Iconic "Revenge Dresses" in History: From Princess Diana’s Plunging Neckline to Bella Hadid's Sheer Gown

Celebrities have made bold fashion statements following their high-profile breakups, proving that no heartbreak can break their spirit.

Breakups are always difficult and painful. After such an event, one might want to hide away for a while. But not everyone can afford such a hiatus. Many celebrities, whose job often involves public appearances, had to swallow their pride and show up right after news of their scandalous breakups. Their main weapon? The "revenge dress" — an impactful outfit they wore for their first public appearance post-breakup. Here, we highlight some of the most memorable and iconic revenge dresses.

Princess Diana, 1994

This is undoubtedly one of the most iconic looks of Princess Diana, forever etched in fashion history and the royal family’s legacy. In 1994, Charles admitted to Diana that he had been unfaithful. The couple had already been living apart for two years, but the confession was still painful.

Initially, Diana planned to wear a Valentino gown to the Vanity Fair gala, but information about it leaked to the press. Instead, she opted for a Christina Stambolian dress that had been waiting in her wardrobe for three years.

All eyes and cameras were on her. Diana understood that such a bold look would be widely discussed and even criticized. But this was the most spectacular and truly royal way to put all her detractors in their place and show her unfaithful husband what he had lost.

Reese Witherspoon, 2007

Following in Diana’s footsteps, many stars used their unlimited budgets and stunning figures to make their exes envious and settle scores with their offenders.

For instance, Reese Witherspoon’s appearance at the 2007 Golden Globes was much talked about, partly because the actress had just divorced Ryan Phillippe. It was her first public appearance as a single woman, and she chose a striking gold strapless dress with bright contrasting sandals.

Nicole Kidman, 2001

The little black dress is a timeless classic. Many women who wanted to get back at their exes turned to this length and color. Nicole Kidman was no exception. In 2001, she split from Tom Cruise after 11 years of marriage. But as a true professional, she mustered all her strength, donned a seductive strapless black dress, and attended the premiere of "The Others" in Los Angeles. If people didn’t know about her personal struggles, no one would have guessed she was going through a tough time.

Jennifer Lopez, 2003

If there’s a star in Hollywood whose red carpet appearances always leave a lasting impression, it’s Jennifer Lopez. Even when going through tough times, she always looks stunning.

In 2003, Ben Affleck and J.Lo called off their wedding just days before the event. Although Ben couldn’t handle the public pressure at the time, he made up for it nearly 20 years later — the couple is back together now. But history remembers Jennifer’s iconic dress from the "Paycheck" premiere post-breakup.

Jennifer Aniston, 2005

The breakup between Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt will be talked about for years to come. In 2007, when their official split was announced, Jennifer made her first public appearance in a stunning gold Chanel dress with matching sandals and a bag. She looked absolutely radiant.

Rihanna, 2014

We are accustomed to Rihanna’s bold looks. Nowadays, she doesn’t need an excuse to wear a provocative outfit, but in 2014, her grand appearance at the CFDA red carpet in a semi-transparent glittery Adam Selman dress was linked to her breakup with Drake. Although their relationship was short-lived, Rihanna still wanted to get back at the rapper for his infidelity.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 2014

For her first public appearance post-split with Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow chose a striking black Monique Lhuillier ensemble. The actress had spent 10 years with the singer and decided to end their relationship with style.

Jennifer Garner, 2016

Another black dress makes the list of "revenge dresses," this time worn by Jennifer Garner. In 2016, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner split. Their first public encounter post-breakup was at the Oscars. Garner’s inspiration for her dress seemed to come from Diana’s iconic look. Garner’s dress was a floor-length evening gown, but the nods to the original were clear to all.

Amber Heard, 2016

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp’s tumultuous relationship shocked the world. Last year, Depp won his lawsuit against his ex-wife, with their divorce becoming public knowledge in 2017. A week after a reported fight during Amber’s 30th birthday party, she attended the Met Gala in a satin Ralph Lauren gown and filed for divorce shortly after.

Bella Hadid, 2017

American model Bella Hadid had several impactful encounters with her ex-boyfriend post-breakup, such as at the 2016 Victoria’s Secret show where The Weeknd performed while Bella walked the runway in lingerie.

After getting back together and splitting again a year later, Bella’s next significant appearance post-breakup was at the Christian Dior ball in a stunning semi-transparent gown. The Weeknd wasn’t present, but he surely saw the photos from the event.