Princess Diana’s iconic black evening dress, famously known as the “revenge dress,” is set to return to auction for the first time since 1997. Designed by Christina Stambolian, the silk off-the-shoulder dress is expected to sell for between $150,000 and $300,000 at Sotheby’s in New York on December 9, 2026.
Diana wore the dress to a Vanity Fair fundraising dinner at London’s Serpentine Gallery on June 29, 1994, the same evening a televised documentary aired in which Charles publicly acknowledged his infidelity. Her appearance quickly became one of the most recognizable images of the era, transforming the dress into a symbol of confidence, independence and modern royal fashion.
The dress features a pleated bodice, asymmetric hemline and dramatic chiffon train. Diana paired it with black heels, a clutch and a pearl choker featuring an antique sapphire-and-diamond brooch. She had owned the dress for three years but reportedly considered it too daring for a public appearance before choosing it at the last minute.
Diana later included the dress in her 1997 charity auction, where it was purchased by its current owners. The upcoming sale will also include a rare signed copy of the original auction catalogue. Part of the proceeds will benefit NHS Lothian Charity on behalf of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.
Before the auction, the dress will be displayed in London, Hong Kong, Geneva and New York. Its return highlights the lasting cultural impact of Princess Diana’s fashion legacy and the enduring power of clothing as a form of public communication.
