Princess Diana’s ‘Revenge Dress’ to Be Sold at Auction in New York
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Princess Diana's iconic "revenge dress," a black cocktail dress designed by Christina Stambolian, will be auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York this December with an estimated value of up to $300,000.
- The dress gained fame when Diana wore it on June 29, 1994, the same day Prince Charles admitted to an affair during a televised interview, making the dress a powerful symbol of her response to public scrutiny.
- The silk dress, notable for its off-the-shoulder bodice and figure-hugging fit, was considered a bold departure from royal protocol, as black attire was traditionally reserved for mourning within the royal family.
- Sotheby’s anticipates strong interest in the dress, especially given the high prices fetched by Diana’s garments recently, including a 1985 evening dress that sold for $1.15 million in 2023.
- The dress was chosen with the help of Diana’s butler, Paul Burrell, who advised her to wear a striking black dress to send a confident message, a strategy that was well-received by the public and remains one of her most famous fashion statements.
