Patagonia Bandha Dress

I have and love the older, longer, sleeveless version of this dress. I am very small (5'1", 105 lbs) and did not consider the older version to be too long. The old version is what I would call tea length on me and is a rather elegant length that is appropriate for pretty much any occasion. The new length is a bit zippier but still isn't particularly flattering for shorties. It hits me a couple of inches below my knee, right where my calves are the biggest. (For reference, I have relatively long legs for my height and an approx. 29" inseam.) If you are smaller than 5'4" and want a truly knee-length dress, you will need to get this one hemmed anyway (and if you read the other reviews, you'll see that this is exactly what the shorter reviewers have had to do). The material of the new version is also very, very thin. I don't just mean thinner than the old version, I mean it is just plain thin. I am very slender and don't think I have anything to hide figure-wise, but I draw the line at revealing the entire outline of my underwear. Although I am extremely flat-chested (32AA-A) it is impossible to go braless in this dress because the fabric leaves nothing to the imagination. At the same time the new Bandha seems to be bigger than the old version. The combination of less fitted styling plus thinner fabric means that instead of draping elegantly around me like the old version does, this version just sort of puckers and wrinkles and reveals and does not look sophisticated at all. This may not be an issue for those who are better-endowed than I am, or who don't mind wearing foundation garments/Spanx. The cap sleeves are OK, I think they look as nice as the old sleeveless style did, but I do not like the new seams cutting horizontally around the waist. These may also be part of the reason that the dress no longer drapes as nicely as it used to. The seams are not flattering and they are itchy. That said, I can see why most of the reviewers like the new Bandha dress, especially if they are taller and wanted a knee-length dress or never tried the old version. It is still a sporty dress with a unique design that would probably flatter a wide range of figures. Unfortunately, when I compare it with the old version I don't think it's an improvement in any aspect. I am glad that I bought a spare of the old version before they went out of stock.

I'm about 5'9 and size 8 - I don't have rock hard abs but I'm no couch potato. This dress just did not look good on me. I ordered a medium which showed every detail of my tummy and didn't flatter it at all. It also bunched on my hips instead of skimming over them. I found it to be a smidge too short as well. It would have looked better perhaps with a belt but that would have made it waaaay too short. It also showed my chest a bit too much to be office-appropriate which is where I'd planned to wear it. (The chest part is flattering though!) If I wanted to keep it, I would have tried for a large. This would be a great dress for someone 5'7 or shorter (or tall who doesn't mind fhashing thighs) who is in excellent toned shape. For the rest of us, I'm not sure.

I was very disappointed in this years' version of this dress. Compared to that of a few years' ago, the fabric is now flimsy -- cheap feeling. It doesn't hang well and is revealing. And the design has changed, so that it now fits short, plump -- or very short-waisted -- women only. There is a seam now across the back designating a "waistline" which fell a good four inches above mine. I am med. ht and slender. I used to be able to buy a medium and run darts down the back to take it in. Not possible with this new design. I ordered two and returned them both. The only way they would have fit would have been for me to gain a lot of weight.

I am glad that Patagonia decided to offer the Bandha dress in a shorter version. Unfortunately, the longer version appears to have disappeared, after being a staple for so long!! I miss the long casual elegance of the old Bandha dress, and the fabric of the new one is lighter, more flimsy, and shows everything underneath--for those of the rock hard toned bodies that will be fine, but the appeal of the heavier fabric was that it made a dress that flattered many body types. I would have loved the longer dress in the beautiful colors offered this season! Please, Patagonia, you had a good thing here--why change it?

I am really sad this dress was changed. Tha fabric is thinner and the leanth shorter. The seam around the waist cuts the lines of the dress. I was going to buy the black one and wish I would have last year. I have one of the dress from last year love it, heavery fabric,not clining. last yr dress is a nice long line and skims the body without clining! So sad wish I could find last yr style in Black!

I have two of the Bandha dresses (which are wonderful) so I was excited to see it in my favorite color. I ordered it and to my surprise, I was as disappointed as some of the other reviewers. The fabric was thinner, the color was not as expected, and all the extra seams made it feel bulky and uncomfortable.
The length didn't bother me as it did other people, but the over all dress did. PLEASE BRING BACK THE ORIGINAL!

I really wanted to like this dress. I love the color and the fabric is really nice. I have a rather straight figure, it just did nothing for me. The seams around the middle were not flattering and it was too long on me (I'm 5'4"). The XS would have been the right size for me if the detailing worked. S was too big.

5' 4", 130lb, 34D. I really like the fit of this dress, but there is no shelf bra or lining, so you cannot go without a bra. The v neck is a little too low for a standard bra and the fabric is clingy so a bra would show through the back. For the price, I will be returning the dress.

Firstly, let me state that I have 36DDs. I am also 5'5" tall - and very curvy, very fit, not overweight. Usually take a Med. or Large. I LOVE the COLOR! I LOVE THE THOUGHTFUL DESIGN OF THE SEAMING and LOVE THE LENGTH! ....BUT, the fabric is just slightly too thin, so that I have to wear a Spanx underneath in order to smoothl and the neckline is so plunging that even my bra that's especially made for deep necklines isn't low enough! You can see it where the gathers are. Usually with stretchy fabrics, I get good bust coverage and indeed there is enough room for my bust, but it is too low even for evening wear. And a girl with my proportions gets used to the fact that most garments are a bit low, but this was tooo much! The fabric is so thin that I couldn't take it to my tailor and have her just stitch the neckline together. I'm disappointed because this dress has so much going for it! I hate yhat it wont work. Cant you consider making petite versions? Then I could just order up a size in petites and the problem would be solved! I do it all the time with other companies, Too bad!

This dress is a beautiful color and cut. However, the fabric is really thin and the dress runs a tiny bit small. So, unless you are a brazilian super model or extremely comfortable with your body, this might not be the best dress...I would at least recommend sizing up one size. I do really like the top part of the dress though...does good things for a small chest :)

Love the new colors and would buy several in a heartbeat -- I have 4 in the older longer version. However, being tall (5'10"), the shorter version isn't as flattering on me as the longer version. The new length is great on shorter women. I specifically signed up in order to join the chorus of those asking to have both lengths available.

I bought the black Bandha Dress and liked it so much I bought the pink one. My only complaint is that it does wrinkle and needs to actually be ironed after washing - often will wrinkles will shake out after packing, but I was hoping they would be wrinkle free!