Just months after freeing herself from royal protocols, Princess Diana made a daring appearance at the 1996 Met Gala, stunning attendees with a bold, provocative dress that became known as her “revenge” look. The inky-colored, lingerie-inspired outfit, which the princess chose to wear without a bra, symbolized the freedom and liberation she felt after her divorce from the now King Charles III.

On December 9, 1996, Princess Diana attended the Met Gala in New York City. Like a modern Cinderella, she slipped away in her stretch limousine before midnight, but not before captivating the world with her daring ensemble. Before heading to her room at the Carlyle Hotel, she enjoyed champagne, dined with top designers, and left a lasting impression with her unroyal attire.

Having finalized her divorce just a few months earlier, Diana was living freely, no longer bound by the strictures of royal life. Her marriage to Charles had ended after 15 years, and this event marked a new chapter in her life, one where she embraced her independence and newfound confidence.

At her first-ever Met Gala, Diana opted for a striking silk navy-blue slip dress with black lace, designed to resemble lingerie. She completed the look with a matching silk robe and accessorized with stunning sapphire earrings and a choker necklace she had crafted from a sapphire brooch gifted by the Queen Mother on her wedding day. Yet, it wasn’t her jewelry that drew the most attention.

Eloise Moran, author of The Lady Di Look Book: What Diana Was Trying to Tell Us Through Her Clothes, described the outfit as a “revenge” look. Moran remarked that the dress was one of Diana’s most daring choices, yet it exuded confidence and happiness. Moran added that Diana was positioning herself as an international icon, in the mold of Marilyn Monroe, rather than as a member of the royal family. The dress reflected her new status as a global superstar rather than a restrained royal figure.

Fashion editor Hilary Alexander noted that while it’s common for celebrities to wear lingerie-inspired outfits, it was groundbreaking for a princess to wear such a dress at a formal event. Diana’s midnight blue gown, which cost around $12,500 at the time, was described by Alexander as sensual rather than overtly sexy. It marked a departure from the more traditional, formal attire Diana had previously chosen, representing a shift in royal fashion. Alexander called it a new type of royal dressing.

Not everyone was thrilled with Diana’s bold choice. Fashion critic Brenda Polan remarked that the outfit was less haute couture and more “Oh! Couture.” Polan critiqued the outfit, pointing out that it resembled a nightgown, emphasizing that Diana wasn’t wearing a bra, which only added to the shock factor.

Despite the critiques, this wasn’t Diana’s first time making a statement through fashion. In 1994, when Charles publicly admitted to his affair with Camilla, Diana attended an event in a form-fitting, black off-the-shoulder gown with an asymmetrical hemline. This outfit, known as her original “revenge dress,” spoke volumes without Diana uttering a word. It was a clear, bold message to both Charles and the world.

At the 1996 Met Gala, Diana’s fashion choices once again sent a powerful message. The dress, designed by John Galliano for Christian Dior, symbolized her liberation post-divorce. Galliano later shared that Diana had felt “liberated” since the end of her marriage, which she conveyed through her decision to forgo a bra.

Her risqué gown was a direct reflection of her newfound freedom and confidence, making her appearance at the Met Gala unforgettable.