Princess Diana’s Revenge Dress Was Supposed to Be White, Plus More About the Look That Almost Wasn’t

usmagazine.com:

The statement that almost wasn’t! Princess Diana’s little black “Revenge Dress” has been hailed as one of the most iconic fashion moments of all time — but it turns out the late royal never intended on wearing the dramatic design.  Claudia Joseph — author of Diana: A Life in Dresses, which explores the late princess’ fashion evolution — opened up to Us Weekly exclusively about Diana’s unforgettable Christina Stambolian number, which she wore to the Serpentine Gallery on June 29, 1994.

The event took place on the same night King Charles III admitted to cheating on his then-wife with Queen Consort Camilla. (Diana and Charles, now 74, formally divorced in August 1996 after 15 years of marriage.

The princess died at age 36 in August 1997. Thing King and Camilla, now 75, wed in April 2005.)  “The story behind her wearing the ‘Revenge Dress’ is quite interesting,” Joseph told Us earlier this week. “She’d gone into Christina Stambolian dress shop with her brother Charlie Spencer, and he sat there while she tried on clothes.”   The writer explained that Diana had ordered the memorable off-the-shoulder dress but originally “wanted it in white.” Joseph continued: “But Christina said, ‘No, no I think it would look better in black.’” Diana, however, wasn’t convinced. “She was [groaning] about it, but Christina insisted, ‘This looks fabulous on you,’” Joseph told Us.

Diana ended up obliging and ordered the piece in black. In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies On the day of the Serpentine Gallery event, the British press leaked that Diana would be wearing Valentino, which didn’t sit well with her. “She got quite angry about that, so she went into her closet and her butler suggested she wear the [Stambolian],