Princess Diana’s iconic “revenge dress”, worn on the night her then-husband Prince Charles publicly admitted to being unfaithful, will go under the hammer in New York in December.
Diana wore the striking black off-the-shoulder gown to a gala dinner in London in 1994, the same day Charles acknowledged his infidelity during a televised interview.
The dress quickly became one of the most memorable fashion moments associated with the late princess, who was under intense public and media scrutiny following the breakdown of her marriage.
Morgane Halimi of Sotheby’s, which announced the upcoming auction, said Diana transformed the dress into a powerful statement during one of the most difficult periods of her life.
She said the gown demonstrated how fashion could be used for more than appearance, allowing people, particularly women, to use clothing as a form of expression, confidence and strength.
The dress was designed by British fashion designer Christina Stambolian and is expected to sell for between $150,000 and $300,000.
Part of the proceeds from the upcoming sale will go to charity.
The gown was previously auctioned in 1997 to raise money for cancer and AIDS charities, just months before Diana died in a car crash in Paris at the age of 36.
The “revenge dress” has since remained one of the most recognisable pieces from Diana’s wardrobe and an enduring symbol of her fashion influence.
Its upcoming sale is expected to attract significant interest from collectors and admirers of the late princess, whose style continues to influence fashion decades after her death.
