We quickly review two main non-associated plasticity models, the Armstrong–Frederick model of nonlinear kinematic hardening and the Drucker–Prager cap model. Non-associativity is commonly thought to preclude any kind of variational formulation, be it in a Hencky-type (static) setting, or when considering a quasi-static evolution because non-associativity destroys convexity. We demonstrate that such an opinion is misguided: associativity (and convexity) can be restored at the expense of the introduction of state variable-dependent dissipation potentials.