- "Vanderpump Rules" star Ariana Madix has been following Princess Diana's revenge-dressing playbook.
- Madix appeared on "Watch What Happens Live" in a dress similar to Diana's iconic 1994 revenge dress.
On June 29, 1994 — the night her husband admitted that he'd been cheating on her to the entire world — Princess Diana arrived at a party in a black, off-the-shoulder gown that would change fashion history.
Almost 29 years later — on the night we watched her boyfriend of nine years admit to her that he'd been having an affair with her best friend — "Vanderpump Rules" star Ariana Madix showed up to "Watch What Happens Live" in a black, off-the-shoulder dress that she described to host Andy Cohen as her "slutty funeral" look.
You may be thinking, "What does a Bravo reality TV star have in common with the most famous princess in the world?" Clearly, the answer is that they both perfected the art of revenge dressing.
The "revenge dress" was born on that night back in the '90s, when Princess Diana threw royal protocol out the window and dared to bare her shoulders in the Christina Stambolian dress while attending an event at London's Serpentine Gallery.
The Princess of Wales knew all eyes would be on her. That same night, Prince Charles (now King Charles III) gave an exclusive interview to British documentary filmmaker Jonathan Dimbleby, during which he revealed he'd been having an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles (now known as Queen Camilla).
It was a suave PR mood by Diana, who dominated front pages and headlines the next day with her "revenge dress." She stole the spotlight by looking incredible — and unbothered.
It's a playbook that Madix has followed to a T as she's dealt with her own public cheating scandal. On March 3, news broke that Madix's longtime boyfriend, Tom Sandoval, had been cheating on her with their costar Raquel (real name Rachel) Leviss.
The scandal shocked loyal fans who've been watching Sandoval and Madix's romance onscreen for nearly a decade, not to mention Madix taking Leviss under her wing throughout the most recent season. "Scandoval" has now become a national talking point — it was even mentioned at the White House Correspondents' dinner.
No one would have blamed Madix for lying low as details of Sandoval and Leviss' seven-month affair dominated headlines. But Madix, much like Diana, knew that all eyes would be on her. And she's made sure to make a statement with her fashion.
For the "Vanderpump Rules" reunion — which was filmed on March 23 and will air next week — she wore a red, cropped jacket and skirt. Pictures of her quickly went viral on social media, with many hailing Madix as the new queen of revenge dressing.
And when Madix appeared on Cohen's "Watch What Happens Live," which aired after the "Vanderpump Rules" finale on Wednesday, she chose a similarly bold and sexy ensemble. The black Alessandra Rich dress featured off-the-shoulder lace sleeves, a black bodice, and an asymmetrical train that showed plenty of leg. She paired the look with strappy black Steve Madden stilettos.
While Madix may have joked that she was wearing a "slutty funeral" dress, it's clear she's realized the same thing that Princess Diana did: You can still mourn the end of something while celebrating new beginnings.
And you can look damn good while doing it.