Princess Diana's iconic revenge dress will go under the hammer at a Sotheby's auction in New York on December 9. The off-the-shoulder black silk dress is expected to fetch between $150,000 and $300,000 when it features as the centerpiece of the auction house's evening fashion sale.
Created by Greek fashion designer Christina Stambolian, the famous garment will embark on an international exhibition tour, stopping in London, Hong Kong, and Geneva, before going on public display in New York prior to the bidding.
The princess wore the fitted black gown, paired with a pearl necklace and red lipstick, to a Vanity Fair event held at the Serpentine Gallery in London in June 1994.
Her high-profile appearance took place on the exact night that a televised interview aired in which then-Prince Charles admitted to infidelity. During the broadcast, Charles maintained that their marriage had already broken down irretrievably.
The royal couple had officially announced their separation in 1992, placing their personal lives under intense public scrutiny across the globe.
An impulse wardrobe choice
Diana had owned the Stambolian creation for approximately three years before wearing it, but had previously considered the design too daring for public events. She had originally selected a different outfit for the Vanity Fair party, only deciding to switch to the black gown at the last minute.
Her former stylist Anna Harvey later recalled that the princess wanted to make a striking impression and look like a million dollars on the evening of the broadcast.
The resulting photographs presented an image of confidence under public scrutiny, giving rise to the famous term revenge dress. While the outfit has since been portrayed in television fiction, the upcoming auction offers the authentic piece worn by Diana herself.
Decades in Scottish ownership
Diana never wore the dress again in public. In June 1997, she included it as one of 79 dresses auctioned to support cancer and AIDS organisations.
A couple from Scotland purchased the dress at that sale for £39,098, keeping it in their private collection for nearly three decades.
The upcoming sale will continue that philanthropic legacy. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the NHS Lothian Charity to benefit the Royal Hospital of Edinburgh.
