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Princess Diana's iconic black "revenge dress" is set to return to the auction block, more than three decades after it became one of the most recognisable fashion moments in modern royal history.
The strapless black silk evening dress, worn by Diana to a fundraising event at London's Serpentine Gallery in 1994, is expected to sell for as much as $300,000 when it is auctioned by Sotheby's on December 9.
The dress gained its famous nickname because of the circumstances surrounding Diana's appearance. Earlier that evening, a documentary had aired in which her then estranged husband, Prince Charles, admitted that he had been unfaithful during their marriage.
Diana's appearance at the Serpentine Gallery therefore attracted enormous attention. Rather than appearing subdued, she arrived in a dramatic black creation by Greek designer Christina Stambolian, presenting an image of confidence during one of the most closely scrutinised periods of her life.
Her stylist at the time, Anna Harvey, reportedly wanted Diana to look exceptionally glamorous. The princess made a last minute wardrobe decision, abandoning a less dramatic Valentino gown in favour of the Stambolian dress.
She completed the look with a royal necklace, black clutch and black heels, transforming what could have been an ordinary evening appearance into an enduring cultural image.
Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion, Morgane Halimi, said Diana understood that clothing could communicate powerful messages. According to Sotheby's, the princess used the dress to reclaim control of a public narrative that was increasingly being defined by others.
The dress was previously auctioned by Diana herself in 1997, when she sold 79 dresses to raise money for charities supporting causes including cancer and AIDS. It was purchased by Glasgow resident Briege Mackenzie and her late husband Graeme for $53,000.
Mackenzie has now decided to sell the dress following her husband's death. She described the original purchase as one of the great days of their life together and said Diana had transformed the garment from a cocktail dress into a statement.
Before the auction, the dress will travel internationally, appearing in Sotheby's London showroom from September 18 to 24, followed by exhibitions in Hong Kong, Geneva and New York.
A rare 1997 auction catalogue signed by Diana and Stambolian will also be offered alongside the dress.
Part of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the Royal Edinburgh Hospital through the NHS Lothian Charity.
The expected price reflects Diana's enduring influence. In 2023, another piece from her wardrobe, a black sheep sweater, sold for approximately $1.2 million at Sotheby's in New York, demonstrating the extraordinary value still attached to objects associated with the late princess.
