LONDON: Princess Diana’s iconic black “revenge dress”, worn on the night she made a dramatic public appearance following then-Prince Charles’s televised admission of adultery, is going under the hammer for the first time in nearly three decades.
The custom-made silk evening dress, designed by Christina Stambolian, became one of the defining fashion moments of Diana’s life when she wore it to a fundraising dinner at London’s Serpentine Gallery in June 1994.
Diana arrived at the event just hours after a television documentary in which Charles acknowledged that he had been unfaithful during their marriage.
Her dramatic arrival at the Serpentine Gallery in 1994 in a custom-made black silk evening dress by designer Christina Stambolian became an iconic pop-culture moment.
The media dubbed her outfit the “revenge dress”.
Sotheby’s expects the dress to sell for up to $300,000 (£220,000) at its auction on 9 December.
A Powerful Fashion Statement
Sotheby’s said this is the first time the dress has returned to auction since 1997, when Diana sold 79 dresses to raise money for charity.
Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s global head of handbags and fashion, said Diana understood that fashion could communicate a powerful message.
“On her own terms, Princess Diana turned the dress into one of the most powerful messages she ever made, during one of the most scrutinised and emotionally charged episodes of her life,” Halimi said.
She added that Diana had used her choice of clothing to “reclaim the narrative for herself”.
According to Sotheby’s, Diana’s stylist at the time, Anna Harvey, recalled that the princess “wanted to look a million dollars”.
Last-Minute Wardrobe Change
Diana had initially planned to wear another outfit but made a last-minute change before the dinner, choosing the strapless black silk dress by Stambolian.
She paired it with a royal jewel, a black clutch and black heels, creating the striking look that would later become one of the most recognisable images of her public life.
The Jaguar XJ40 in which Diana arrived at the event was also sold at auction earlier this year for £66,250.
Diana’s Wardrobe Legacy
The “revenge dress” is expected to command a far higher price, although it would not be the first piece from Diana’s wardrobe to attract a major auction price.
In 2023, a black-and-white sheep-patterned sweater worn by Diana sold for £920,000 at a Sotheby’s auction in New York.
The latest sale is likely to renew interest in Diana’s enduring influence on fashion and popular culture, decades after the dress became a symbol of her highly scrutinised personal life.
