If there is a dress that speaks for itself, it is the one known as the ‘dress of revenge’ that Diana of Wales donned in 1994 and whose recreation we will see in the The Crown season 5 starting November 9. Netflix has published the first images of Elizabeth Debicki wearing the famous look And, in case you don’t know her, here’s the story. ANDhe premiere of the fifth season of ‘The Crown’ is probably the most eventful of the series on Netflix so far. The plot goes into the 90s, a time much closer to the public and especially complicated for the British monarchy.
Since the premiere date was announced and as details of the new episodes have become known, there have been statements from people close to members of the British royal family criticizing the fiction. In the previous season, in which Diana of Wales entered the scene for the first time and the complicated marriage with Prince Charles began, it was already demanded that Netflix clarify that the series was fictitious. That explanation was not included then, but it was added to the description that accompanies the season trailer posted on YouTube. At the moment, we do not know if she will also appear at the beginning of the episodes.
The intrahistory of the ‘revenge dress’
The famous black dress shorter than the protocol of the British royal house, in a color only indicated for mourning and with a generous and flattering neckline is one of the many looks of Lady Di that are still making people talk 25 years after her death. However, this is a very significant dress and that is why it could not be missing in the new episodes of the series. Amy Roberts and Sidonie Roberts lead the wardrobe team that has recreated the garment once designed by Christina Stambolian and have explained the symbolism behind it: “It indicates the death of something and the beginning of something new.” A phoenix-like transformation that takes place in a small scene in episode 5 of the fifth season when the character of Lady Di, played by Elizabeth Debicki, leaves the official car to arrive at the Vanity Fair party.
Carlos and Diana were still married on the night of June 29, 1994, when the magazine’s well-known charity party was being held in London and to which Lady Di did not intend to attend, despite being invited. The event coincided with the broadcast of a television program that sought to improve the image of Prince Charles, resentful of the media war in which the failed marriage with Diana of Wales had become. At the interview, the heir to the throne acknowledged that he was unfaithful to his still wifeAlthough they had been separated for several years. Although at the time of the party it was not yet known what Carlos was going to say, the publicity of the television event made Diana refuse to attend the party to avoid the bad drink. In the end, two days before, she changed her mind.
There are different versions of the choice of dress, such as that it was a last minute decision after Valentino announced that he would wear one of his models. The point is that the black dress had been in his closet for three years, but he hadn’t found the opportunity to wear it because it was too daring. Be that as it may, Diana of Wales finally presented herself with the dress before the journalists who awaited her arrival and caused a great impact in just 30 seconds that his appearance lasted since he got out of the vehicle and until he entered the event. The title ‘dress of revenge’ was not used at the time or in later years. It was in 2013 when she received that name in the auction of the ten most recognizable dresses of the Princess of Wales by Kerry Taylor Auctions. The model in question broke, as we have said, with several rules of the protocol of the royal house in terms of clothing. Firstly because of the color, since black is reserved for official mourning by members of the monarchy or relevant figures and, secondly, because it was too short and too low-cut. Actually, what made the dress go down in history was a sum of coincidences, from the moment to the attitude with which Lady Di faced a moment, without a doubt, complicated. It is considered that from that moment there was an evolution in the style of Diana of Wales and the Australian actress, Elizabeth Debicki, has spoken about it: “Princess Diana was very innovative with fashion. She was really transgressive. She made decisions that other people didn’t drink,” he said.