Princess Diana’s famous black dress will reportedly go on display before being sold at auction.
Princess Diana made headlines in June 1994 when she wore a black silk dress to a fundraising dinner at London’s Serpentine Gallery. Around the same time, then-Prince Charles publicly spoke about the breakdown of their marriage.
The dress, designed by Christina Stambolian, became known as the “revenge dress.”
Its low neckline and short hem were a bold choice compared with the more modest clothes royal women were usually expected to wear. Reports at the time described Diana’s look as a strong message without words.
Stambolian later shared her interpretation of Diana’s choice. She compared the princess to two characters from the ballet Swan Lake: Odette, who wears white, and Odile, who wears black.
“[The princess] chose not to play the scene like Odette, innocent in white,” the designer said.
“She was clearly angry,” Stambolian added.
In the designer’s view, Diana chose the bolder role of Odile. She also recalled Diana wearing bright red nail polish, which added to the striking look.
The dress will reportedly be displayed in London, Hong Kong and Geneva before going to auction. According to The Independent, it is expected to sell for between $150,000 and $300,000.
