Even decades after her death, Princess Diana remains one of the most influential figures in the history of the British royal family. Now, one of her most famous dresses is back in the spotlight: the so-called “Revenge Dress” is scheduled to be auctioned on December 9 at Sotheby’s in New York. Before the auction, the black cocktail dress will also be on display in London, Hong Kong, and Geneva. According to faz.net, the dress could sell for several hundred thousand dollars. It is the off-the-shoulder, form-fitting dress that Diana wore on June 29, 1994.
Princess Diana Wore the Dress on the Evening of Charles’ Confession
Diana wore the dress on the same evening that Prince Charles, as he was known at the time, publicly admitted his infidelity on television. Reports about the affair had already reached the public beforehand.
This is how the dress earned the nickname it is still known by today. At the time, Diana was already separated from Charles, who would later become King Charles III. Auction house Sotheby’s has described the look as one of the most iconic fashion moments of the 20th century. Diana wore the dress to a gala at the Serpentine Gallery in London.
Christina Stambolian Designed the Black Cocktail Dress Years Earlier
The dress was designed by Armenian-born designer Christina Stambolian. According to Image, she had created the dress for Diana three years earlier.
In the 2022 book Diana: A Life in Dresses, Stambolian recalled a request from the princess: “I want a special dress for a special occasion. It doesn't matter if it is short or long. It has to be something special,” according to Image. However, Diana did not wear the dress until the summer of 1994.
The dress had been in the same family's possession for nearly three decades
Shortly before her death, Diana had the dress auctioned off once before for charity. At that time, it fetched about 39,000 pounds. The identity of the winning bidder was not made public. Based on the available information, it is clear that the designer piece has remained in the same family’s possession ever since.
It was kept there for many years. For the upcoming auction, its value is estimated at between $150,000 and $300,000. Industry insiders expect the final price could even exceed that amount.
Diana died in Paris in 1997 at the age of 36
Lady Diana died in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997. She was 36 years old. She was traveling with Dodi Al Fayed at the time when their car crashed into a tunnel pillar after a chase with paparazzi. Charles's ex-wife left behind their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
Her death sparked an outpouring of sympathy in the United Kingdom and far beyond. The fact that one of her most famous dresses is now being auctioned off once again ties in with a chapter that remains relevant to this day.
