My Friend Asked Me for the Perfect “Revenge Dress” and I Suggested These 28

A friend recently told me she'd been invited to a fancy spring gala and asked my advice on what to wear. She then quickly added her ex would be there, and she wanted to wear something that would wow them. "Something like the Mango revenge dress circulating TikTok," she said. I knew exactly what kind of dress she was looking for.

If you watch fashion videos on TikTok as much as my friend does, you probably already know the dress she's referring to. It's a sleek and silky black maxi dress from Mango's Selection edit that has a bustier top, thigh-high slit, and spaghetti straps. Users on TikTok have coined it "the revenge dress."

But what exactly is a revenge dress? It refers to the stunning off-the-shoulder black evening gown Princess Diana wore to a 1994 Vanity Fair party. Many have interpreted Diana's decision to wear the dress as an act of revenge toward her then-separated husband following his confession of adultery in a televised interview.

In essence, a revenge dress should make you feel confident, powerful, and amazing when you wear it. It's got to be black as a nod to Princess Diana (pictured above). And the simple act of wearing it should be all the revenge you need to take on any exes or in situations with people from your past.

Below, I'm sharing several stunning options that would fit the bill for my friend. If you also have a fancy soirée or dinner party on your calendar and need a dress that truly wows, use my picks below to get inspired. 

Next, 7 Trends I'm Buying at Zara and 7 I'm Skipping