Diana, Princess of Wales, wore her infamous “Revenge Dress” when she attended the Serpentine Gallery annual summer party in Hyde Park, London on July 18th, 1994. The evening was a major public event and a turning point in Diana’s life.
Reports of the state of her personal life had been aired in the media for weeks, in particular her estranged husband Charles’s affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. Diana had recently been photographed with her new love interest, Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan, and speculation regarding her relationship with him was the focus of considerable media attention.
At the event Diana made a statement through her choice of dress, a instantly recognizable deep blue silk velvet Versace gown. Most commentators saw it as a defiant response to the tabloid stories. For this reason the dress has since been dubbed the “Revenge Dress”.
It had a much-discussed thigh-high split and showcased Diana’s figure to maximum effect.
The dress received much press attention and is now seen as one of the most famous dresses of Diana’s wardrobe. Immediately after the event it caused a massive spike in the sales of Versace dresses and became a much talked about item around the world.
It also solidified Diana’s strong public image in the eyes of the British people.
How much did Princess Diana’s revenge dress sell for?
Princess Diana’s ‘revenge dress’ was auctioned off by Christie’s in London in 1997 and ended up selling for £81,500 (roughly $142,069 USD). This iconic dress has become known as a ‘revenge dress’ due to the fact that Diana chose to wear it on the same night that her husband, Prince Charles, publicly admitted on national television to having an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.
The dress in question was an off-the-shoulder, black chiffon gown, designed by Christina Stambolian. In the auction catalogue it was described as having being ‘bustier-style, with heart-shaped bodice and decorated with tiny velvet bows and deep ruffles of chiffon.
’ The dress also included a widely reported small gold ‘heart-shaped keyhole’ that was designed as a homage to Diana’s royal status. The dress was sold to an anonymous phone bidder and was said to have been purchased as an exhibit piece for a luxury hotel in Milan.
Was Princess Diana buried in a dress?
Yes, Princess Diana was buried in a dress. Her coffin was draped in a white flag, and Lady Diana was buried in a black silk dress, which was designed by her favorite fashion designer, Catherine Walker.
The bottom half of the dress was a black chiffon, with a diamante trimmed neckline, and a black silk velvet bodice. On the bodice were sequins stitched in the shape of a rose and a spray of lilies of the valley.
The dress had long sleeves, ending in a tight cuff, and was finished with a black velvet ribbon at the waist. Diana was buried alongside her beloved brother, Charles, in the family’s private burial plot at Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, England, where the Spencer family has been buried for centuries.
Is James Colthurst married?
James Colthurst has not been reported to be married, so the answer is unknown. His personal life is kept private and there is no information about any partners or romantic relationships. It is possible that he is married, but his marital status remains a mystery as he chooses to keep his private life under wraps.
Did Kate pay for her wedding dress?
No, Kate did not pay for her wedding dress. Instead, her mother and grandmother surprised her by purchasing it for her. She had planned to shop for a dress, but they stepped in and took care of it before she could.
They felt that it was an occasion that deserved such a special moment and wanted to make sure that she felt special on her big day. It was a beautiful dress that was perfect for her, and the decision meant a lot to Kate.
She was very grateful for their thoughtfulness.
Who wore the revenge dress first Diana or Camilla?
The history of the “Revenge Dress” dates back to the 1990s when Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, wore a black off-the-shoulder bodycon midi dress for a public appearance at a charity event in London. The event was shortly after the public announcement of the marital breakdown of Diana and her husband, Prince Charles.
Although it is uncertain who first coined the term “Revenge Dress”, since then the dress was often referred to as such.
Around the same time, Camilla Parker Bowles, one of Prince Charles’ long-time liaisons, wore a very similar black off-the-shoulder dress at a party. However, there is no indication this dress was a deliberate attempt to mimic or copy Diana’s dress and was worn before Diana’s.
So, it was Diana who wore the “Revenge Dress” first.
What did Prince Charles think of Diana’s wedding dress?
Prince Charles was reportedly quite pleased with Diana’s iconic wedding dress for their 1981 wedding. While it was a surprise to many, his attendants had been in on the planning for some time and kept the secret from the groom until Diana’s dramatic arrival at St.
Paul’s Cathedral. A few weeks prior to the wedding, Prince Charles met with the designers, David and Elizabeth Emanuel, in the Palace to see a sketch of the now famous dress design. He was apparently delighted with it, and gave them his wholehearted approval.
Diana’s dress was even more beautiful in person, artfully crafted with 10,000 pearls and yards of ivory silk taffeta and antique lace. Prince Charles was reportedly spellbound when he first saw Diana in the dress on their wedding day and famously called her “a vision.
”.
Where are Diana’s dresses now?
Diana’s dresses are now being cared for by three institutions who were lucky enough to be able to acquire them. The first is Kensington Palace in London, where many of her day and evening dresses, hats and accessories are on display in the public exhibit rooms.
The second is the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, where her glamorous wedding dress and many of her more informal looks are also on display. The most recent recipient of some of Diana’s dresses is the Historical Trust in Althorp, where numerous pieces of her clothing are part of a new display at the Trust’s Exhibition centre.
In total these three institutions are in possession of over 150 items of clothing which belonged to the late Princess of Wales.
