder and CEO Nell Diamond about the new line of shoes, diving into jewelry, dressing for joy, and what’s next for her burgeoning lifestyle empire.
Your brand has become known for the Nap Dress, which revolutionized the idea of wearing pajamas as everyday wear and embracing chic, stylish comfort, pre- and post-pandemic. How did the idea of designing footwear and jewelry come about?
The launch of Hill House Home shoes and jewelry is truly a dream come true for me. To know me is to know my love for shoes—platforms, specifically. The Hill House team and I have always dreamt of creating the perfect platform and the perfect slide: shoes that are comfortable, high quality, and make the wearer feel special.
When I was 17, I gave a speech at my high school in my favorite pair of shoes: 4-inch tall pink patent leather Mary-Jane heels. I was student body president, and it was an awards ceremony at the end of the school year. Another parent in the audience turned to my mom, mid-speech, and asked, “how can you let such a bright girl wear those shoes?” as though there was a direct correlation between my brainpower and my footwear.
My parents’ embrace of my kooky fashion sense as a child had a tremendous impact on me. They let me wear what I wanted, regardless of the projections other people placed on my fashion choices. Shoes aren’t complicated for me—they are pure joy and self-expression, one of the happiest parts of my day.
Courtesy of Hill House Home
Tell me about the process of designing the styles. Why a heeled platform sandal and a slide?
Like all things Hill House, our shoes are deceivingly practical. They look delicate on the outside, but they’re sturdy, comfortable, and can weather a storm.
They’re designed for use, with textured, treated linen and heat-applied gemstones that won’t stain or fall off. Our shoes were pressure tested at a facility that specializes in performance construction boots. They passed with flying colors. I like to think of our pink feathered platforms glistening next to a pair of steel-toed boots, waiting for a test.
Launching with both a heeled platform and a slide provides the best of both worlds—we’re all about options for what you feel your best in.
What were the most important factors that came to mind when designing these two styles?
I’m most proud of the incredible craftsmanship. When designing our shoes, we worked with a family-owned factory in Italy that looks at the construction process as art. I wanted the shoes to have all of the bells and whistles (or in this case, feathers and rhinestones), but still be practical to wear out to dinner. I felt like our factory partners really understood our vision and were expertly skilled at helping us bring it to life.
Courtesy of Hill House Home
Both the platform and the slide are quite festive; what went behind the decision to create such statement-making footwear for your debut into the category?
They are definitely festive! Needless to say, I’ve loved shoes forever. Fun, glittery, happy shoes. Shoes that I can dance in and commute in and that sparkle when I walk. I’ve never required a place to go or the perfect outfit for a fun pair of shoes—I wanted our customers to find the same joy [with] their Hill House shoes in their day-to-day life that they’d find for the most special occasion.
Additionally, the jewelry is also undoubtedly bold and whimsical. Can you share your inspiration for this particular collection of baubles?
When we asked ourselves what we were missing most in our wardrobe, it was eye-catching costume jewelry that added a little glitter to our outfits. Our inspiration came from antique costume jewelry in our own collections, which is just as wearable as it is unique.
The Ribbon Chokers were inspired by our design team’s love for vintage ribbons and the habit of tying them like chokers. It’s such a simple but special add-on to a layer of necklaces or even on its own.
How do you see women incorporating these pieces into their wardrobes? What do you hope women will feel when they’re wearing them?
I encourage [our customers] to wear these styles with whatever [they] feel best in! The shoes will definitely dress up a classic look, but if you are into “more is more,” you can absolutely make a statement as well. The earrings are so fun and playful—I will definitely be wearing the Disco Earrings with our Pearl Halo Headband for some upcoming Zooms. The Party Platform in Blue Rhinestone also made its debut at an evening event with girlfriends, paired with my Ophelia Dress!
I can only imagine that both launches are only the beginning. Are you able to share (or hint at!) what we might be expecting next from your team for each category?
This is just the beginning of many fun launches to come for the rest of the year! Let’s just say that people who love our signature holiday tartan pattern will be very happy.
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