Although Ariana Madix has shown incredible restraint in the weeks since she discovered her then-boyfriend Tom Sandoval’s months-long affair with a friend and Vanderpump Rules co-star Rachel “Raquel” Leviss, the dress she chose for the Bravo show’s Season 10 reunion spoke volumes.
Boldly revealing her toned abs in a “firecracker” ensemble (which was actually a two-piece combo of a short, lipstick-colored jacket and a cropped pencil skirt from Lebanese womenswear brand MONOT), Madix’s incredibly confident entrance to the reunion prompted Lisa Vanderpump to comment on the video: “That’s a revenge dress if ever I saw one.”
“I know,” said host Andy Cohen. – She is like Princess Diana.
That spring, while she wasn’t creating new recognizable style moments, Madix rolled up her sleeves to write Single AF Cocktails: Drinks for Bad Dinner Parties (releases December 5).
The book is a collection of potable stories about how she regained her power in the months after the sudden end of her nine-year relationship, and for the recipe for the “revenge dress” she reinvents her reunion outfit not once but twice. The striking frame features a photo of Madix in a power pose, wearing a sequined riff on her March look that somehow manages to be even sexier than the first version. Of course, he tops it off with a “fiery red Negroni.”
Ariana Madix is ’reclaiming’ her power, 1 cocktail at a time, to prove ‘people wrong’ who doubted her (Exclusive)
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Kelly Puleio
Speaking to PEOPLE ahead of her book’s release, she says of the viral style moment, “It wasn’t planned. I just wanted to have something that I felt good about, that I felt strong about.”
She also clarifies, “The word ‘revenge’ never came out of my mouth. It was something that Andy said at the time and it was a really nice thing to say… And yes, that was a moment where it helped I feel like I have some kind of armor.”
Whether revenge was the goal or not, the style statement marked an important step in Madix’s transformative breakup journey that began nearly nine months ago.
Ariana Madix re-wears a version of her scandalous ‘revenge dress’ for fiery ‘Dancing with the Stars’ debut
As someone who has been open about her mental health issues, Madix has used the instability and vulnerability of the past year to shed some of her emotional baggage.
“I was an anxious person for so long and it got me nowhere,” she admits. “So now I just, with less anxiety, just kind of say, ‘F— that.'”
Read the inside story on the “Revenge Dress” cocktail below — and learn how to add some eye-catching color to your gin drink.
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Nicole Weingart/Bravo via Getty
REVENGE DRESSBest served coldServes 1
1 oz. Strawberry Campari (see below) 1 oz. gin 1 oz. sweet vermouth Ice cubes Orange peel, for decoration
- Combine Campari, gin and vermouth in a mixing glass with ice
- Stir to cool
- Strain into a rocks glass over a few fresh ice cubes
- Garnish with orange peel
Before recording Vanderpump Rules reunion show, I got together with my amazing stylist Emily Men to figure out what to wear for the episode. For most reunion shows I would wear something simple, like a little black dress, but I knew this time my outfit had to be bold. When she pulled out an amazing red top and skirt combo, we were both instantly obsessed. During the taping, Andy Cohen mentioned how it reminded him of Princess Diana’s iconic revenge dress after Prince Charles confessed his infidelity on national television. It turns out that the best way to get revenge on your ex is to simply remind them how much of a firecracker you are, with or without them.
In homage to that daring red dress, this cocktail is a fiery red Negroni made with strawberry Campari.
Campari infused with strawberriesMakes 12 oz.
10 strawberries 12 oz. Campari aperitivo
- Cut off the green tops of the strawberries and cut them in half
- Mix with 12 ounces of Campari in a large jar with a lid
- Shake to combine
- Let the berries sit overnight
- Strain the Campari into another jar
- (Save the soaked strawberries; they are delicious on their own or spooned over vanilla ice cream)
- Store the infusion in a jar for up to 30 days in the refrigerator
Excerpted from Single AF Cocktails. Published by Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2023, Ariana Madix.
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Clarkson Potter
**This recipe was provided to PEOPLE by a chef, restaurant or culinary professional. Not tested for home use.**
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Individual AF cocktails is released on December 5 wherever books are sold, i Vanderpump Rules can be downloaded in its entirety on Peacock. Madix will compete in Dancing with the stars finale on Tuesday on ABC.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education