THE BANDAGE DRESS, 1993

The bodycon dress to end all bodycon dresses, Hervé Léger’s ‘bandage’ was so-called because it comprised strips of elastic sewn together super tightly. First seen in 1993 on the catwalk at New York Fashion Week, its popularity was sealed in 1995 after supermodels including Cindy Crawford, Eva Herzigova and Karen Mulder took it to their hearts (and ribcages). Part of its appeal is that it works on curvy and angular figures alike. It also lends itself well to bright colours: Salma Hayek, Elle Macpherson, Kim Kardashian and Rihanna have all fallen for its charms over the years, while the current early 2000s revival means it’s winning over a new generation. Last year, Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot wore a hot-pink style in a Tiktok video that got 11.6 million views. If you’re in the market to wear one this Christmas without breaking the bank, check out Ebay which has a great selection of vintage ones.