The black silk dress famously worn by Princess Diana on June 29, 1994, the day her then-husband Prince Charles publicly admitted to adultery, is set to be auctioned by Sotheby’s with a presale estimate of up to $300,000. The figure-hugging, off-the-shoulder gown, designed by Greek designer Christina Stambolian, has since become known as the "revenge dress" and is regarded as a potent symbol of Diana’s personal empowerment during a turbulent period in her marriage.

Beginning Friday, the dress was exhibited at Sotheby’s London gallery as part of an international tour that will include stops in Hong Kong and Geneva ahead of the December 9 auction in New York. Industry experts suggest the final sale price may surpass the initial estimate, drawing comparisons to a red sweater Diana wore in 1981 which sold for $1.1 million in 2023.

Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s global head of handbags and fashion, described the dress as "the most powerful item linked to Diana," emphasizing the late princess’s use of fashion as a deliberate form of self-expression and empowerment amid public scrutiny. The dress’s notoriety stems not only from its dramatic timing but also from Diana’s ability to control her narrative through her style choices.

The enduring public fascination with Diana’s life, her marriage difficulties, and her untimely death nearly three decades ago continues to fuel strong interest in memorabilia associated with her. Recent publications and ongoing public disputes within her family and the royal household have reignited focus on her legacy.

This particular dress was previously sold in 1997 to raise funds for AIDS charities, making this the first time it is being auctioned since then. Its lasting cultural significance was further highlighted last year when a life-size waxwork figure of Diana wearing the "revenge dress" was unveiled at a museum in Paris, illustrating its continued impact on popular culture and fashion history.