When media magnate Rupert Murdoch, 92, revealed his intention to become the Elizabeth Taylor of the Billionaires Club by announcing his engagement to former dental hygienist and model Ann Lesley Smith, 66, who will become his fifth wife, the thoughts of the fashion world turned to Jerry Hall, 66.

The beloved Texan supermodel tops the list of Murdoch’s ex-wives after reportedly receiving notice of her divorce by email in June. Those worried about Hall can relax after her stellar appearance in the latest campaign from Swedish high street giant H&M, celebrating its upcoming collaboration with French luxury label Mugler.

Jerry Hall in a still from the video celebrating the H&M collaboration with Mugler and Princess Diana in 1994 arriving at London’s Serpentine gallery in the revenge dress.Credit:H&M/Getty

While Hall, who was previously in a long-term relationship with Mick Jagger and dated Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry, would be the first to admit that she’s no princess in her southern drawl, the fitted black design she wears in the video strongly resembles Princess Diana’s revenge dress by Christina Stambolian from 1994.

The strapless dress with a distinctive plunging neckline worn by Hall was revived by Mugler creative director Casey Cadwallader from the brand’s archive and recently captured the attention of Gen Z in the television series Euphoria.

“Ooh baby, I feel so good,” Hall declares in the promotional music video, campily posing on the set of a fake talk show. The words fit as well as the dress, even though they’re borrowed from the 1998 Stardust song Music Sounds Better With You, covered here by Amaarae, Shygirl, Eartheater and Arca.

The H&M x Mugler dress has all the prerequisites of the modern revenge uniform, with a suitably short hemline, daring décolletage, and confident model. Hall also poses in high heels, having succumbed to the practicality of flats at her 2016 wedding to Murdoch, who was shorter than his bride.

High heels are a revenge outfit essential since Nicole Kidman said “I can wear heels now,” on The Late Show with David Letterman, following her divorce from Tom Cruise in 2001. Fellow Cruise ex-wife Katie Holmes followed suit after her 2012 divorce from the actor, stepping out in a vertiginous pair of heels from Roger Vivier.

No one could accuse Hall’s latest gig as being petty. The model was a frequent collaborator of Thierry Mugler, the French designer who launched his fashion house in 1974 and died last year, aged 73. Hall frequently appeared on the Mugler runway and posed in campaigns for his successful perfume Angel.

Zipping up could also be seen as a way of moving on. Back in 2019, when former Victoria’s Secret model Irina Shayk attempted a revenge dress manoeuvre, following her split from actor Bradley Cooper, psychologist Jocelyn Brewer validated dressing up for life’s next chapter.

Jerry Hall and Mugler creative director Casey Cadwallader on the set of the H&M music video to celebrate their collaboration with Mugler.

“[Revenge dressing] is psychologically healthy when you’re rocking it out for yourself and making a choice to, as I put it, ‘put your chin up and tits out’, because that’s your choice and you’re doing it in a way to feel empowered,” Brewer said.

For Cadwallader, who has energised the Mugler brand, the dress was a way of paying tribute to his predecessor.

“I was determined that this collection be true Mugler,” Cadwallader said in a release from H&M. “The details and quality of every piece had to be exactly as we do them, and I wanted to showcase the energy of Mugler, which has always been about clothes that allow for personal liberation. You can be so many different versions of yourself in Mugler.”

Fortunately, Hall chose her best version.

Mugler H&M launches globally at selected stores and hm.com on May 11, 2023

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