The famous “revenge dress”, worn by Princess Diana in the wake of Prince Charles’ public confession of his infidelity, will be auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York on December 9, the house announced Thursday.
This low-cut black dress by Christina Stambolian is estimated between 150,000 and 300,000 dollars (122,000 and 244,000 francs), indicates Sotheby’s in a press release.
Part of the proceeds goes to the Royal Hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland, which specializes in mental health.
Prior to this sale, the dress will be on display in London from September 18-24, Hong Kong (October 1-15), Geneva (November 6-11) and New York (from December 2).
The “Princess of Hearts” wore this outfit, breaking with the codes of British royalty, during a charity gala in June 1994, while her husband, from whom she was separated, admitted his infidelity on television.
“Princess Diana turned this dress into one of the most powerful messages she ever delivered,” observes Morgane Halimi, global head of handbags and fashion at Sotheby’s.
“What became a globally viral moment…also gave everyone, but especially women, permission to use fashion beyond mere adornment, in a much more intentional and meaningful way: as a shield, a weapon, or both.”
This dress had already been auctioned off to benefit cancer and AIDS charities in June 1997, shortly before Diana’s death in a road accident in Paris on August 31, at the age of 36.
