Princess Diana’s ‘revenge dress’ goes up for auction

A dress once worn by Princess Diana at a London party in 1994, following a televised documentary where Prince Charles admitted to marital infidelity, is now up for auction. Known as the "revenge dress," the iconic black silk evening gown by designer Christina Stambolian became a cultural phenomenon. The fashion memorabilia, expected to fetch between $240,000 and $300,000 at auction on December 9, marks the first time it has been offered for sale since 1997 when Diana sold 79 of her dresses to support charitable causes.

Sotheby’s Global Head of Handbags and Fashion, Morgane Halimi, explained that Diana instinctively understood fashion as a form of communication. On that fateful evening, the princess arrived in a rented vintage Jaguar XJ40, stepping out in a strapless dress accessorized with a black clutch and pumps. Her stylist, Anna Harvey, recalled Diana's desire to look "a million dollars."

The dress and its story have proven lucrative, with a similar sweater fetching £920,000 in a 2023 New York auction.