The little black dress worn by Diana, Princess of Wales as her marriage to King Charles collapsed is going under the hammer and is expected to fetch as much as $300,000 at auction.
The “revenge dress” worn by Diana, Princess of Wales is going under the hammer.
The late royal wore the black gown by Christina Stambolian to a Vanity Fair party in London in June 1994 just hours after her estranged husband King Charles – then Prince of Wales – admitted to being unfaithful in a TV interview which aired earlier that night. The couple went on to divorce in 1996.
Now the dress is being auctioned off by Sotheby’s at a one off sale in New York on December 9 and it’s estimated to sell for between $150,000 and $300,000. Sotheby’s global head of handbags and fashion, Morgane Halimi, said: “It occupies a unique place in fashion history because it represents one of those very rare moments when a garment transcends fashion to become part of culture history.
“She created a look that no one had ever seen her present before. That allowed her to show her resolve to stand up for herself and reclaim the narrative of a story that would have been heartbreaking for anyone in her situation.”
She added: “People have long used clothing to signal confidence, transformation or a new chapter in their lives. What Diana did was crystallise that idea in a single image that the world immediately understood. The phrase ‘revenge dressing’ entered the cultural lexicon because of this dress.”
A listing on the auction house’s website describes the item, stating: “Princess Diana The Revenge Dress by Christina Stambolian worn June 29, 1994, made in black silk crepe with a criss-crossing pleated bodice and an off-the-shoulder neckline, culminating in a diagonally draped figure hugging chiffon skirt with flowing side swept train, labelled, bust: 78cm, 31in, waist: 74cm, 29in, hip: 82cm, 32in, length: 77cm, 30in.
“Including a sale catalog from Dresses from the Collection of Diana, Princess of Wales signed by Diana and designer Christina Stambolian.”
Diana previously sold the dress as part of a charity auction back in July 1997 and it raised £39,098 ($53,00). The royal died just weeks later in a car crash in Paris, France.
The dress will be put on display in London before travelling to sites in Hong Kong and Geneva prior to the sale in New York.
Princess Diana’s ‘revenge dress’ up for sale
