Gone are the days when women looked back with pity after their relationships ended. Instead, they have become strong forces, confident souls, and brave hearts ready to face the world with a new zeal. The concept of revenge dress is a testimony to this. Celebrities often use these black dresses after breakups as a sign of empowerment. They also try to assert their force in the public debate over their relationship with it.
This old trend from the '90s has somehow found its way to the headlines as Samantha Ruth Prabhu transformed her wedding dress and appeared at the Elle Sustainability Awards. She repurposed her white bridal gown, which she had worn for her wedding with her ex-husband, Naga Chaitanya. The actress shared the transformation update with its pictures on social media. It was designed by Kresha Bajaj, who brought the ‘Revenge Dress’ topic up for discussion again.
A revenge dress is a gorgeous outfit that quickly grabs eyeballs and is worn by someone who has gone through a breakup or divorce. Society usually pities such women and considers them vulnerable after this personal development. As a result, wearing a stunning dress is done with a resolve to showcase confidence and remind their former partner about what the latter is missing out on. The dress is a means to reflect resilience and independence.
The revenge dress is used to symbolise confidence after a personal setback, which is a practice that has existed for a while. The world learned the concept of revenge dress when Princess Diana wore it at an event. She wore a plunging neckline dress to the 1994 dinner at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens. Incidentally, the event was on the day her husband, Prince (now King) Charles, admitted adultery on television.
Princess of Wales did not comment on it, but the world broadly interpreted that it was worn by her 'in revenge' for the televised admission. It was an off-shoulder, black-hued silk evening gown designed by Christina Stambolian. Wearing off-shoulder dresses in public events was not common among the British royals at that point and became a significant subject of discussion. In her later interviews, the designer compared Diana's choice of black dress to the black swan Odile in Tchaikovsky's ballet, Swan Lake. Diana remained the owner of the dress for three years, and it cost GBP 900. Back then, rumours were rife that she planned to wear another outfit before she opted for the black one.
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The event took place on June 29, 1994, and was a fundraising dinner hosted by Vanity Fair magazine. The Princess had earlier planned not to attend the event. But, two days before the event, she accepted the invitation after her former husband went on revealing his infidelity in different interviews. The couple had announced separation in 1992, and Princess Diana died in a car crash that took place in 1997.
As the images of Samantha Ruth Prabhu went viral on the internet, a significant chunk of social media users came out to support her. They quickly pointed out that the outfit reminded them of Princess Diana's iconic 'Revenge Dress'. Someone wrote, "Reminds me of Diana's revenge dress." Another follower wrote, "Sam 2.0 revolution I loved and so proud of you.”
The Family Man actress shared a caption expressing her feelings on the outfit transformation. She mentioned that wearing this transformed gown evoked several emotions in her. It was a special symbol earlier, but now it symbolises sustainability. Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya were co-stars in films like Majili, Ye Maaya Che, and more. The celebrity couple got married in 2017. However, in October 2021, they announced their separation by sharing a joint public statement
The iconic dress Princess Diana wore was black. Black is a standard colour for a girl's wardrobe as it makes an outfit more attractive. The colour of the this same outfit symbolises many features like mystery and sophistication. But, in the case of a revenge dress, it reflects something more substantial. It is taken as a sign of empowerment and resilience. Usually, the black colour outfit is a little bold.
After Princess Diana, many celebrities similarly wore revenge dresses. For instance, at the 2017 Met Gala, Bella Hadid made a statement by wearing a black lace catsuit and looking stunning. It was the event where Selena Gomez and The Weeknd debuted as a couple. In another case, Mariah Carey wore a sensual black ensemble at the 1997 VMAs after her divorce.
Like new fashion trends, the Revenge Dress has had an exciting history. It is a much-appreciated concept in the modern fashion guide, representing women under challenging times and showcasing their inherent strength. What are your thoughts about it?
Next Read: Aishwarya Rai Makes Heads Turn In A Gold Gown At Paris Fashion Week 2023, Styles It With Sheer Cape
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