Princess Diana's 'revenge dress' goes up for auction

After lingering untouched in Princess Diana's wardrobe for three years, the iconic "revenge dress" designed by Christina Stambolian is set to return to the auction circuit. Sotheby's will showcase the black silk gown during the luxury week in New York on December 9, with a predicted price range of $150,000–$300,000. The dress will first embark on a tour of London, Hong Kong, and Geneva, marking its first public appearances since being displayed at Paisley Museum in Scotland three decades ago.

The dress initially existed in Diana's wardrobe before her iconic appearance at a Vanity Fair fundraiser on June 29, 1994. Stambolian had crafted the gown for Diana, but the princess found it too daring to wear. The turning point came when she was informed about Prince Charles' televised admission of his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, leading her to opt for the Stambolian dress instead of a more conservative Valentino ensemble.

Her stylist, Anna Harvey, noted that Diana desired to exude an aura of wealth, and the dress embodied this aspiration.

The stark contrast in the split-screen effect, with Charles admitting his infidelity on air while Diana radiated poise, transformed the dress into an emblem of defiance. This momentous event is now considered the genesis of "revenge dressing," a term used to describe deliberately wearing clothing as armor or a statement following a wrong.

Sotheby's head of handbags and fashion, Morgane Halimi, emphasized that this dress symbolized Diana's assertion of control over her narrative on the day it was displayed. In 1997, Diana personally sold the dress through a private collection, raising funds for cancer and AIDS charities, an endeavor inspired by young Prince William.

The attire then resided with its subsequent buyers, who utilized it for charity events in Scotland, until it vanished from public view. The current consignor, who is selling the dress anonymously following her husband's passing, revealed that acquiring the dress was one of the happiest moments of their marriage and that this auction marks the conclusion of that particular chapter.

A portion of the proceeds from the December auction will be allocated to the NHS Lothian Charity on behalf of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.