The bodycon (short for body-conscious) was a fashion term commonly bandied around during the mid-to-late 90s. Back in the day, this somewhat pejorative term was generally used to describe the super tight bandage dresses that stood out with shoulder styles made from stretchy spandex rendered in all sorts of fancy colours.
I am sure party-goers of that era would remember squeezing into one of these dresses for a night out. It was the style of dress you had to wear if you wanted to look sexy!
Fast-forward 15 years and I am so glad to announce that this trend has officially been retired. While the body-conscious look has become relatively obscure on the runways, designers are still creating slim-fit styles for days where you want to show off your curves.
What’s the difference between these and their 90s predecessors? Well, the updated versions are more subtle in their designs and feature softer fabrics like silk or lightweight knits. These tweaks help to balance out the allure of the body-hugging silhouette. Click through to shop our favourite styles.