In tie-dye, boudoir-pink and lollipop colours, it snaked down the catwalk, clinging like sticking plaster to the models’ bodies.
Called the “bandage” dress because it is stitched from ribbon-like strips of Lycra and Elastane which grip like a corset, it was invented by the French King of Cling, Hervé Léger, in 1989. In its heydey, it was the dress of choice for countless models, such as Iman and Tyra Banks.
The bandage dress with an updated silhouette
It disappeared in the late ’90s before being restored by Max Azria, the founder of the BCBG brand, short-hand for the French saying “bon chic, bon genre” which translates as “good style, good class”.
Encouraged by singers such as Beyoncé and Kylie Minogue, Azria decided the time was ripe for a re-launch. The 2008 version of the dress stuck like glue to the original model, with strips of stretch fabric exposing every contour of the body and a large zip delineating every vertebra.
The front row-celebrities at yesterday’s revival, all poured into their 2008 version of “The Bandage”, included Molly Sims, Joss Stone and Mandy Moore; American Vogue’s Anna Wintour whose daughter Bee Schaffer is doing a work stint with Azria; and the actress and writer, Padma Lakshmi who wore a deep burgundy vintage Hervé Léger. “I used to model in Paris for him in the 80’s,” she said.
Azria updated the silhouette with one-shoulder styles and more wintry variations in raw-edge, ribbon-cut strips of cashmere.
More contemporary variations featured the bandage-corset allied to a short, bubble skirt or high-waisted, “Oxford Bags” in grey flannel. More elaborate versions were embellished with sequins. The dresses were adorned with feather stoles and platform stilettos.
For evening, Azria turned the “bandage” into a ballgown, perfect for any black tie emergency. A black stretch-ribbon bodice was accompanied by a black, crepe-de-chine asymmetric skirt and feather epaulettes, and a long-torso-ed corset in flesh-tone stretch featured a matching crinoline, overskirt in tulle and ostrich feather shrug.
