Princess Diana’s Iconic ‘Revenge Dress’ to Go Under the Hammer in December

London: A black silk evening dress worn by Princess Diana at a high-profile London event in 1994 is set to be offered at auction in December. The dress became widely known as the “revenge dress” after Diana wore it on the same evening that a televised documentary featured then-Prince Charles discussing his marital infidelity.

The custom-made dress, designed by Christina Stambolian, was worn by Diana to a fundraising event at the Serpentine Gallery in London. Her appearance in the strapless black evening dress went on to become one of the most recognised fashion moments associated with the late princess.

According to Sotheby’s, the dress is expected to fetch up to $300,000 (£220,000) when it is offered at auction on December 9. The auction house said it is the first time the dress has been offered at auction since 1997, when Diana sold a collection of her dresses to raise funds for charitable causes.

Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s Global Head of Handbags and Fashion, said Diana understood the ability of fashion to communicate a message and described the dress as an important moment in the princess’s public life.

Diana’s stylist at the time, Anna Harvey, has also been quoted as recalling that the princess wanted to make a striking impression at the event.

Diana had initially considered another outfit for the fundraising dinner but ultimately chose the black Stambolian dress. She paired it with a black clutch, black pumps and jewellery from the Royal Collection.

The dress has since become closely associated with Diana’s public image during a particularly scrutinised period of her life. Its possible auction price would also place it among the more valuable pieces associated with the late princess’s wardrobe.

Other items from Diana’s wardrobe have previously attracted significant attention at auction. Her well-known black-sheep sweater, featuring a single black sheep among rows of white sheep, sold through Sotheby’s in New York in 2023 for about $1.14 million, setting a record for an item of clothing worn by the princess.

The upcoming sale will therefore be closely watched by collectors and admirers of Diana’s fashion legacy, particularly because of the cultural significance attached to the black evening dress.