Bandage Dress:Iconic Hervé Léger Bandage Dress Trying After 20 Years

I was not overly happy when most of my high school pals chose bandage gowns for their junior prom. Even though I was certain I wouldn’t be participating and would wear something more relaxed, I still experienced extreme FOMO, much like in high school. I just did not have the confidence to wear something that so obviously traced every line of my body, so it was frustrating to see everyone else join the bandage dress trend. In college, I eventually bought a bandage skirt (shown above), but I only have this one picture to show for it because I recall being self-conscious about how I looked from head to toe.

Perhaps that is why I was afraid to try a trend that used to keep me up at night twenty years later. As I slid the Hervé Léger Elise Dress ($690) over my head and took it off, I felt a familiar feeling of panic sweep over me. Do I like the way my thighs look? Would I be able to see my bloated belly from my period right away, without even looking at it? As I asked myself why I signed up to attempt the skintight silhouette that is seeing a comeback thanks to models like Kaia Gerber and Hailey Bieber, all the same absurd thoughts kept coming to mind.

Hervé Léger Bandage Dress

The original bandage dress was a study in discipline and form, Michelle Ochs, the design director, explains on Popsugar. “Hervé’s goal was to create a work of art out of the body; his use of knit, paneled strips was inspired by couture techniques and his interest in structure and shape. Strength, symmetry, and empowerment were more important than sex appeal alone. The silhouette has changed over the last forty years in tandem with shifting perspectives on self-expression and femininity. We are no longer constrained by the notion of perfection; instead, it is about convenience, adaptability, and uniqueness.

Ochs’s sentiment really speaks to me now that I have worn the dress to a dinner date with my fiancé at Sungold, a popular restaurant in Williamsburg. Since my shape is mine, I felt comfortable highlighting it rather than worrying about defining lines. That shift in viewpoint undoubtedly took some time, but now, twenty years later, when bandage dresses are very popular, I am at last prepared to provide my review.

About the Hervé Léger Bandage Dress

• The dress is cut from gradient bandage paneling that’s softer and more fluid than past designs.
• With a halter neckline, it’s made to contour the body in zones of compression and release, lifting and shaping without boning or lining.
• It’s made from 91 percent eco-friendly recycled rayon, eight percent nylon, and one percent spandex.
• It’s available in bright blue or black and sizes XXS to XL.
• You can split your purchase into four interest-free payments through Klarna.

What I Like About the Hervé Léger Bandage Dress

I was taken aback by the weight and obvious quality of Hervé Léger’s bandage dress material at first touch. It feels nothing like the rigid, paper-thin bandage skirts I wore in college. “Today’s bandage is softer, more flowing, and updated through mixed media, matte jersey, and architectural tailoring,” says Ochs, “but the DNA is still there. It is an attitude now, not just clothing. In that sense, the instant I stepped into The Elise, I felt as though my unique style was called into question. I could easily pair it with my old Gucci sandals and my Jacquemus Rond Carré Shoulder Bag ($119 a month at Vivrelle) and still feel like myself. The design has a certain energy that evokes an early aughts party atmosphere, but it seems adaptable nonetheless.

Although it undoubtedly shaped to my curves, which made me feel a little self-conscious while indulging in focaccia, bucatini, and strip steak, it also provided support, ensuring that “snatched” feeling persisted throughout my night out. Ochs describes the magical impact I am describing as “a painstaking procedure that includes mapping the body almost like an architect maps a plan.” “The majority of high-street copies mimic the appearance but not the functionality. Ours is designed to move with you while maintaining a crisp, refined silhouette.

What to Consider Before Buying the Hervé Léger Bandage Dress

I would be negligent if I did not point out that The Elise (and other Hervé Léger bandage dresses for that matter) is expensive, but as previously mentioned, the quality is unquestionably superior, so it is no surprise that the selling price reflects this. Nevertheless, I hope the brand has intentions to grow in the future and wish there were a larger selection of sizes.

Ochs thinks that wearability and inclusivity are crucial to human development. “We welcome curves!” Hervé Léger has so far included more length choices, sleeves, styles, and materials, such as stretch suiting and light rib knits that “provide more ease without compromising structure.” Ochs tells PS, “It is about offering women options that allow them to define sensuality on their own terms; comfort and confidence are not mutually contradictory.”

Where Is the Hervé Léger Bandage Dress Available?

The Hervé Léger Elise dress is available on the brand’s website, at Neiman Marcus, and at Bloomingdale’s.

To get the look at a more affordable price point, rent a similar Hervé Léger Cross Back Mini Dress at Rent the Runway, or try the Akira Serpenti Plunge Mini Dress ($60), Meilun Celebrity Bandage Bodycon Dress ($67), or Superdown Isidora Strapless Mini Dress ($88).