Princess Diana’s famous black “revenge dress” is heading back to auction, nearly 30 years after it was last sold. The Christina Stambolian gown has an estimated value of $150,000 to $300,000. It will be offered at Sotheby’s in New York on December 9. In other recent fashion news, Taraji P. Henson stunned in a striking zebra-effect Rick Owens dress in Los Angeles.
Why Princess Diana’s Dress Became So Famous
According to Women’s Wear Daily, Princess Diana wore the silk dress to a fundraising dinner at London’s Serpentine Gallery in June 1994.
That same night, Prince Charles spoke publicly about his marital infidelity during a televised interview. Princess Diana arrived at the event wearing a dress that immediately commanded attention.
Diana had originally intended to wear a more conservative Valentino design. She changed her mind because she knew the world’s attention would be on her.
The Stambolian dress had been sitting unworn in her closet for three years. Princess Diana had initially considered the design “too daring.”
According to Anna Harvey, the late Vogue editor who helped style Diana at the time, the princess “wanted to look a million dollars” that night.
The look certainly made an impact. The black dress featured an asymmetrical hemline and a train. Princess Diana paired it with black heels, red nail polish and a clutch.
Her jewelry added another memorable detail. She wore a statement choker made from an antique diamond and sapphire brooch. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, had given the brooch to Diana as a wedding gift.
A Dress Has Been Hidden for Decades
The dress quickly became known as the “revenge dress.” The term came to describe clothing chosen to project confidence and independence after a breakup or difficult relationship.
The significance of the gown has endured. Yet Princess Diana’s famous dress has barely been seen by the public since the late 1990s.
The princess first sold the gown herself in June 1997. It was one of 79 dresses included in a charity auction. The sale raised money for cancer and AIDS charities.
Following that sale, the dress appeared at fundraising events in Scotland. After that, the gown disappeared from public view and remained in a private collection for almost three decades.
Why Princess Diana’s “Revenge Dress” Could Fetch $300,000
The upcoming sale marks the first time the gown has been auctioned since its original sale by Princess Diana.
According to Women’s Wear Daily, Sotheby’s has placed an estimate of $150,000 to $300,000 on the dress. The sale will take place during Sotheby’s Luxury Week in New York.
Before the auction, the gown will go on tour. Its exhibition begins in London on September 18. It will then travel to Hong Kong and Geneva before reaching New York. Part of the proceeds from the upcoming auction will benefit NHS Lothian Charity on behalf of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.
For collectors, the appeal is clear. The gown has a direct connection to one of Princess Diana’s most photographed public moments. It also carries a rare combination of royal history, fashion history and cultural significance.
In other fashion news, former Vogue Cover girl Ingrid Boulting, now 79, has traded Hollywood for a quieter life in California.
