Whether you loved them or hated them, there was no escaping the bandage dress in the later 2000s and early 2010s. The style, born in the '80s, was brought into the mainstream through the '90s and '00s as celebrities and consumers alike obsessed over the style, and it looks like it's set for a comeback—or so the internet hopes.
While we were led to believe that the trend died some time in the mid to late 2010s, the bandage dress may be returning to the store rails as the internet begs the fashion world to "bring back bandage dresses."
Known for their ability to "snatch" a body, the dresses are now next in line in the '00s trend resurgence, with a viral video shared by Meadow Propsom (@princessmeadoww) highlighting the appetite for the style.
The clip gained over 817,000 views, with over 135,000 likes as she modelled a bandage dress for the viewers.
To find out more about the trend, and why it's now making a comeback, Newsweek spoke to UK-based personal stylist Alex Longmore, who gave a brief history on the bandage dress.
She explained, "Azzedine Alaïa was the grandfather of the clingy dress. His collections always celebrated the female form and he favored tight silhouettes above anything. Alaïa first showed a bandage-style dress in his 1986 Spring-Summer collection, but it wasn't really until the 1990s that the French designer Hervé Léger put the bandage dress fully on the map.
"This now iconic style was first shown on his catwalk show in 1998. It was a revolutionary way to use fabric, the bandage appearance is a mirage. The dresses are in fact all made from one piece of fabric that is knitted together to give its body-con appearance. It was basically a corset in a dress, holding in a woman's figure in all the right places."
The style's celebrity fans helped to take the dress style's popularity to another level, as she continued, "The supermodels of the time, especially Cindy Crawford, adored the style and instantly helped propel 'the bandage dress' into one of the biggest trends of all time wearing the dresses to red carpet events. The A-listers all followed suit and adopted the style, everyone owned a Léger dress, including Victoria Beckham and Kim Kardashian. Even Princess Diana wore one of the styles. It was THE dress of the 90's."
@princessmeadoww Hearve knew what he was doing
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One of the first styles to accentuate curves—something uncommon during the '90s "heroine chic" period, the confidence the dress gave its wearers was another plus point, as Longmore said, "The dress was revolutionary, mainly because it gave women the opportunity to feel sexy, show off their curves and feel held in all the right places at the same time. It was suddenly OK to feel sexy and dress accordingly.
"This was the first style of dress that was about the woman wearing it, rather than the fashion of the look. All eyes were on the subject in the dress, rather than the design."
As the trend's popularity developed and it trickled down the fashion chain, it soon found itself being replicated and remade in all possible styles, colorways, and budgets, losing its appeal as it became more readily available—but the trend is officially back to fight another round.
How To Style a Bandage Dress in 2024
If you think you've spotted bandage dresses in your favorite stores recently, it's not your eyes deceiving you, as Longmore asserts that "the bandage dress is back."
The return comes off the back of arguably the most fashion-focused press tour in history, as when asked why the dress has made a return, Longmore shared, "I think we have Margot Robbie to thank for that.
"She chose to reinvent a Hervé Léger dress, with the help of the new creative director Michelle Ochs for her Barbie press tour. The black-and-white stripe number Margot wore has instantly helped make the brand cool again, but there is a new way of wearing it."
While the dress style is at the center of the trend, it's no longer the main focus, as she explained, "It's not all about just the dress this time around, but about the look. The dress needs to be worn with an oversized blazer, some killer, black, pointed, either kitten heels or stilettoes, depending on your style.
"Some cat eye sunglasses, just like [singer] Miss Robbie wore on her press junket and some heavy jewelry. Hoops and a diamante, tennis-style necklace would work perfectly, and a crystal bag would complete the look."
What Do the Comments Say?
Propsom and Longmore aren't the only ones ready for the bandage dress revival, as the comment's highlighted consumer hunger for the style.
One user said, "2008-2014 bandage dresses will forever have a place in my heart."
Another added, "I have so many Hervé Léger dresses saved for when I have the body for them".
"Literally, I did not grow up seeing bandage dresses to not wear them now." said a third.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Lollie is Newsweek's Beauty and Self Care Reporter based in London, U.K. In her role, she covers a range of ... Read more
