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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:
Thread gallery
32
FateAmenableToChange · 02/05/2026 19:52

The girl needs to know and real friends tell the truth. If shes worth keeping as a friend, she will also realise this.

BunnyLake · 02/05/2026 19:51

I think she’s over reacting. You don’t like the dress, so what, it’s not a big deal. She needs to have more conviction in what she likes and to hang anyone else’s opinion/taste. If I really liked a dress I wouldn’t care if others didn’t like it.

HideousKinky · 02/05/2026 19:49

Riverpaddling · 02/05/2026 15:54

Is it made from nappy sacks?

My thought exactly!

LBFseBrom · 02/05/2026 19:48

You are right. It is dreadful.

Colscar · 02/05/2026 19:47

kermes · 02/05/2026 19:38

This is what my dress looked like when I was a bridesmaid in 1987.

Same.

I kinda like it though. It’s better than same old same old.

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 19:46

Dancingsquirrels · 02/05/2026 19:45

I don't love the dress

And can understand why you found it hard to hide your views

But I'm really judging you for starting a thread about it. That's low

Unless this is a hoax

Agreed.

RampantIvy · 02/05/2026 19:46

PivotPivotmakingmargaritas · 02/05/2026 15:51

Yeah ….my face would have failed with that dress….

Mine too. I don't have a very good poker face.

It is truly awful, and objectively hideous.

abracadabra1980 · 02/05/2026 19:45

ThisJadeBear · 02/05/2026 15:49

If you have out-there style which is very unique then you have to accept it’s not the norm and not everyone will like it.
It is the price of standing out and your friend knows that.
If she’d bought something very boring and bland you could probably say it’s nice, it suits you and everyone would get on with their day.
But she knows she’s bought something outrageous and she knows it won’t be to
your taste.
You have apologised for your initial reaction and if she can’t accept that, her ego is more fragile than her taste suggests.

Edited

Agree 100% with this sensible, pragmatic, reply.

Dancingsquirrels · 02/05/2026 19:45

I don't love the dress

And can understand why you found it hard to hide your views

But I'm really judging you for starting a thread about it. That's low

Unless this is a hoax

Pricelessadvice · 02/05/2026 19:44

Dear lord, that’s awful.
I try to be honest but not rude. If my friend wore that I’d say “it’s not to my taste but you’ll certainly stand out!” 😂

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 19:43

Why do I need a get a grip of myself @CrystalMighty? Also, I don’t think that’s correct English, by the way 🤭

CrystalMighty · 02/05/2026 19:41

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 19:40

My thoughts exactly. OP sounds like a mean girl. The Daily Mail have now picked up this thread, so hopefully the friend will see it and never contact OP again. Your friend had a lucky escape tbh.

Time to get a grip of yourself 🤣

Newnamehiwhodis · 02/05/2026 19:41

Just let it be. Adults can handle discomfort. You don’t have to like what she likes. She’s being very childish

Lonleyfox · 02/05/2026 19:41

Yes sorry, objectively hideous

CrystalMighty · 02/05/2026 19:41

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 is objectively hideous.

Case closed.

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 19:40

HughManity · 02/05/2026 19:39

Bloody hell!

My thoughts exactly. OP sounds like a mean girl. The Daily Mail have now picked up this thread, so hopefully the friend will see it and never contact OP again. Your friend had a lucky escape tbh.

iwasgonnasay · 02/05/2026 19:40

BinNightTonight · 02/05/2026 15:33

I want to see the dress Grin

We NEED to see

RawBloomers · 02/05/2026 19:40

SweetnsourNZ · 02/05/2026 19:25

I think this sort of over the top ruffles and shine was very popular in the 80s. Along with lots of apricot.

But it was hideous back then too and plenty of people said so. Of course the post-modern movement was, to some extent, supposed to be hideous.

CrystalMighty · 02/05/2026 19:39

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:

Oh my golly gosh

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 19:39

RawBloomers · 02/05/2026 19:37

You did nothing wrong, OP. You've tried to soothe her. There's nothing more you can do, this is now about her, not you. You'll just have to wait and see if she can get her head out of her own arse and appreciate that you are a separate person she supposedly likes and not just there to stroke her ego.

If she's like this a lot, or if you are constantly having to second guess yourself over minor things or pretend your someone you're not so that she doesn't fall out with you, she might not be worth the effort.

OP only soothed the friend after she made it clear she didn’t like the dress. Yet she’s now bitching about the dress here with everyone else whilst asking everyone to make her feel better. I can understand why her friend is so upset. Surely OP isn’t worth the effort?

HughManity · 02/05/2026 19:39

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:

Bloody hell!

Weeelokthen · 02/05/2026 19:38

If one of my friends rocked up in that I would have burst out laughing and would think she was taking the piss out herself. Where could you even buy such an abomination 😂😅

kermes · 02/05/2026 19:38

This is what my dress looked like when I was a bridesmaid in 1987.

CrystalMighty · 02/05/2026 19:37

BorgQueen · 02/05/2026 15:45

I remember going to a wedding 4 years ago,
very posh do at The Corinthia in London.
The bride spent all of 2 hours in a £16000, yes 16 thousand pounds ( albeit stunning) wedding dress then changed into something that had apparently cost £5000 ( Prada maybe) and looked like it had come from a market stall for £9.99, my god it was hideous, a dirty off white, clingy and almost see through nylon monstrosity.
Money doesn’t = taste or style.

Wow 🤯!!

RawBloomers · 02/05/2026 19:37

You did nothing wrong, OP. You've tried to soothe her. There's nothing more you can do, this is now about her, not you. You'll just have to wait and see if she can get her head out of her own arse and appreciate that you are a separate person she supposedly likes and not just there to stroke her ego.

If she's like this a lot, or if you are constantly having to second guess yourself over minor things or pretend your someone you're not so that she doesn't fall out with you, she might not be worth the effort.