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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.

OP posts:
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32
ThisOneLife · 02/05/2026 23:30

faithfultoGeorgeMichael · 02/05/2026 15:39

S&B in here shows the huge variety in peoples tatse - there is no 'objectively hideous dress" just opinions. And yours is no more valid than anyone elses. Have you considered that as she is very knowledgable about clothes she may know more than you? Your confidence in your personal taste is arrogant - your view is no more 'objective' than hers is it?

Friend asked for her opinion.
She gave it.
Friend has no reason to be annoyed.

TouchtheEarth · 02/05/2026 23:27

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 looks like a free makeup bag that came with an issue of Marie Claire several years ago.

GrandmasCat · 02/05/2026 23:21

Createausername1970 · 02/05/2026 15:35

She asked you what you thought. If people can't cope with honest reactions then they shouldn't ask.

You didn't say anything bad about it and were trying to be diplomatic.

I think she is the unreasonable one for getting annoyed.

This

Daisymaybe60 · 02/05/2026 23:15

Oh dear! I’m really not surprised you couldn’t keep your face straight. 😂 I’ve worn worse, but in my defence it was in the 1980s.

CharlieUniformNovemberTangoYankee · 02/05/2026 23:05

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:

So THAT'S what happened to Baby Jane!

Flannelenthusiast · 02/05/2026 23:04

InfrequentPropolis · 02/05/2026 15:54

Yes. That is objectively hideous. She should be thanking you for staging an intervention. Apart from anything else it looks aggressively flammable.

I usually find all the fawning over 'hilarious' comments on here so annoying... However, 'aggressively flammable ' is pure gold 😹😹

noseymcnose · 02/05/2026 23:02

I wore a bridesmaid dress as a child in the 80s strikingly similar. It wasn't even a good look then.

RtHonLadyMuck · 02/05/2026 22:59

Sorry this has happened @SummerFate You’re right. The dress is absolutely hideous and you can’t help that you were unable to conceal your immediate reaction. I don’t understand why some people on here are being so mean to you about it.

deepseaargyllfish · 02/05/2026 22:57

I agree it’s an ‘objectively hideous’ dress.

i think you’ve been very sweet and diplomatic in your words to her. Your face - less so, but it’s totally understandable.

shes being unreasonable, not you.

Rainbowunicorn12 · 02/05/2026 22:53

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:

That is awful genuinely awful

44andnotout · 02/05/2026 22:42

Thats a truly awful dress in my opinion-she would need a hell of a lot of confidence to carry it off. You haven't done anything wrong its actually really hard to put a neutral expression on your face. She'll get over it!!

GeorgianFavade · 02/05/2026 22:40

FernsInValley · 02/05/2026 22:34

Where is she planning to wear it?

When she’s a bridesmaid in 1985 by the look of it.

JoyousSquid · 02/05/2026 22:39

I actually like it in this photo (not the one you posted though)

Friend’s awful dress and my reaction
FernsInValley · 02/05/2026 22:34

Where is she planning to wear it?

chaosmaker · 02/05/2026 22:32

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:

looks like it was made out of pink bin bags. I should design fashion, could easily come up with crap like that.

@SummerFate I think your reaction was probably less horrified than it should have been, especially at the brag of how much it cost....

GeorgianFavade · 02/05/2026 22:32

It’s funny how male and female friendships differ on this stuff.

The other week, DH’s turned up for them both to take a taxi into town to meet some others.

The first words when he saw his friend’s shirt: “What the f* are you wearing?” - followed by them both laughing their heads off, before they both headed out the door.

PuggyPuggyPuggy · 02/05/2026 22:31

Dress looks like a frilly umbrella 😂

tryandbepositive · 02/05/2026 22:26

Horrific dress

jdb9803 · 02/05/2026 22:25

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:

Is it a 1980s themed event?

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 22:24

FormerCautiousLurker · 02/05/2026 22:20

Because I assumed the MN crowd would comment ‘stealth brag’. Apologies if I used the wrong term.was trying to see off the bit backs that derail threads. Am out of here now.

Edited

I’m not sure I understand the point of this post.

FormerCautiousLurker · 02/05/2026 22:20

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 22:19

I thought you said you had lots of money and then said ‘humble brag’?

Because I assumed the MN crowd would comment ‘stealth brag’. Apologies if I used the wrong term.was trying to see off the bit backs that derail threads. Am out of here now.

seventeenofsumday · 02/05/2026 22:20

FormerCautiousLurker · 02/05/2026 21:55

Yep - he’s off on a business trip for two weeks, flying tomorrow, so we had our regular cocktail Saturday with the kids (18 and 21). However, he is checking in on the Miami Grand prix just now, having been there last year, and I was lured here to check the threads while finishing my passionfruit martini (4 for the price of 3 in Sainsbury’s. Wicked)

So, yeah. We’re pretty fun. I still would never wear that abominable dress, though.

God 🤣🤣🤣🙄😂😂😂😭

blueshoes · 02/05/2026 22:20

Hideous does not do it justice

Sheldonsheher · 02/05/2026 22:20

Tbh your friend needs to get a grip. You can’t be into out there fashion and simultaneously expect people to like everything you wear. I have friends who insult me all the time about clothes or decor etc and tbh I don’t give a monkey.

Boopeedoop · 02/05/2026 22:19

It's a bit Widow Twanky for my taste!

Your friends reaction makes me think she isn't as confident with her choice as she says she is.