Princess Diana's 'revenge dress' goes up for auction

What the report says

A black evening dress worn by Princess Diana in 1994 is set to be auctioned by Sotheby’s on 9 December, with the house estimating it could fetch up to $300,000 (£220,000). The custom-made Christina Stambolian design became famous after Diana wore it to a Serpentine Gallery event in London on the same night a television documentary aired in which then-Prince Charles acknowledged adultery during their marriage.

BBC World News reports that the outfit later became known as Diana’s “revenge dress” and is widely remembered as a striking public moment in her life. Sotheby’s says this is the first time the dress has been offered at auction since 1997, when Diana sold many pieces from her wardrobe for charity. The current sale is part of Sotheby’s fashion and celebrity memorabilia business, which has seen strong prices for items linked to the princess.

The auction house quoted its global head of handbags and fashion, Morgane Halimi, saying Diana used clothing as a form of communication and reclaimed some control over how her story was presented. According to the report, Diana’s stylist Anna Harvey said she wanted to look “a million dollars,” although the original wording comes from Sotheby’s. The dress is expected to attract significant interest because of its association with one of the most talked-about episodes in Diana’s public life.