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Friend’s awful dress and my reaction

984 replies

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 15:28

A friend is mine is quite heavily into fashion and spends a lot on clothes. Some of her choices are quite bold and not necessarily what I would pick, but she has a good figure and is quite distinctive looking, so can generally pull off something a bit more “out there”.

However, yesterday she showed me the dress she has spent a fortune on for an event - and it’s hideous. Not “not to my taste” - objectively hideous. And my face reacted before my brain could tell it to keep quiet.

She could tell immediately that I thought it was awful and she looked really upset. She said straight out, “You hate it, don’t you?”, and while I tried to say it just wasn’t my personal cup of tea, it was too late. It was obvious I hated it. I said we all have different tastes, what suits her wouldn’t suit me and that I’ve seen things look amazing on her that I could never wear, but the rest of the evening was really awkward.

I’ve messaged this morning saying I’m sorry if I upset her and that I didn’t mean to, and that she shouldn’t let what I think affect her choice. She hasn’t replied.

How do I fix this? Do I just hope it blows over? I know I should have tried to hide my thoughts, but when she said she’d spent twice what I pay a month for my mortgage, I was expecting something amazing - I just couldn’t hide my reaction when I saw this monstrosity.

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Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:40

ForeverTheOptomist · 03/05/2026 00:39

People can be so ridiculous. I always thought that I was over sensitive until I became a regular visitor to MN.

I have to say that if any of my friends suggested that they wear that hideous (IMO) dress, I would have been totally stumped as to how to react. But then, I don't know anyone who would wear that, so I'm doubly stumped.

Don't fall out over a dress.

This.

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:40

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:39

How?

If you don’t know, I can’t explain it for you.

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SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:39

user233675892 · 03/05/2026 00:05

A twat for answering your AIBU with, yes, you are? Ok. Anyway, I've reported this thread, so MNHQ can decide whether or not you're genuine, so in the meantime, knock yourself out being unpleasant.

Ooooohhh, noooo!! You’ve reported me?! Whatever will I doooooo?!!

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ForeverTheOptomist · 03/05/2026 00:39

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

People can be so ridiculous. I always thought that I was over sensitive until I became a regular visitor to MN.

I have to say that if any of my friends suggested that they wear that hideous (IMO) dress, I would have been totally stumped as to how to react. But then, I don't know anyone who would wear that, so I'm doubly stumped.

Don't fall out over a dress.

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:39

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:36

With every post.

How?

SheSaidHummingbird · 03/05/2026 00:38

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 15:48

Well, it’s your fault if she finds the thread and never speaks to me again 😄 But here it is:

It's the prom dress from Never Been Kissed

Friend’s awful dress and my reaction
Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:38

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:37

And how would you know that?

Because you can’t change your username after your first post on a thread.

Friend’s awful dress and my reaction
Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:37

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:36

Did I suggest otherwise?

I wanted to make it very clear what I think of the sentiment of your thread.

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:37

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:36

You can’t use more than one account on one thread though.

And how would you know that?

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Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:36

This reply has been deleted

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You can’t use more than one account on one thread though.

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:36

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:32

I misunderstood the sentiment of that post. I did not misunderstand the sentiment of your thread.

Did I suggest otherwise?

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SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:36

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:35

How did I make such a banana of myself?

With every post.

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GargoylesofBeelzebub · 03/05/2026 00:35

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 16:29

Maybe just be a kinder friend and support her choices to wear what she wants?

You won’t like everything she wears and she won’t like everything you wear. Part of being a good friend sometimes involves telling a white lie to keep them feeling happy and confident about their own choices - which in my view was entirely the right thing to do here, because it was a fashion choice.

Your friend’s self-esteem might be quite bruised now. Was it worth contributing to that?

But also part of being a good friend is telling them the truth. The dress is hideous.

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:35

This reply has been deleted

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Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:35

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:31

You should be ashamed of making such a banana of yourself across this thread.

How did I make such a banana of myself?

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:34

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Oh, didn’t you know sock-puppeting isn’t possible now that everyone has to keep the same username throughout the thread?

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:33

user233675892 · 03/05/2026 00:00

How do I fix this?
Probably not by posting it for 21 pages of laughs at her expense.

Do I just hope it blows over?
Seems unlikely now.

You do realise I didn’t post all 21 pages of responses?

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Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:32

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:29

You misunderstood the sentiment because the poster you quoted, who said “Bloody hell”, was saying that about the dress, not my reaction.

I misunderstood the sentiment of that post. I did not misunderstand the sentiment of your thread.

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:32

This reply has been deleted

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Leavesandthings · 03/05/2026 00:32

If someone wears a dress that looks like a Barbie birthday cake, they need to have a sense of humour and be not taking themself too seriously.

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:31

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:30

Cowardly and brave are two extreme ends of a spectrum. Why on earth makes you think the reaction had to be either one of said extremes?

Because you’re either one or the other.

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:31

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:25

Yes, I can. You could have been kind to your friend but chose not to be. Your friend will remember that. Unless you have a genuine reason why you couldn’t show some manners and consideration for your friend’s dress, you should feel ashamed.

You should be ashamed of making such a banana of yourself across this thread.

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user233675892 · 03/05/2026 00:30

This reply has been deleted

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SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:30

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:26

Okay. So you think you behaved bravely. How were you brave?

Cowardly and brave are two extreme ends of a spectrum. Why on earth makes you think the reaction had to be either one of said extremes?

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SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:29

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 23:59

How have I misunderstood the sentiment? On AIBU, posters ask if they’re being unreasonable or not, and I think you have been unreasonable. You’ve used this thread to justify criticising your friend’s dress and have a good laugh at her expense, which I think is nasty.

You misunderstood the sentiment because the poster you quoted, who said “Bloody hell”, was saying that about the dress, not my reaction.

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