I Thought Bodycon Dresses Were Outdated—These Convinced Me To Do a 180
While trying on some dresses I bought from one of my many late-night sale scans, I realized that I'd become a big proponent of the bodycon dress. Out of the five dresses I bought, all of them essentially fit into the bodycon category—stretchy, fitted, and supremely body-hugging. Buying only this silhouette wasn't intentional at all (I didn't set out to buy only bodycon dresses during my shopping binge), but I guess it's a testament to how the style has unexpectedly popped back out into the spotlight.
An iconic silhouette favored among everyone from Hollywood golden age starlets to Y2K-era socialites, the bodycon dress has an extensive history within the pop culture Zeitgeist. It's almost impossible to forget the early aughts Herve Leger Bandage dress era (arguably when the style last hit its apex), that the word bodycon is practically synonymous with the days of Louboutin Daffodile pumps and Juicy Couture bags. As everyone shifted towards looser silhouettes and minimalism, extreme figure-hugging dresses felt like a relic of the past. But nothing stays "old" forever, and just like how the low-rise has made its imprint in 2022, so has the bodycon dress. It's a new dawn for the style, with brands like Norma Kamali repopularizing the classic dress. Ahead, keep scrolling to shop 31 dresses that define the modern vision of the bodycon dress.
Up next: I'm Stepping Up My Outfit With These Under-$100 Game-Changing Pieces
Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter where she started working at Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her work at Who What Wear, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times.
-
I'm a Fashion Editor on a Budget—27 Incredibly Chic Fall Finds That Will Get You More Bang for Your Buck
Stellar under-$150 finds right this way.
-
These 32 Elevated Nordstrom and Zara Finds Make Getting Ready So Much Easier (and Chicer)
Here's to effortless outfits.
-
Don't Blame Me If They Sell Out While You Read This—35 Chic Zara Finds That Need Your Immediate Attention
These won't be around for long.
-
I'm an Experienced Fashion Editor—I Predict These 32 New Arrivals Will Sell Out by Fall
Take my word for it.
-
Millennials Love to Hate These Controversial "Sneakerinas"—Here's My Honest Review
Hot take: I love them.
-
I Style Celebrities for a Living—5 Fall Items My Clients Always Love Without Fail
The ultimate fall shopping list.
-
This Simple Fashion Person–Approved Layering Technique Changed the Way I Wear My Basics
Effortlessly cool.
-
I Live in Brooklyn and Have Laid-Back, Cool Style—Here's Everything I Want From Nordstrom Right Now
Trust me. These items will sell out fast.