Princess Diana's 'Revenge Dress' Goes on Display Ahead of Auction

Princess Diana's famous "revenge dress," worn the night Prince Charles publicly confessed to his infidelity, has gone on display in London before its auction. The black silk gown by designer Christina Stambolian, known for its figure-hugging, off-the-shoulder design and above-the-knee hemline, is expected to fetch upwards of £220,000.

Fashion experts describe the dress as a powerful statement of self-expression and a way for Diana to "take back the narrative." Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion, stated that Diana "always used fashion as a way of expression, but this time it was a way to communicate her personal expression of herself." Halimi added, "The way she felt on that day is that, 'I'm taking back the story and I'm here and I stand for myself.'"

Diana wore the dress to a Serpentine Gallery gala in 1994, the same evening a television program featured Charles admitting his affair. The striking ensemble, accessorized with a sapphire necklace, black pumps, and red nail polish, garnered significant media attention, with one tabloid famously proclaiming, "Revenge is chic."

The dress will be exhibited at Sotheby's in London until September 24 before moving to Hong Kong and Geneva, with the auction scheduled for December 9 in New York. This marks the first time the dress has been auctioned since 1997, when Diana sold it and other garments to raise funds for AIDS charities.

In the following year after wearing the dress, Diana gave a landmark interview acknowledging her own extramarital affair and famously stating, "there were three of us in this marriage," referring to Camilla Parker-Bowles, now Queen Camilla. Charles and Diana divorced in 1996, and she died in a car crash in Paris the following year at the age of 36.

The dress's enduring fame is underscored by a life-size waxwork replica unveiled in Paris last year. Sotheby's has set a presale estimate of $150,000 to $300,000 for the gown, though experts anticipate it could exceed this price.

Last year, a red sheep-adorned sweater worn by Diana in 1981 sold for $1.1 million, setting a record for an item belonging to the late royal. Sotheby's believes the "revenge dress" holds particular significance, with Halimi calling it "the most powerful item linked to Diana."

Diana remains a style icon, and fascination with her life and the dissolution of her marriage to King Charles III continues. The public interest is further fueled by recent events, including a new book by her brother, Charles Spencer, which has reignited discussions about the treatment of the princess.