Princess Diana’s iconic ‘revenge dress’ tipped to sell for whopping £220k (Image: Getty)
Princess Diana’s famous “revenge dress” is heading back under the hammer more than three decades after it became one of the most unforgettable outfits in royal history. The late Princess of Wales wore the dramatic black silk design to a Serpentine Gallery party in London in 1994, just hours after a television documentary aired in which then-Prince Charles admitted he had been unfaithful during their marriage.
Diana’s look became a defining pop-culture moment, with the design widely interpreted as a powerful response to the turmoil surrounding her private life. The strapless gown is now expected to fetch as much as £220,000 when it is sold later this year by Sotheby’s on December 9.
It will mark the first time the dress has appeared at auction since 1997, when Diana herself sold dozens of pieces from her wardrobe to raise money for charity. Before the sale, the iconic design will travel around the world as part of a series of public exhibitions.
The dress has become synonymous with one of the most scrutinised periods of Diana’s life. On the same evening as the Serpentine Gallery fundraising dinner, a documentary in which Prince Charles, now the King, acknowledged that he had committed adultery during his marriage to Diana.
Details of the interview had emerged in the days beforehand, meaning intense attention was already focused on the Princess ahead of her appearance.
Instead of fading into the background, Diana made a striking entrance in the off-the-shoulder black gown, which featured an asymmetric hem and flowing chiffon train.
The iconic Christina Stambolian design is now heading back under the hammer, with Sotheby’s expecting it to fetch up to £220,000. (Image: Sothebys)
Her stylist at the time, Anna Harvey, has previously been reported as saying Diana “wanted to look a million dollars” that evening. The Princess also made a last-minute wardrobe switch, setting aside a Valentino gown in favour of Christina Stambolian’s dramatic black design.
Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s global head of handbags and fashion, said Diana instinctively understood the power clothes could carry beyond simply making a fashion statement.
She said: “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.”
Ms Halimi added: “She walked into a moment in which so much of her story was being told for her and, through what she chose to wear, reclaimed the narrative for herself.”
Princess Diana made fashion history in the dramatic black dress at the Serpentine Gallery in 1994, creating one of her most unforgettable public appearances. (Image: Getty)
Diana completed the look with a striking necklace, black clutch bag and coordinating heels, creating an ensemble that would go on to become one of the most recognisable images of her career.
The dress has since earned its enduring “revenge dress” nickname and remains closely associated with the Princess’s growing confidence during the breakdown of her marriage.
The gown will first go on display at Sotheby’s London showroom from September 18 to 24 before continuing on an international tour.
It will then travel to Hong Kong at the beginning of October, followed by Geneva in early November, before heading to New York for the December sale.