Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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
AImportantMermaid · 02/05/2026 18:44

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:

My friend had a prom dress a lot like that in the ‘80s except it was peach shot taffeta!

ShockingBritain · 02/05/2026 18:44

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:

No way thats the dress 😂

Dontbeconspicuous · 02/05/2026 18:44

I voted Yabu because you’ve done everything you can. You handled it well, you apologised and everything you said was tactful so Yabu to worry about it any more.

TheWickerFan · 02/05/2026 18:43

Jesus Christ? Who killed Baby Jane? That dress, probably.

lornad00m · 02/05/2026 18:43

It's horrible. But she liked it. And given you've been a witness to all her other fashion disasters, you should have been well prepared for her to produce the latest horror and responded accordingly.

So you've hurt her feelings. Big whoop. She needs to put on her big girl pants. You've apologised. This isn't a reason to end a friendship.

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 02/05/2026 18:43

As a former goth and current weird outfit woman, if you dress like that you just need to accept not everyone likes it. Most people on my estate hated my demonias but I didn’t care. Do I love the dress? No, I think it’s ugly, but many people don’t like how I dress or how I used to dress and that’s okay. If you dress weird, people are gonna think you dress weird. It’s not a judgement on you it’s their opinion. I’m sure she will meet people who love it in her fashion community. Surly if she dresses like this on the regular she is used to a bit of pushback?

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 18:42

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

Error404FucksNotFound · 02/05/2026 18:42

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:

This is a joke thread, right?

I hope.

Dukesgarden · 02/05/2026 18:42

It's a dress. Why should you like it? She's crackers, your reaction will either make her see it differently or reinforce her love for it. Win win. Not your problem.

FlapperFlamingo · 02/05/2026 18:42

Was she really asking your opinion or looking for flattery and you to gush over it? I suggest the latter because her reaction isn’t one you’d expect from someone who wants a ln opinion. So I wouldn’t fix it - I’d let it slide.

Triskellion75 · 02/05/2026 18:41

I don't know what's worse, the dress or how much it cost!

That colour reminds me of the time I had alcohol poisoning and threw up so much I ended up bringing up bile.

Weirdconditionaltense · 02/05/2026 18:40

You were honest. Yes she's your friend but she can't expect you to lie for her

Dodorogers · 02/05/2026 18:38

74username74 · 02/05/2026 17:23

It is. Or Eugenie & Beatrice.

Oh yes!! Very much so

Dodorogers · 02/05/2026 18:35

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.

I don’t know if anyone else has said this but I just remembered what it reminds me of and why I love it! Drew Barrymore’s prom dress in Never Been Kissed!! (When she is Josie Grossie)

Friend’s awful dress and my reaction
PGmicstand · 02/05/2026 18:34

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:

This looks like something Kath would have bought from Tru & Prude's shop at the mall for a big night out/important occasion with Kel.

GarlicMind · 02/05/2026 18:32

I got ChatGPT to put this dress on long, black supermodel Awar Odhiang. Even after 'runway' styling and colourful makeup, it looked so absurd that I didn't bother downloading the image. Black models usually look great in bright pink, on camera at least. This one could be a lost cause!

SharonBe · 02/05/2026 18:28

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 hideous! It looks cheap and nasty. I wouldn't be surprised to find a toilet roll under that!

Marieb19 · 02/05/2026 18:28

That is awful.

SlumChum · 02/05/2026 18:23

When an outfit even makes the tall, gorgeous model look dumpy and frumpy, you know it's over for us average people 🤣 It sounds like your friend will have the confidence to carry this off, but yanbu to have been unable to control your face

Therescathairinmybath · 02/05/2026 18:22

That’s an awful dress. As the wonderful Dolly Parton says ‘it costs a lot of money to look this cheap!’

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 18:22

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 18:14

I understand and totally agree that our faces can betray what we’re really feeling, even when we’re trying our best not to show it.

But I think OP lets herself down here with her OP saying one thing (oh I’m so worried I might have unintentionally upset my friend) and her subsequent posts saying another (here’s a link I’m posting anonymously to the horrible and ruinously expensive dress so you and I can mock it together, but please please don’t tell my friend - she’ll kill me!)

To me, it undermines OP’s argument that she didn’t mean to hurt her friend’s feelings with her facial expression.

This post was a reply to @ginasevern’s 18:04 post. Sorry, I meant to quote you!

Gymnopedie · 02/05/2026 18:21

ShowOfHands · 02/05/2026 15:52

I notice the model isn't showing her face.

NewName12345678910 · 02/05/2026 18:19

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:

That is hideous

Chocolattcoffeecup · 02/05/2026 18:17

I've seen it now. OK 😂

moomooitus · 02/05/2026 18:16

Fucking hell OP.

Laughing my head off at any poster that suggested your opinion isn't valid because there isn't any such thing as an 'objectively hideous' dress.

I'd love to see anyone keep a straight face when confronted with that monstrosity.