Sotheby’s to Offer Princess Diana’s Iconic “Revenge Dress” at Auction

Diana, Princess of Wales, wore the black silk-crepe dress on 29 June 1994 to a summer party at London’s Serpentine Gallery. That same evening, the television documentary Charles: The Private Man, The Public Role was broadcast, in which the then Prince Charles also spoke about infidelity during their marriage. Diana’s arrival appeared on front pages in Britain and around the world the following day, and the dress soon acquired its now-famous media nickname, the “revenge dress”.

The design had been created three years earlier by Greek-British designer Christina Stambolian. Diana had owned the dress since 1991 but had not previously worn it in public. According to Stambolian, she initially considered the design too daring. Diana had reportedly planned to wear a different outfit to the Serpentine Gallery that evening, changing her choice at the last minute.

The black cocktail dress features a ruched, crossover bodice, off-the-shoulder neckline and an asymmetrically draped chiffon skirt with a side train. Diana paired it with black pumps and a striking pearl choker centred with a sapphire. Its streamlined silhouette differed markedly from the more formal gowns with which she had often been associated in previous years, while photographs from that evening went on to become some of the best-known images of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Three years later, the dress was included in the charity auction Dresses from the Collection of Diana, Princess of Wales, held by Christie’s in New York in June 1997. A total of 79 pieces from Diana’s wardrobe were offered, with proceeds benefiting charities supporting cancer and AIDS-related causes. Stambolian’s design appeared in the catalogue as Lot 2 and entered a private collection following the sale, where it has remained ever since.

The dress has also made several appearances in popular culture over the intervening years. A replica was featured in The Crown, with Elizabeth Debicki portraying Diana. The original dress, however, has not been offered on the market since the 1997 auction.

This year, Sotheby’s will present the dress in a dedicated New York auction, Princess Diana: The Revenge Dress. The lot also includes a catalogue from the 1997 Christie’s sale signed by Diana, Princess of Wales, and designer Christina Stambolian. The pre-sale estimate is USD 150,000–300,000.