The braless "unroyal" look at the 1996 Met Gala solidified her goodbye to the life she had with Charles.

What comes to mind when you think of Princess Diana's "revenge dress?" It's surely the fitted black off-the-shoulder look she wore to the 1994 Gala at the Serpentine Gallery in London. After all, she wore the famed dress the night her ex-husband, King Charles (then Prince Charles), confirmed his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.&nbsp;
However, after being freed from the restrictions of Kensington Palace, Diana's revenge dressing didn't end there. After her divorce, she continuously exercised her freedom to wear garments that broke royal protocol, and her Met Gala look from 1996 is a shining example. The 1996 Met Gala honored the late Christian Dior and saw supermodels Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista, broadcasting icon Diane Sawyer, and American socialite Betsy Bloomingdale walk the carpet. But among the crowd of high-profile elites, Princess Diana proved to be the shining star as she made an entrance with her longtime friend, fashion editor Liz Tilberis. While the princess may have opted for a quiet entrance, the press was anything but quiet. Photos of the former royal in the lace-trimmed slip dress from John Galliano's inaugural Haute Couture line for Dior circulated in the papers the days following, and Vogue reported that the look was "her most unroyal look to date."

The British royal family, as you may know, prides itself on adhering to tradition and rules. As time progressed, those rules bent to keep up with modernity, but when it came to dressing, the monarchy and its head at the time, Queen Elizabeth II, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/royal-dress-code-rules-queen-elizabeth-kate-middleton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">preferred conservative sartorial choices</a>.&nbsp;
Women in the British royal family were and still are required to wear knee-length skirts and natural-colored nail polish and not show their legs. While these rules have been loosened in the 21st century,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/times-kate-middleton-broke-royal-protocol" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as we've seen Kate Middleton</a>&nbsp;break these rules over the last decade, Diana didn't receive the same grace during her reign as Princess of Wales. Her choice to wear an off-the-shoulder floor-length gown to a White House State Dinner in 1985 was considered a controversial style choice at the time. And let's not forget the time she chose to participate in Prince Harry's school racing event and broke protocol by running barefoot, as royals typically aren't seen with their shoes off.&nbsp;
It would be an understatement to say that the Galliano-era Dior slip dress wildly defied royal protocol. Not only did it resemble lingerie, but it was also a garment that had to be worn without a bra as the dress had a built-in bustier. It was clear that Diana, who wore pantyhose under skirts and conservative sheep-print sweaters, was a woman of the past. Diana paired the look with the Lady Dior bag, which was then known as Chouchou but was renamed to honor the Princess. The sapphire and pearl choker necklace and sapphire and diamond cluster drop earrings, which she wore during her dance with Travolta in 1985, made a reappearance during this daring fashion statement. This ensemble worn by the late Princess not only made a mark on Met Gala history but also left an unforgettable mark in the fashion world.&nbsp;
Furthermore, her decision to wear the alluring and braless look and partner with the intrepid creative, Galliano, solidified her severed ties with the British royal family.

Princess Diana at the 1996 Met Gala, themed "Christian Dior," in the iconic Dior slip dress. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

The Story Behind Princess Diana's Met Gala Revenge Dress

Tags

Related Articles

Pop culture

8 Times Princess Charlotte Looked Just Like Princess Diana

Fashion

Best Princess Diana Fashion Moments From 'The Crown' Season 5

Fashion

Sotheby's Auctions Iconic Princess Diana Dress

Recommended posts for you

Beauty

Rhode's Cinnamon Roll Lip Tint Is Finally Here

Fashion

These Timeless Luxury Accessories Were Made to Cherish for a Lifetime

Beauty

The Evolution of Rocker Hair

Fashion

Louis Vuitton Re-Opens in NYC With Five-Floor Extravaganza

Music

Tate McRae Announces 2025 Tour, Drops New Single

Fashion

Dior's Lady Art Project Returns With Stunning Artist-Made Bags

Pop culture

20 Rare Photos of Young King Charles III: A Look at His Earlier Life

Fashion

Skims Teams Up With Dolce & Gabbana for a Luxurious Collaboration