The iconic little black dress is in the spotlight again, thanks to a recent royal outing. Here’s what you need to know.
Princess Diana’s Revenge Dress Is Back in a Whole New Way—And It’s as Fantastic as Ever
Published on Dec. 05, 2024
Remember the dress? You know, that dress. In June 1994, Princess Diana caused a stir when she arrived at a London gala in a now-iconic off-the-shoulder black dress that soon became known as the “revenge dress.” Not only was the ensemble unusually revealing for a member of the royal family, but she also wore it the very day her then-husband Prince Charles confessed on television that he had cheated on her.
Thirty years later, the formfitting black dress has made a surprise comeback: Two of Diana’s relatives wore an almost identical style to the British Fashion Awards on Dec. 2, 2024, in London. Was it a sweet nod to the late Princess of Wales or just a coincidence? Read on to find out everything we know.
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Who brought back this look?
Diana’s twin nieces, Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer, mirrored their late aunt’s showstopping look at the awards show. They are the daughters of Diana’s brother, Charles, ninth Earl Spencer, and model Victoria Lockwood—and are both models themselves.
While neither wore the exact style of Diana’s little black dress (which was designed by Christina Stambolian), the similarities were striking. All three dresses were shoulder-baring black gowns with a sexy yet elegant vibe, though Diana’s hit above the knee, while the twins’ dresses were both full length.
Lady Amelia’s choice, a Pamella Roland creation, most closely mimicked Diana’s dress, with its sweetheart neck and off-the-shoulder straps. The low neckline adds some additional zhuzh, though, with tiny embroidered crystals. Lady Eliza’s Gaurav Gupta gown, on the other hand, featured draped off-the-shoulder sleeves rather than straps and a straighter neckline. Sartoro diamonds, a bracelet, earrings, rings and a clutch completed both glitzy looks.
The twins, who grew up in South Africa, both sported a sleek updo and even opted for the same makeup in neutral and smoky shades. We can only imagine that the fashion-forward Diana would have been impressed!
Why is this look so timeless?
While Diana made a strong statement with her outfit choice on that fateful day in 1994, the style has since become a staple that hasn’t gone out of fashion for decades. To quote the late designer Karl Lagerfeld: “One is never overdressed or underdressed in a little black dress.” In other words, it’s a piece you can throw on for a variety of situations, from work events to galas, depending on the shoes and accessories you use to dress it up or down. Coco Chanel designed some of the earliest versions of the LBD in the 1920s.
Current fans of Diana’s famous look don’t just include royals but also the world’s most popular artist. Taylor Swift wore a similar dress on Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2021 while promoting her album Red.
Wish you had something similar in your own closet? Say no more. Fashionistas with some spare cash can shop the dresses the Spencer twins wore at Bergdorf Goodman. Lady Amelia’s Pamella Roland gown retails for $4,620, while Lady Eliza’s Gaurav Gutpa costs $2,350.
Was this tribute intentional?
While neither Amelia nor Eliza have officially confirmed where they got their styling ideas from, it’s hard to believe that it wasn’t a direct nod to their late aunt. In an interview with Tatler in 2021, the twins discussed their relationship with Diana. “We always just knew her as our aunt,” Eliza said, adding that she was “incredibly warm, maternal and loving. She always made an effort to connect with us as children and had a talent for reading children’s hearts.”
Growing up in South Africa and still being children when Diana died tragically in a car crash in 1997, they didn’t understand just how famous their aunt was until they were older. “As a child, I realized the enormity of the loss for my father and family,” Eliza said. “It was only later that I came to understand the significance of the loss of her as a figure in the world.”
Where is Diana’s actual revenge dress now?
Diana’s revenge dress is currently on display at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland, a 40-minute drive from Dublin. More specifically, it’s located inside Newbridge Silverware, and it can be visited free of charge. Besides the much-talked-about black dress, the outfit Princess Diana wore when she was photographed in front of the Taj Mahal in February 1992 is also part of the exhibition, as is her engagement blouse.
The princess’s black gown was originally auctioned off for cancer and AIDS charities in June 1997, just two months before her death. Scottish couple Briege and Grahame Mackenzie bought it for $60,000.
Which of Diana’s other timeless styles have we seen recently?
While Diana’s black dress may have been one of her recognizable looks, it’s not the only one that members of the royal family have copied or referenced in recent years. The following styles all might ring a bell:
- The blue polka-dot dress: When Kate Middleton‘s first son, Prince George, was born in July 2013, she showed him off to the world wearing a light-blue polka-dot dress by British designer Jenny Packham—an obvious tribute to Diana, who posed in a green polka-dot gown a day after giving birth to Prince William in June 1982.
- The second blue polka-dot dress: The polka dots reappeared in another dress Kate wore to Wimbledon in 2022 (and again at a National Health Service charity event a year later). This one referenced an outfit of the same style and color Diana sported during the state visit of West German president Richard von Weizsacker in London in 1986.
- The red dress with the white collar: Diana presented newborn Prince Harry to the world in 1984, wearing a bright red dress with a white collar. Kate opted for a very similar look when she introduced baby Prince Louis.
- The golden cape dress: Remember the glittering gold gown Kate wore at the James Bond: No Time to Die world premiere at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2021? She didn’t just reference the iconic Bond-girl style but also Diana, who chose a similar dress for the 007 premiere A View to a Kill in 1985.
- The strappy red dress: Meghan Markle seemed to echo Diana’s style when attending the L.A. Children’s Hospital gala in 2024 (and before at the Intrepid Museum Salute to Freedom Gala in 2021) in a bright red dress by Carolina Herrera. Fans quickly spotted similarities to a Catherine Walker design Diana wore in Argentina in 1995.
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Sources:
- Harper’s Bazaar: “Princess Diana’s nieces pay tribute to her revenge dress on its 30th anniversary”
- Tatler: “When Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia Spencer spoke to Tatler about Althorp, South Africa and their aunt, Princess Diana”
- Tatler: “A royal rework! How Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are following in Princess Diana’s footsteps by upcycling older outfits”
- Town & Country: “Taylor Swift’s latest album includes an ode to the revenge dress”
- Thrillist: “Princess Diana’s revenge dress lives in a silverware store in Ireland”
- Today: “Duchess Kate echoes Diana in polka-dot dress for royal baby debut”
