AS a celebrity there must be nothing more satisfying after a breakup than stepping out into the world and showing your ex what they are missing.
Over the years in the world of fashion the term ‘revenge dressing’ has become a common phrase.
Originally made popular after Princess Diana stepped out in a black bardot dress in 1994 after her split from the now King Charles.
Since then countless celebrities have stepped out in some outfits that have now become iconic within fashion.
And over the last two weeks we’ve seen two more a-listers adding their versions of revenge dressing into the mix.
Earlier this week Lily Allen attended the CFDA Awards in New York, wearing a white top and matching skirt by Colleen Allen, it was a risquee look that sure made a statement.
With her toned abs on show, the top left little to the imagination, showing underboob and even flashes of nipple at some points.
And whilst Lily has been separated from Stranger Things star David Harbour since earlier this year, this was the first time seeing the 40-year-old since the release of her breakup album, West End Girl.
Plus Nicole Kidman, who separated from singer Keith Urban last month after twenty years of marriage stating ‘irreconcilable differences’, also had her own revenge dress moment.
Walking in the Vogue World catwalk in Hollywood, Nicole strutted her stuff in a strapless black Chanel gown, the dress in question a tribute to Rita Hayworth in the 1046 movie Gilda.
With Hollywood waves and a red lip to go with, it was the ultimate power move of a newly single woman.
They say revenge is a dish best served cold, here fashion editor Abby McHale takes a look back at some of the most iconic revenge looks worn by the stars over the years.
Princess Diana
The OG of the revenge dress, Diana’s LBD made it into the history books as one of her most iconic looks, now that’s saying something.
Designed by Christina Stambolian, Diana wore it to a dinner in 1994 in Kensington Gardens.
It is reported that the princess initially was not going to attend, however after a weeks worth of reports in the press of the then Prince Charles infidelity, she accepted.
It of course caused quite a stir, as the look was very sexy for a member of the royal family.
The dress sold at auction in 1997 for £39,098 and even has its own Wikipedia page, titled ‘Revenge Dress’.
Mariah Carey
Back in 1997 Mariah Carey was a 28-year-old newly single woman after a divorce to Sony Music boss Tommy Mottola.
The marriage lasted five years and in an autobiography of Mariah’s released years later she said the marriage had ‘nearly smothered me to death’.
Attending the MTV Music Awards in 1997 that year she wore a black Calvin Klein two piece, that was the start of her image overhaul.
No longer under the constraints of her marriage, this was Mariah’s moment to reclaim herself, her looks and how she wanted to be perceived.
The outfit is still to this date one of her most notable looks and wouldn’t look out of place on a red carpet in 2025.
Elizabeth Hurley
After catapulting to fame thanks to a certain iconic safety pin dress in 1994, it only seems right that Elizabeth Hurley has a revenge dress too.
Splitting from Hugh Grant in 2000 after 13 years together as allegations were made surrounding his infidelity, Elizabeth attended an anniversary party for Valentino Garavani.
Looking radiant in a plunging halterneck champagne coloured dress, it ticked every box in showing Hugh what he was missing.
The dress even had a jewel encrusted snake around the neckline, maybe an extra little dig?
Bella Hadid
The Met Gala, which takes place in New York on the first Monday in May each year, is the perfect place for celebrities to go all out with their look.
So for Bella Hadid, who split from boyfriend The Weeknd months earlier at the end of 2016, left little to the imagination in a black lace Alexander Wang catsuit when attending the Met Gala in 2017.
Figure hugging, with a deep scoop on the back, not only was the catsuit fitted, but a little see through too.
The model had even more reason to look sensational as her ex was also in attendance alongside his then new beau Selena Gomez.
Zoe Kravitz
Another Met Gala revenge look, Zoe Kravitz dazzled in 2021 in a Saint Laurent jewelled gown.
If you thought Bella’s look was see through then this is a whole other level.
The mesh jewel dress even came with a bedazzled thong to keep the actresses modesty in check.
Zoe had filed for divorce in January 2021 from actor Karl Glusman, whom she’d been married to since 2019.
It’s safe to say that this look was one of the standouts from the Gala that year and will go down as one of Zoe’s most talked about looks.
