It was during a Serpentine Gallery party in London, on June 29, 1994, when the then Prince Charles publicly acknowledged that he had been unfaithful to Diana during their marriage. That same night, Diana, far from hiding, chose to wear one of the most iconic dresses in fashion history, not so much for its design as for its meaning. We are talking about the famous Revenge Dress, or the revenge dress.
It was a short silk dress, with a spectacular off-the-shoulder neckline, designed by the Greek couturier Christina Stambolian. Diana had bought the piece years earlier and decided to pull it out for that date in a fit of impulse that not only broke with the royal family’s restrained, ceremonial image, but projected a confident, elegant and tremendously sensual image after the breakup with the man who would become the future King of England.
Diana wanted to convey a clear message: “Here I am.” A declaration of strength and, above all, independence. A symbol of confidence with which she wanted to demonstrate that she had regained not only control of her own image, but also of her own life.
An enormously applauded choice that has become an inspiration for many other women. And Diana, Princess of Wales, has not been the only one to wear the revenge dress. Other well-known faces have also chosen to wear impressive outfits after the end of a relationship. And it does not have to be romantic: it can also involve a workplace or media breakup. Here are some of the most famous examples.
Mariah Carey in 1997
At the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, Mariah Carey stunned in this seductive black two-piece consisting of a crop top and a skirt with a pronounced high side slit, showing off her leg. That same look had marked the end of her relationship with businessman Tommy Mottola.
Jennifer Lopez in 2004
In 2004, after breaking off her engagement to Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez appeared on the Golden Globes red carpet in a spectacular Michael Kors gown. It was a Greek-inspired design in orange, with a plunging neckline and a belt beneath the bust.
Eva Longoria in 2011
After divorcing Tony Parker, Eva Longoria arrived at the 2011 Golden Globes wearing a black, very form-fitting dress by Zac Posen, with an enormous train and a pronounced neckline. The press was waiting to see her affected by the breakup, and she appeared almost like a classic film star.
Bella Hadid in 2017
After breaking up with The Weeknd, the model appeared on the Met Gala 2017 stairs in a tight black jumpsuit by Alexander Wang. A design that was sheer in certain areas, saying much more than meets the eye.
Shakira in 2022
The Colombian singer surprised on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet wearing a body-hugging black dress, strapless with a pronounced side slit, paired with black ankle-strap sandals, sheer gloves, and Chopard jewelry. A design she wore after announcing the breakup with her husband, footballer Gerard Piqué.
Aitana in 2022
The singer Aitana’s “revenge dress” was a sheer-knit design she wore in December 2022, coinciding with her public comeback and the radical change of her hairstyle after her breakup with Miguel Bernardeau. It was a long, nearly transparent knit design that redefined the concept of the iconic revenge dress popularized by Lady Diana.
Rosalía in 2023
It was during her performance at the 2023 Latin Grammys, just after breaking up with Rauw Alejandro. The singer appeared in a black Schiaparelli dress, like an Old Hollywood diva, with a plunging V-neck, fitted to the body and floor-length. And she did so while singing a Rocío Jurado hit on stage that went: “Our love broke from using it so much… or from not using it.”
