Princess Diana's Iconic Revenge Dress Wasn't the First Time the Royal Shocked in a Low-Cut Black Number
"I was quite big-chested then, and they all got frightfully excited,” Diana said.
Princess Diana's revenge dress might be forever iconic, but there's a lesser-known black ensemble that the princess wore for one of her first-ever public appearances—and it was considered rather scandalous at the time.
In the words of Sophia from the Golden Girls, Picture it: London, 1981. A young Lady Diana Spencer stepped out into the glittering world of royal social events with her new fiancé, Prince Charles, and she definitely made an entrance. Dressed in a black strapless evening gown by David and Elizabeth Emanuel—who would go on to design her wedding dress—the royal bride-to-be caused quite the royal establishment to clutch their collective pearls.
The ruffled gown itself was a daring creation that broke every unspoken rule of royal evening wear. First off it was black, a color that, at the time, was traditionally reserved for mourning when it came to royal ladies. It was also strapless and, in Diana's words, quite busty. "I was quite big-chested then, and they all got frightfully excited,” she later told journalist Andrew Morton (via Vogue).
Having being given the nickname of "Shy Di," it seems Diana set out to change the media's impression when she attended a fundraising concert to support the Royal Opera House in London. According to Vogue, Lady Diana had asked the Emanuels to design something for the outing, but when she went to pick up her dress, she spotted a gown that a pop star's wife had worn to another event and ended up wearing that instead.
“She looked so grown up, like a movie star, and she loved the idea of breaking the mold," Elizabeth Emanuel shared, per Vogue.
Her plan worked. A New York Times headline from the event read "Prince of Wales Upstaged at Concert by Financee [sic]." The story noted that "the couple were cheered when they arrived at the hall, but the real sensation occurred when the 19-year-old Lady Diana got inside and took off her wrap."
"'Lady Diana wore a low-cut gown, well off the shoulder, there were audible admiring gasps,'' said a breathless BBC reporter who witnessed the event," the New York Times continued.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
The princess would later go on to tell Morton that the evening was "horrendous," telling the writer, “I remember my first [royal] engagement so well. So excited. Black dress from the Emanuels and I thought it was okay because girls my age wore this dress. I hadn’t appreciated that I was now seen as a royal lady, although I’d only got a ring on my finger as opposed to two rings…It was a horrendous occasion."
As Vogue pointed out, it couldn't have been so bad, as Diana later brought the gown back to be altered after she lost weight because she wanted to wear it again.
What made the moment truly noteworthy wasn't just the dress's cut—it was Lady Diana's choice to break away from her usual conservative looks. While she hadn't yet gained the confidence she was known for in the 1990s, this black gown was certainly a sign of things to come: Diana was going to do things her way.
Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.
Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.
Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.
-
The 2025 Grammy Nominees Make Personal Style a Performance
This year's most-nominated stars don't leave their costumes onstage.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Hulu's New Thriller 'Paradise' Is Full of Political Intrigue and A-List Actors—Here's What to Know About the Cast
'This Is Us' creator Dan Fogelman and star Sterling K. Brown reunited for the prestige drama.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Alex Cooper’s "Tousled" Blowout Is Fit for a Mogul
Hairstylist Ryan Richman gives 'Marie Claire' the breakdown.
By Ariel Baker Published
-
Prince Harry and Prince William Won't Inherit Late Mom Princess Diana's Childhood Home–Here's Who Will
Althorp House won't be handed down to Diana's two sons.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Princess Diana’s Brother Says She Would Be Proud of Prince Harry for Winning an Apology for Her from ‘The Sun’
"She would be incredibly touched at that, and rightly proud."
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Princess Diana Had a "Secret" Trick to "Avoid Wearing Tights" Around the Royals
Rules be damned.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince Harry Secures "Unequivocal Apology" for Princess Diana and 8-Figure Damages in Tabloid Court Case
"She would be incredibly touched...and rightly proud," Diana's brother said of Harry's win.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Princess Diana's Dance With Prince Charles Was "Not as Elegant" as When She Danced With John Travolta, Per Her Longtime Teacher
Diana's private dance instructor, Anne Allan, had some critiques for Charles in her memoir.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Why Princess Margaret Felt a "Deep Sense of Hurt and Betrayal" Because of Princess Diana
"She also made it clear to her children that she did not want them fraternizing with the enemy."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Princess Diana Wanted Harry and William to "Experiment" With Food Like Burgers Despite Prince Charles's "Disdain"
Eating outside the palace "didn't really sit that comfortably" with the now-King.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Could Princess Charlotte Inherit One of Princess Diana's Most Iconic Fashion Pieces?
We set the rumors straight.
By Kristin Contino Published