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In If you need reminding, Lily Allen knows exactly what she’s doing40 year old’s album, The West End Girl has become a global phenomenon, It’s sparking viral conversations about non-monogamy, infidelity, and what it means to be a woman in control of the narrative. Written in just ten days after their separation stranger things Star David Harbour, Allen’s album has been viewed by some as an act of revenge, with fans around the world Making all kinds of assumptions about what really happened In the short-lived marriage of the celebrity couple.
It’s about time Ellen went one step further by moving from the Revenge album to the Revenge Dress, as she did with a surprise appearance at the 16Arlington x Antony Price Fashion Show on Monday this week. Paying homage to Audrey Hepburn’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s look, the musician walked down the runway with his hair lightened while smoking a cigarette. As far as the dress goes, it was a classic Avenger aesthetic: fitted, velvet, strapless, and complete with a wide neckline, thigh-high slit, as well as a splash of color via the lime green interior. She looked sensational.
But dressing the avenger is not as easy as it seems. Far from a simple matter of slipping into a slinky gown, applying a little lipstick and walking out the front door with a pack of Marlboro Lights and a Machiavellian flair, this is a careful, strategic move that requires careful planning. Do it right, and you’ll get attention for all the best reasons while torturing the ex you’ve successfully lured into a quagmire of sadness and regret. Get it wrong, and, well, you’ll only be torturing yourself when you compulsively archive Instagram posts as if deleting a sadder, more depressing version of yourself that you want to forget.
In Allen’s case, the success of her Avenger costume was partly dependent on context and timing: she is riding the wave of global fame off the back of the success of West End Girl, so walking in the show confirmed her It Girl status. Everyone is talking about Ellen, and she’s making sure it stays that way.
Obviously, this is a strategy that is commonly adopted after any breakup, especially one that occurs when someone has behaved badly. Dressing in revenge is seen as a way to reclaim one’s power and remind the world of one’s authority, poise and beauty. Besides showing an ex what he or she is missing, it’s about owning your story and making sure everyone’s eyes and ears are on you rather than on them.
And yes, that famous precedent was set by none other than Princess Diana in 1994 when she arrived at a Vanity Fair party at London’s Serpentine Gallery wearing a black velvet strapless gown designed by Greek designer Christina Stambolian. This dress literally sent shockwaves around the world for many reasons. At first it was limited to dress only. With an off-the-shoulder silhouette, mid-length and slightly V-shaped plunging neckline, it defied several royal attire rules all together, such as no black and no skin on show.
The second reason Diana’s revenge dress worked wonders was because of the timing: The night of the party was the same night that then-Prince Charles confessed to being unfaithful to Diana on national television, confirming rumors of his affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles, whom he eventually married. By wearing such a daring outfit at that time, Diana ensured that she, unlike her husband, was at the forefront of the newspapers the next day.
Since then, scorned women everywhere have followed in Diana’s accomplished footsteps, publicly attempting to exact their revenge. In 2014, Rihanna arrived at the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards in a dazzling transparent gown by Adam Selman, which was rumored to be an explicit message to her on-and-off boyfriend Drake. “Every time a man cheats on you or treats you badly, you need a revenge costume,” the musician told WWD in 2017. “Every woman knows this.”
In 2017, Bella Hadid faced her own revenge when she arrived at the Met Gala following her breakup with the Weeknd, who was at the same event with his new girlfriend Selena Gomez. Hadid arrived in a beaded, black mesh Alexander Wang catsuit that featured an off-the-shoulder neckline as well as a low back. The look was so thin that the model had to be sewn into it; He was widely praised as one of the best dressed of the night. Acquired the Avenger costume. And before all that, there was Elizabeth Hurley, who split from Hugh Grant in 2000 and swiftly arrived on the red carpet for a Valentino charity benefit in a deep silky gold gown that completely stole the show.
With all this in mind, here are three golden rules for wearing an Avenger costume.
- Timing is everything: Ideally, as soon as possible after the breakup. This way, emotions are raw, and your actions are likely to have the greatest impact on you and your former partner. It’s also possible that you’re at your most delusional, which means you’ll have the courage to wear something bold.
- Wear something extraordinary: To qualify as a true Avenger costume, your outfit has to break the mold in some way. A nude dress is always a strong choice, as is any off-the-shoulder, backless, or slitted dress. Regardless of the style, if it’s something you don’t usually wear, it will have a deep impact.
- Consider the context: Where you wear your Avenger look will dictate how it’s perceived. Ideally, you want this to be in the most public place possible, where as many people as possible can see, take photos, and admire you. For a celebrity, it could be a red carpet event. For fools like us, it could be a birthday celebration, a wedding, or, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, the office Christmas party.
Whatever event you choose, just remember that the most important thing with revenge dressing is to make sure you feel good. As long as you feel your best in what you’re wearing, the rest of the world will think you do too.