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The story behind the dress that shocked the world: Princess Diana's black 'revenge' dress.

 

Breakups are never easy.

Especially when your ex-husband is announcing to the world on primetime television that he cheated on you with another woman.

But that’s when a revenge dress comes in.

25 years ago, on June 29, 1994, Princess Diana attended Vanity Fair’s annual fundraising event, wearing what would become one of her most famous dresses – the revenge dress.

On the same night, Prince Charles publically admitted that he had had an affair with his former girlfriend, Camilla Parker Bowles, during his marriage to Diana.

Diana’s black, skin-tight, off-the-shoulder custom-made gown designed by Greek designer Christina Stambolian certainly made a statement and from then on, it has been known as Diana’s ‘revenge’ dress.

princess diana revenge
Diana's famous 'revenge' dress. Image: Getty.
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"It was the first time people had been introduced to the new Diana, the one who didn’t need the royal family, especially Prince Charles. In that minidress, she oozed confidence, an air of happiness and independence," fashion journalist Alex Longmore told Huffington Post.

Diana actually almost didn't wear the infamous dress – which broke a number of royal rules – as she thought it was too daring.

She reportedly originally planned to wear a dress designed by Gianni Versace, but she opted out after the brand posted a press release boasting about the news.

The dress she wore instead had been sitting in her closet for three years before she built up the courage to finally wear it.

But when the dress finally came out, it signified that a confident new Diana free from the grips of the royal family was here to stay.

Kerry Taylor, whose company auctioned off some of Diana's most recognisable dresses explained why the dress was named the 'revenge' dress.

"We called that 'The Revenge Dress'. She wore that the same evening Prince Charles confessed to his adultery with Camilla. Diana had a public engagement at the Serpentine gallery and while some would have been like 'I can’t face it this evening', Diana went out in that dress looking drop dead gorgeous. She made a big statement right there," Taylor said.

Well, that's one way to take the attention away from a hurtful story about your ex