Princess Diana’s Revenge Dress Is Going up for Auction
Has any LBD been more culturally impactful? Over three decades since she first wore it, Princess Diana’s “revenge dress” remains a fixture of zeitgeist fascination and an eternal fashion reference. Now, it’s entering the spotlight once again, with the iconic garment set to soon go up for auction.
On Thursday, Sotheby’s announced that the black silk evening dress would be heading back under the hammer on December 9 during Sotheby’s Luxury Week in New York City. Designed by Christina Stambolian, the gown’s asymmetrical silhouette is at this point immortalized in pop culture, with its plunging sweetheart neckline, delicate rushing, and chiffon side train adding to its statement-making allure. Before going on sale, the dress will embark on a world tour of sorts, with stops at Sotheby’s in London, Hong Kong and Geneva. At the New York auction, it is estimated that it could sell for as much as $300,000. Of course, the dress’s deep-seated symbolism is baked into the price.
Princess Diana famously wore the ensemble to a Vanity Fair dinner held at the Serpentine Gallery in London in 1994. As the story goes, that same day, an interview with Prince Charles was due to air on national television—wherein he would admit that he was unfaithful to her during their marriage. In the face of such severe public scrutiny, the Princess knew that whichever outfit she wore would inevitably be assigned a double-meaning by the press. She had had the dress in her wardrobe for years leading up to this point, but had considered it too daring to wear. In choosing it on that specific day, she set off a media sensation, and the “revenge dress” moniker was born.
“On her own terms, Princess Diana turned the dress into one of the most powerful messages she ever made, during one of the most scrutinized and emotionally charged episodes of her life,” said Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s Global Head of Handbags and Fashion, in a statement. This marks the first time the dress will be available for purchase since 1997, when the princess auctioned off 79 dresses to raise funds to benefit cancer and AIDS charities. This time, included with the dress will be a copy of the original catalogue, signed by Stambolian and Princess Diana herself. In keeping with her philanthropic legacy, part of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to NHS Lothian Charity on behalf of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Just like that, the ever-influential revenge dress enters a brand new era.
