Princess Diana’s iconic black dress, famously dubbed the “revenge dress,” is set to go under the hammer later this year, offering collectors another chance to own a piece of royal fashion history.

The late Princess of Wales wore the striking Christina Stambolian creation to a fundraising event at London’s Serpentine Gallery in November 1994. Her appearance came on the same evening a televised documentary aired in which her then-husband, King Charles, publicly acknowledged his infidelity during their marriage.

Diana’s dramatic arrival in the strapless black silk dress quickly became one of the most memorable moments of her public life. The outfit attracted widespread media attention and was subsequently nicknamed the “revenge dress,” a label that has remained closely associated with the garment.

Auction house Sotheby’s estimates that the dress could fetch as much as £220,000 ($300,000) when it is offered for sale on December 9.

According to Sotheby’s, this will be the first time the dress has appeared at auction since 1997. That year, Diana famously sold 79 of her dresses to raise funds for charitable causes.

Sotheby’s Global Head of Handbags and Fashion, Morgane Halimi, said Diana had an instinctive understanding of fashion’s ability to communicate powerful messages.

Halimi described the dress as a significant expression of Diana’s independence during one of the most closely watched and emotionally difficult periods of her life. She said the princess used her choice of clothing to take control of her own public image at a time when much of her personal story was being shaped by others.

Diana’s stylist at the time, Anna Harvey, reportedly recalled that the princess wanted to “look a million dollars” for the occasion.

The dress was selected almost at the last minute. Diana paired the dramatic black design with a black clutch, black heels and a striking royal jewel, creating a look that stood out against the traditional expectations surrounding members of the British royal family.

Her appearance at the Serpentine Gallery fundraising dinner has since become a defining moment in fashion and royal history, with the dress frequently cited as an example of Diana’s evolving confidence and distinctive personal style.

The auction comes after another item linked to Diana’s wardrobe achieved a remarkable price. Her famous black sheep sweater, featuring a single black sheep among rows of white ones, sold for £920,000 at a Sotheby’s auction in New York in 2023.

The Jaguar XJ40 in which Diana arrived at the 1994 event was also sold at auction earlier this year for £66,250.

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