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

I think it’s really cute but appreciate we all have different tastes.

Is it really a big deal to dress your daughter in an outfit you don’t like for one day? Realistically you’ll have loads of other photos of her

The other option - “Sorry we really don’t like the outfit so won’t be using it for her birthday/party. Would you rather we send it back or keep it at yours for when you look after her?”

Yep, she has vastly overstepped the boundaries and the only solution is to cut all contact , well, until you need her for free childminding.
Or you could have a laugh.. ‘Good grief mum, that’s a bit ott! Never mind, she will look cute for a few photos. Next time can we come with you to look at dresses?’

It won't cause a round of laughter. Your mum is laughing because she thinks it's absolutely lovely and would love to see her dgd in it but know it's not your taste. It's like nervous laughter

You're being a bit of a knob to your mum over nothing, it's just clothes. You put the baby in it, take a photo, say thanks and if you hate it or it's not practical it doesn't get worn again. The baby won't care.
My mam loves girly/ royalty type clothes, other grandma knits weird stuff, third grandma goes in for quite tacky stuff like you have there. They all love my DC, they all think about them and what they think looks cute when they're out and about. That's wonderful! You have the same from your mum, it's a real gift.
Yes, if you like joke with her about your difference in taste but don't spoil a relationship because you think you should have all the control.

I mean, it's kind of cute. She could wear the t shirt with some leggings for a birthday photo (it's the kind of cheesy thing that young adults like, so she might appreciate it when she's looking back at the photos years down the line.)

Also, the socks look cosy. The skirt looks quite wide around the waist and will be lovely and satisfyingly swishy when she is toddling. She will probably enjoy that. The colours are nice and muted.

What is odd is that your mum is laughing at you/your baby (by gifting an outfit she knows you won't like). That is the more puzzling thing and not very kind.

It's an odd thing to laugh over buying something you won't like unless you have the kind of relationship where this kind of joking is normal. It doesn't look like a cheap outfit for a joke buy though.

I can understand you finding this difficult and I'd assume there was a bit of jockeying for position going on if it happened to me with my own mum. It DID happen to me with MIL, buying things that we'd specifically said we didn't want - and it was partly power play I'm sure. Of course, we didn't address it outright. We just didn't use the things we didn't want to and praised up the great presents. And made sure it was clear that our family life was based on our own choices.

Princess?

It's truly awful but I suspect that the seller has now received a lot of traffic to their website 😉

But is it one day or will her mother do this every year now because she got away with it? Will she continue to buy outfits knowing her DD won't like them? I'd nip this in the bud now if I were OP.

For me it depends what her name is.

I love it.

Put her in it, if only for some pics for your mum.

I'm with you Op, that's a way over the top dress. I presume your DM wants a pink, girly DGC and she knows that's not your thing which is why she laughed.

Is she like this with everything with your parenting of DD?

Annoying but not the hill to die on. There will be others . !

What are you going to do when your daughter's taste in clothes is thr complete opposite of anything you like? Tell her everything she likes is hideous?

Put it on her, take a few pics for her DGM and forget about it. It's really not worth the stress.

I don't like it at all, but is a dress really worth falling out with your mum over? Unless the dress is a handy excuse. Maybe you've been looking for a reason.

It's SO cute! I love it

Dress her in it to please your Mum

There will be great photos too 😍

I'm far from a fashion expert but I thought it was cute. Maybe it's a good thing I don't have any girls..

Yes, it’s awful but just as PP said put it on her for a while and take a few photos. Whatever you do, do not include the headband, they are the most ugliest things in existence.

It's not too bad. Why would anyone laugh at her in it.

The outfit isn't terrible but lots of mums would carefully curate the entire color scheme of the whole birthday and woe betide anyone who interferes😄 #missespoint

I wouldn't encourage your mother to keep buying things for your DD that you think are awful. She'll keep doing it. Your DD will end up looking like a Strictly Come Dancing professional doing the samba by the time she's on her feet.

I agree with this.

Just tell her you've already got an outfit for her birthday.

I wouldn't buy something I know the parents would hate , why do that , it's not like baby is old enough to decide what to wear herself .

One photo then in bin. It's far too fussy and impractical for a baby so a photo is all it's good for .

I see nothing wrong with it.

put her in the outfit, take some photos and send them to her.

then change her into something of your choice.