Our bestselling bandage dress is back and comes in new styles for the new season. We adore this dress because it’s simple, stylish and oh-so-flattering (it makes you look a dress size smaller – what’s not to love?). We teamed up with Avenue57 (the new online community where like-minded women of all styles, ages and sizes post photos of what they wear, whether it’s everyday or for a special occasion) to road test our bandage dress on real women of all sizes.
Name: Fiona Blake
Age: 39
Location: Berkshire
What I do: Owner of Avenue57.com
Size: 8
This is a dress I would never have looked twice at before – it’s a style that I didn’t think would suit me. How wrong I was! From the moment I picked it up I knew it was a dress for me. It’s quite heavy, although this signifies the quality to me. It slipped on like a glove, and once the zip was done up it tucked me in where I needed it to, and lifted me in all the right places. I don’t normally have a cinched in waist but this dress gave me the shapely figure I’ve been after for a long while. It fits very well and is perfect in length and style for any occasion. My only consideration was the price tag; however, for a very special occasion (and with Christmas coming up) it would be a perfect staple piece for my wardrobe and it would be worn so many times!
Name: Avril Keys
Age: 39
What I do: Stay at home mum and fashion blogger – www.schoolgatestyle.com
Location: Belfast
Size: 10
I love the neckline – not too low, snug to the chest so no gaping when you lean over, and it allows you to wear a decent bra underneath (of any colour – always a bonus to not have to hunt all over the show for a black bra when in a rush out!). I love the pleated detail as it was so flattering to wear and hid a multitude of wobbles. Over £100 for a stay at home mum is a real luxury. It’s an investment buy – a good LBD lasts a lifetime.
Name: Tracey Wilson
Age: 43
What I do: Postgraduate Medical Education Administrator
Location: North East Lincolnshire
Size: 12
I saw the dress and thought UGH – Bodycon (not my thing), but the layering effect and the satin leaves in the sides make a huge difference to its look. I love the length and the weight of the dress as it makes it feel SO good on. I am a 14 more than a 12 – the 12 fitted like a glove – I’m going to try and 14 in store (as I think the 12 may have been a tad tighter than I like)! This dress is just the ticket for Christmas parties and evening receptions at weddings.
Name: Nicola Baker
Age: 45
What I do: Bridal Sales Consultant
Location: Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Size: 14
This dress is a lovely thick material, and the stretch in it means it fits to the body really well. I love the neckline and the length.
Name: Gemma Buck
Age: 36
Location: Kent
What I do: Operations Manager for Chartered Accountants (London) (part time) – stay at home mum the other days
Size: 16
The dress was scary at first, very heavy and looked clingy, but once on it fit like a glove, and clung and skimmed in all the right places. The material held me in and smoothed my figure out. The neckline is fantastic and I love the width of the sleeves as I can still wear a bra underneath without revealing any straps. I love the layered material and the satin detail at sides. It was very easy to accessorise differently and change the whole outfit. The dress made me feel a million dollars and I felt like I was off to a red carpet do. I just didn’t want to take it off!
Name: Fiona Robertson
Age: 40
What I do: Civil Servant
Location: Central Scotland
Size: 18
Pros: Quality, weight, cut, fit,
Cons: None – I loved it 
I was initially very nervous about trying this dress on – but I fell in love as soon as it was on. I’m planning to wear it to a for my 40th birthday party!
Love how you’ve pulled it together…so powerful seeing the same dress on 6 different sizes! It looks amazing on everyone. Avril x
I was so thrilled to take part – I wasn’t sure at first but it just goes to show that with one single quality item you can make it work for you and make it look different for lots of ocassions!
Well Done Everyone!! Wow what a gorgeous collection of ladies you are
:)
I’m in awe of the dress…. Such a positive experience which ended in the most touching gesture from Mint Velvet. A milestone well and truly marked for me
It was a thrill to be asked to participate and it was quite an eye-opener that the dress looked so good on all sizes. More features like this please!