A famous black dress worn by Princess Diana, known as her "revenge dress," will be sold at a public auction on December 9. The auction house Sotheby's expects the dress to sell for up to £220,000 ($300,000). Before the sale in New York, the dress will travel to London, Hong Kong, and Geneva for public exhibition.
Princess Diana wore the black silk evening dress, designed by Greek designer Christina Stambolian, to a London event in 1994. She chose the striking outfit on the same evening a television documentary aired in which her then-estranged husband Prince Charles admitted to being unfaithful during their marriage. The appearance became an iconic moment, as people viewed her dress as a powerful personal statement.
This is the first time the dress has been auctioned since 1997, when Diana sold dozens of her dresses to raise money for charity. At that auction, Briege Mackenzie and her late husband bought it for £39,098 to support a children's charity. Mackenzie decided to sell the dress again following her husband's death.
The upcoming auction will also include a rare 1997 auction catalogue signed by Princess Diana and the designer. Sotheby's confirmed that part of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Royal Edinburgh Hospital through the NHS Lothian Charity.