Outdated Millennial Fashion Staple Could Be Poised for a Comeback

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Lydia Patrick is a Newsweek Life and Trends Reporter based in London, focusing on emerging trends, human interest stories, and women’s issues. She previously uncovered a growing pattern of knife crime against women in the UK and worked on stories focusing on the dark side of medical tourism. She joined Newsweek in 2024, having previously worked at the Independent and South West News Service. Lydia holds a degree from the University of Bristol and a master’s in journalism from Sheffield University. Languages: English and Spanish. You can contact her via email: l.*******@******ek.com

Lydia Patrick

Life & Trends Reporter

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The 2010s called, and they want their dresses back. The club classic bandage dress has officially returned to the fashion zeitgeist, with celebrities and influencers stepping back in time to embrace the skintight silhouette.

The body-hugging dress—made of intersecting strips or panels resembling bandages—first debuted on the runway in 1992, after its invention in the 1980s by French designer Hervé Léger. The iconic style quickly became a staple of early 2000s and 2010s nightlife, made famous by stars such as Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Blake Lively, Beyoncé, and Victoria Beckham.

Celebrities such as Hailey Bieber and Kaia Gerber have recently been spotted in the sleek silhouette—and even Pippa Middleton was seen in a variation of the formfitting look, signaling that the trend is back in rotation.

Jennifer Johnson, founder of True Fashionistas—the largest lifestyle resale store in Florida—has observed this revival firsthand. She told Newsweek that demand for bandage dresses has surged.

“Every time we get one in, it sells rather quickly.” Johnson noted that customers are increasingly signing up for the store’s wishlist for Hervé Léger.

“Fashion always recycles itself, and it’s time for the bandage dress to have its day again,” Johnson said. “We’ve gone from having a lot of flowy, floral, and very girly looks to people being tired of that aesthetic. They want to show off their figure and look sexy again—and I think that has played a large part in why this dress is back.”

Johnson added that Gen Z is driving much of the demand, describing them as a generation that embraces both current and throwback looks. “This generation is very concerned about sustainability, and perhaps that’s why we are seeing these dresses become so popular on the resale market,” she said. “The price may also be part of it, considering the cost of a new dress is upward of $1,000.

House of CB, a popular U.K.-based fashion label known for curve-accentuating evening wear, announced its own return to the trend with a new collection.

In an Instagram post shared last week, the brand launched its new collection: “Bandage is back and better than ever.” On its website, House of CB added, “We heard you OG’s—our iconic House of CB silhouette is back. Your favorite bandage dresses are contoured to perfection and ready for the dance floor.”

However, not everyone is a fan. Georgie James (@georgiejxmes) tried on the new collection and shared the results on her TikTok page, amassing more than 1.7 million views. She said she felt the tight silhouettes suited only skinny and hourglass figures.

James told Newsweek: “I think it’s an attempt to return to a time that feels simpler in hindsight. The decline of the nightclub, to many feels like a decline in fun in general, especially with the emphasis nowadays on living ‘clean’; clean makeup, clean food, etc.

“The bandage dress resurgence is an attempt to return to fun. I fear that ship has sailed somewhat, and the bandage dress definitely doesn’t suit a wide range of figures, as I demonstrated. But I can’t begrudge the attempt.”

The resurgence of the bandage dress has pleased nostalgic millennials elsewhere on social media.

One user posted: “I love bandage I was that girl wearing bandage dresses all the time.”

Another wrote, “The 2010s are back!!” while a third commented: “Bandage dresses being back is a recession indicator.”

TikTok creator Grace summed it up: “It’s 2009. I’ve squeezed myself into an H & M bandage dress. My side fringe is blocking my vision. Stilettos on, I’m ready to hit the club in my business casual blazer. Life is good.”

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