It would be better without the zipper.
Honestly, I love the print and I was so excited to get a HH halter dress. I think I would love it a lot more if it was just smocked. I also think their website should note if a dress has a back zip/side zip and this doesn’t. I probably wouldn’t have ordered it if I knew, but I bought it last minute for an event so I’ll wear it anyways. I also feel like a critique I need to mention about HH (though I love them is that their sizing is wildly all over the map. I’m a size XXS in Ellie, a size XS in Lucy, a size S in Dottie, and I ordered a S in this. I’m an hourglass shape and it’s slightly tight around the bust but loose everywhere else.