There have been many 2000s fashion trends that have resurfaced over the past couple of years – ballet flats, low-rise jeans, capri pants – but I never thought we would see the return of bandage dresses. Alas, fashion continues to surprise me as 2025 may just be the year that the bandage dress makes its way back to our wardrobes.
Some are calling it a “recession indicator” some are choosing to ignore the return of the bandage dress altogether and if you’re a younger Gen Z, you may be wondering what is a bandage dress? And you would be forgiven as it’s not exactly a style that has been mentioned in the past fifteen years. Bandage dresses are an extremely tight, figure-hugging dress that resembles a layered bandage construction. Often worn with a pair of platform heels. It was THE night-out outfit of the late 2000s. Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Paris Hilton, and Victoria Beckham were all fans of the style, wearing them everywhere from the red carpet to the club.
The design is largely credited to the French fashion house Hervé Léger, but other designers such as Azzedine Alaïa also explored a similar design. Of course, it wasn’t long before the trend filtered down into the high street with House of CB bringing bandage dresses to the masses.
It’s befitting then that it would be House of CB that are currently declaring that “bandage is back.” The brand wrote on Instagram that “15 years ago we started House of CB with our bandage dresses. Back in the day, they became the IYKYK birthday dress for all the girlies, so what better way to celebrate our own birthday by going back to the style that started it all.”
Unsurprisingly, the feedback on social media has been mixed, but now that it-girls of the moment including Kaia Gerber have been spotted wearing a bandage dress on the red carpet, is it inevitable that they will be back for good? After all, people turned their noses up to ballet flats and low-rise jeans when they first came back into fashion and now they’re pretty mainstream, so why not the same for the bandage dress?
For those who are sold on the idea, here is a roundup of some of the best bandage dresses to shop now…
Hervé Léger The ‘Elise’ Dress, £515
Hervé Léger The ‘Rachel’ Dress, £519
House of CB Sculpt Bandage Dress, £149
House of CB Hourglass Bandage Dress, £169
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are ‘affiliate links’. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.
Featured Image Credit: Courtesy of House of CB