Designed by Greek designer Christina Stambolian, the dress is expected to fetch up to ₹ 2.87 crore at Sotheby’s in New York this December. Let’s take a look at its history and how the dress got its famous name. (Also read: Friday Fashion Flashback: 5 most expensive wedding dresses ever, from Priyanka Chopra to Queen Letizia of Spain ) In this week’s Friday Fashion Flashback, we look back at Princess Diana ’s iconic black ‘Revenge Dress’, which is heading back to auction nearly three decades after it was last sold.
The night Diana made fashion history
As People reported, Diana had originally commissioned the Christina Stambolian design several years earlier but did not wear it immediately. The off-the-shoulder, fitted dress featured a plunging neckline and a short hemline, making it considerably bolder than Diana’s typically conservative royal wardrobe. She paired it with a pearl-and-sapphire choker, earrings and black heels, completing one of her most memorable fashion moments. Its significance, however, went beyond the circumstances of that particular evening. The daring silhouette marked a shift in Diana’s public image, reflecting a more confident and independent approach to fashion after her separation from Charles. Vogue described the dress as a turning point in Diana’s style, with the garment becoming closely associated with her transformation from a young royal into a global fashion figure.
In 1994, she chose the dress for the Serpentine Gallery event, creating an image that would go on to become one of the most recognisable moments in royal fashion.
Expected to fetch up to ₹2.87 crore
The dress will headline a standalone fashion evening auction in New York on December 9, 2026, according to Sotheby’s. It carries an estimated price of $150,000 to $300,000, which is approximately ₹ 1.44 crore to ₹ 2.87 crore based on the current exchange rate. Stay tuned for next week’s Friday Fashion Flashback, as we uncover another fascinating story from the world of fashion, heritage and style history.
