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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
Lavender14 · 02/05/2026 19:34

Haha I thought I was prepared but I in fact was not!

It's very very out there. I think to be fair, if you chose to be very adventurous with your clothing you know its not going to be what everyone likes. And I guess being 'unique' is probably a big part of the fun of it all. So I think she'd be quite unreasonable to ask your opinion on something quite outrageous like this and then get offended if you don't like it.

Equally, my guess is there maybe are ways to communicate that that and if you maybe focus more on the fact she's having fun with her clothing and less on what they actually look like, maybe it would have been easier to laugh it off in a more positive way? Though I'll be honest it took me a bit by surprise.

CharleneElizabethBaltimore · 02/05/2026 19:34

Its a metallic pink Dolce & Gabbana silk cotton ruffled A-line gown

DownyBirch · 02/05/2026 19:30

I suspect your friend reacted that way precisely because some part of her was telling her she'd made a really expensive mistake, and she was hoping that you would validate her choice.

Sidebeforeself · 02/05/2026 19:27

EmeraldShamrock000 · 02/05/2026 19:05

Yes. Learn to use a plain face. Your opinion shouldn’t be strong enough to read it from your face, especially over a dress

It’s hardly important enough to do that. Friend enjoys wearing ‘out there clothes” but took a huff cos OP didnt like it. Maybe she should be the one to moderate her reactions?

MandemChickenShop · 02/05/2026 19:26

Don't worry about it.

SweetnsourNZ · 02/05/2026 19:25

shesarunnershesatrackstar · 02/05/2026 15:56

I’ve seen worse.

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

DownyBirch · 02/05/2026 19:23

newornotnew · 02/05/2026 15:54

I would never in a million years choose the dress, but I think you've been very rude and judgemental towards someone you say you consider a friend.

It isn't even that out there, it's just ruffle-heavy.

Given you know she wears more unusual clothes than you, I can't understand why this dress made you shocked.

How has OP been rude and judgmental? All she did was fail for a moment to hide her instinctive reaction.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 02/05/2026 19:23

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 19:11

Thank you for telling me how strong my opinion should be. All these years I’ve been thinking my opinions were my own to navigate. Thank heavens you told me.

No need to be such a smarty pants.
You should have learned how to use a poker face on occasion as an adult. It is not that hard.
When your friend sees it on the DM you’ll learn how to use a poker face.

JoyLoveJoyInOrbitNsoul · 02/05/2026 19:23

MayDaySunshinePlease · 02/05/2026 19:12

Even a self respecting toilet dolly wouldn't be seen in that!!

Hahaha..you may have a point
My Gran had a toilet roll dolly.

CharleneElizabethBaltimore · 02/05/2026 19:23

Dancingintherain09 · 02/05/2026 19:22

I think we all want to see this dress now

the op put it on the thread not sure when

Strawberrydelight78 · 02/05/2026 19:23

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's awful it reminds of a bad 80's bridesmaids dress. 🙉😂

Dancingintherain09 · 02/05/2026 19:22

I think we all want to see this dress now

Illegally18 · 02/05/2026 19:21

EmeraldShamrock000 · 02/05/2026 19:05

Yes. Learn to use a plain face. Your opinion shouldn’t be strong enough to read it from your face, especially over a dress

Nonsense! That's what faces are for. Communication.

WhatterySquash · 02/05/2026 19:19

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:

Farking hell! I was prepared to concede a dress can't be "objectively hideous" but I've changed my mind!

I'm also someone who often cannot arrange my face to hide my thoughts, however hard I try and I totally sympathise with that. My friends are nice about it and one told me she quite likes it because she knows if I have a positive reaction, it's genuine. Your friend is BU to take offence after putting you through that! She likes a fugly dress, she can wear a fugly dress – it's obviously designed to be a talking point/get noticed and if that's what she likes, that's fine. You weren't scathing or mean, you just don't like it. Also fine.

HearMeSnore · 02/05/2026 19:19

Ok I am the first to admit that I know nothing about fashion.

But I cannot imagine anybody looking good in that. It looks like somebody made it for a practical joke at a fashion show. Like that guy who gate crashed New York Fashion Week in a bin bag and shower cap.

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 19:15

This reply has been deleted

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LemonyCurd · 02/05/2026 19:14

It Uhm. Well. It looks like viscera!

Yeaaaaaah.

Lavenderandbrown · 02/05/2026 19:12

Made by those villainous men who dressed Kourtney Kardashian….with all
the money in the world to spend on a wedding dress…in this ….

Friend’s awful dress and my reaction
74username74 · 02/05/2026 19:12

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 18:42

OP, just thought I’d let you know the Daily Mail have picked up this thread.

It was probably written by the Daily Fail.

MayDaySunshinePlease · 02/05/2026 19:12

JoyLoveJoyInOrbitNsoul · 02/05/2026 15:57

Over a toilet roll type dolly dress.

Even a self respecting toilet dolly wouldn't be seen in that!!

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 19:11

EmeraldShamrock000 · 02/05/2026 19:05

Yes. Learn to use a plain face. Your opinion shouldn’t be strong enough to read it from your face, especially over a dress

Thank you for telling me how strong my opinion should be. All these years I’ve been thinking my opinions were my own to navigate. Thank heavens you told me.

OP posts:
2ndcarowner · 02/05/2026 19:09

If she’s going to a Kath and Kim fancy dress party as the mother then it’s a great dress, otherwise I think you’ve done her a favour, it’s fugly and I can’t imagine anyone could pull it off that they wouldn’t look better in something else. I would also not have been able to hide my true feelings had I been in your situation.

watchingthishtread · 02/05/2026 19:09

No one could pull that dress off. You have done her a favour. You are a good friend.

CharleneElizabethBaltimore · 02/05/2026 19:08

ChiliFiend · 02/05/2026 19:06

Clearly I'm the only person on earth with this view, but I like it :) I couldn't pull it off but I love the metallic pink.

id say its ok, but its the colour and the metallic that needs improving

EmeraldShamrock000 · 02/05/2026 19:08

ChiliFiend · 02/05/2026 19:06

Clearly I'm the only person on earth with this view, but I like it :) I couldn't pull it off but I love the metallic pink.

I like it too. I wouldn’t have anywhere to wear it.

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