Princess Diana was known for her cheerful prints, but one of her most famous dresses of all time was black. Commonly referred to as the “revenge dress,” the Christina Stambolian little black dress that the Princess of Wales wore to the Serpentine Gallery’s summer party in June 1994 was equal parts glamorous and daring.
The People’s Princess rarely wore black, but when she did, it was distinctly fabulous. The beaded evening gown by Jacques Azagury that she wore to a gala at the Tate in July 1997, for example, was an elegant departure from her signature polka dots and florals, as was the Versace tank dress she wore to a preview of Apollo 13 in 1995.
Let’s revisit some of Princess Diana’s best black dresses in photos, below.
This post originally ran in Vogue
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Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images1/9June 1994
The debut of her “revenge dress” at the Serpentine Gallery’s summer party.
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Tim Graham/Getty Images2/9September 1995
Tank dresses were Diana’s secret wardrobe weapon. To attend a preview of Apollo 13, she wore an LBD by Versace with a scooped tank neckline.
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Tim Graham/Getty Images3/9November 1995
Wearing a floor-sweeping gown by Jacques Azagury at a gala in aid of cancer research.
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Tim Graham/Getty Images4/9July 1997
Attending a gala evening to celebrate the Tate gallery’s centenary in a gown by Jacques Azagury.
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Tim Graham/Getty Images5/9July 1991
In a black gown with embellished straps by Bellville Sassoon at the premiere for Backdraft.
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Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images6/9March 1989
A vision in velvet at the premiere for Dangerous Liaisons.
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Julian Parker/Getty Images7/9October 1990
Dazzling on the red carpet at a gala concert at Sadler’s Wells.
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Anwar Hussein/Getty Images8/9March 1981
At a fundraising concert and reception wearing a voluminous black taffeta dress by the David and Elizabeth Emanuel.
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Tim Graham/Getty Images9/9October 1985
Attending a performance of Les Misérables at the Barbican wearing an evening gown by Bruce Oldfield.
