My mum has bought DD a dress knowing we won’t like it.

Controlling?? Controlling is saying "here's a gift of £1000 for your daughter, but you must spend it on bibles/vegan food/bringing her to see me 4 times a week".

Spending £25 on a cheesy dress is just trying to do something nice that she thinks is cute but acknowledges that her taste is not the same as her daughter's.

This is quite ironic as "we" (ie society) think it's perfectly normal to wear totally impractical clothes for certain occasions - a fluffy white meringue dress for a wedding is the first thing that jumps to my mind - but babies apparently should only be dressed in gender neutral plain clothing it seems.
How dull 😂

I agree with OP it’s awful dress .
just put her in in a take a pic then throw it out.
it’s a waste of money but it’s her waste of money, and a pointless way of making herself feel important.
ignore it and laugh it off.

Minus headband, I think it's lovely. Why would anybody laugh at seeing your daughter dressed in that outfit? It's entirely reasonable birthday party attire. As for your mum, it depends on how she was laughing and how she is normally. Was it fond laughter with her saying how she couldn't resist it etc or was she commenting on how you wouldn't like it in an unpleasant way and laughing AT you? I'm struggling to see the problem, really. Firstly, a gm buying her gd an outfit is not a problem and hardly unusual. Secondly, what would she personally gain from deliberately buying a dress that you wouldn't like? Thirdly, she gains absolutely nothing if you don't dress your daughter's in the gift anyway because she won't see it on. You sound precious, Op, a bit controlling and very ungrateful for gifts.

Thing is it’s not her kid. Maybe the OP wanted the pleasure of choosing her daughter’s first birthday outfit.

Oh, her mother doesn't take joy in overstepping OP's boundaries. More like she knows how antsy her DD is about baby clothes and chose to subvert their taste, to point out how antsy they are - wait till DD wants a pink princess dress, OP, with a tiara! I was grateful for every garment my mothers-in-law gave my children and they bloody well wore them while they fit, because baby clothes have a clean life of about 2 hours before they're sick, stick chocolate all over it or get poo everywhere. I would cherish that dress too (I still have the little pink pinafore and white T-shirt my late MiL bought for my DD, now in her 40s then aged 3 months - it was given with love) because it shows DM has a good sense of humour - and is pointing out what DGD will likely be interested in wearing in the near future!
NB I choose clothes that are generally my taste, for DGC (don't do it very often) and I go for dark colours, classic cut and wearability. That's my taste. I have never asked DC what they think of what I've bought, only making sure it is good quality and will last a while. Usually, I buy books (sometimes ones I have written). I suspect they prefer my taste in books, but I have seen DGC in clothes I have bought.

I agree it's naff. But mainly she shouldn't be buying you something for your daughter to wear on the day when she knows you don't go in for that. She seems to think she can dress her up. She's not a doll.

The fact that she laughed and has acknowledged you will hate it gives you an easy way out though. Just laugh uproariously back with a "you know me so well. No way I'm coming to collect" and laugh it off.

You seem to have taken it very badly. I'm not sure it warrants such an angry response. You could waive it around as a joke on the day or hold it up in front of your dd for a lighthearted photo. I wouldn't necessarily dress her up in it for photos etc though as it will encourage your mum to do this again and it clearly grinds your gears, so try and put a stop to it now, but in a lighthearted but firm way if you can.

Couldn't have put it better. Don't be horrible to your mum Op.

You're being precious. Your child has a kind and involved grandmother, which is more than many do. Humour your Mum, take a really nice picture, the best you possibly can, and have it properly printed for her, because that is the kind and gracious response..

You have to learn to unclench about these things a little bit - I was very like this when my first was born (my thing was baby dolls), and it just upsets you, upsets the generous and kind gift-giver and also exposes you as rude and ungracious to the people who love you most.

Just say thank you, send a photo, and never think about it again. Your dd will have outgrown it in 20 minutes anyway, so this is about 5 minutes of "trauma" for you all, max.

This - not sure I understand why a) she bought a dress at all as , presumably as mum you’d already have some sort of outfit planned, and b) thinks that her buying an outfit means she gets to dictate how you dress her on the day?

I think it’s hideously pink and frou frou. A simple ‘lily is one’ tee shirt would have sufficed and could be worn for a few weeks after her birthday.

Also, as a jaded person with endless safeguarding training, have a huge issue with named clothing, as strangers can use your child’s name to build rapport… it makes for easier grooming/abductions. I’m afraid I’d refuse to let her wear it on those grounds alone.

I don't mind the outfit but it's your mum's attitude that is the problem, assuming that she gets to choose your dd's outfit for her first birthday, and especially one she knows you won't like.
I wouldn't use it at all and think @sunsu 's comment sounds perfect.

The grandmother is treating her like a doll to dress up.

How is that any different to what parents do everyday?!

I actuallly think it’s adorable 😂
But it is confusing that your DM thinks you’d dress your own child in an outfit you don’t like in a special occasion.

Everything.

OP do you have a dog? Or know someone with a dog who likes to dress it up?

I think that is completely different then it will.be the child:s own choice. The grandmother is treating her like a doll to dress up.

My MIL had a completely different wardrobe for my daughter for the days she spent with them. She also took her to the photographer to have her first birthday photos taken in a dress that she bought for her.
Did it bother us...no.
We appreciated PIL wanting to spend time with her and their time could be spent the way they wanted it. They loved her dearly and she loved them.
I can assure you that there will be quite a few other things to stress over and argue over whist raising children than a first birthday dress.

Kind of irrelevant if all these poster think it's cute - OP's mum knows she won't like it and bought it anyway, and gave it with a smirk by the sounds of the OP.

What a bunch of miserable fuckers 😂. Bin the dress and bin your mother.

@crumblingschools yes you can get "twee" outfits for boys too.
Usually a romper style shorts and a body suit with a printed bow tie and a matching peaky blinders flat cap.

Jesus Christ that's hideous 😂 Put her in it, take pics and send to mum, then tell her sorry but the frills got covered in poo when your crawling baby had a tricky nappy change, so it's in the wash. Forever.

I can't believe people think it's cute 😳

MN can be so odd about baby clothes

They don't all need to be practical and to your taste - just be polite, say thank you and take some photos. She'll have outgrown it in a couple of months, it's not like she'll be wearing it forever!

It's not to my taste, but I wouldn't fall out with anyone over it

She probably just wants you to put her in it for some cute baby photos. I think you're overreacting massively. If you don't want to put your daughter in it, just don't.

I personally wouldn't pick that dress out for a child to wear, but ultimately I probably wouldn't be bothered if someone else wanted them to wear it. She's only a baby - it's not really important.

I like the dress.

Is it the dress (not my taste either) or your mother dictating the day that’s bothering you?

I’d be annoyed that she thinks she has the ‘right’ to decide what my child is going to wear on her first birthday also.

I agree, though, one photo, then change straight away. Looks so uncomfortable.