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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
AccordingToWhom · 02/05/2026 15:53

There is such a thing as objectively hideous after all.

Merryoldgoat · 02/05/2026 15:53

Sweet Jesus that is vile and I like some out-there shit.

EasternStandard · 02/05/2026 15:52

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:

Wow that’s something. Yeh not many could hide behind an it’s great.

Fairyliz · 02/05/2026 15:52

Gettingbysomehow · 02/05/2026 15:39

We need to see this monstrosity urgently. Well I do anyway 😂

You are not the only one.

Sourandsweet1 · 02/05/2026 15:52

At the moment all this woman has done is not reply to a message the op sent her a mere few hours ago!!

PivotPivotmakingmargaritas · 02/05/2026 15:51

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

WhatDoRacoonsSay · 02/05/2026 15:51

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 your friend a Pantomime Dame?

WhatDoRacoonsSay · 02/05/2026 15:50

You did nothing wrong.
Why on earth does she expect her friends to like her clothes?

MegMortimer · 02/05/2026 15:50

Yep OP, that's a horrible dress.

Motnight · 02/05/2026 15:50

Goodness 😲

CoatiCutie · 02/05/2026 15:50

Ok that looks like a pantomime dame dress 😅🙈😱 however is she likes it, then good for her! I wear very much my own style

Leavesandthings · 02/05/2026 15:50

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:

Amazing!!!
You tried to be polite, what more can you do!

AccordingToWhom · 02/05/2026 15:50

FeliciaFancybottom · 02/05/2026 15:48

Is it this?

Wtf!!!

Looks like you weren't far off actually

Sourandsweet1 · 02/05/2026 15:49

The fact you messaged this morning and it’s only 3.30pm on a Saturday afternoon and she hasn’t replied - I wouldn’t read too much in to!!

WilfredsPies · 02/05/2026 15:49

Mischance · 02/05/2026 15:41

Anyone mad enough to spend that sort of money on one dress would not be my friend. People are using food banks FGS!

That’s the most nonsensical argument I’ve ever heard. You could apply that argument to literally anything you own from a house downwards. There will always be a cheaper option.

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.

FeliciaFancybottom · 02/05/2026 15:49

Bloody hell, it looks so cheap and nasty.

Sourandsweet1 · 02/05/2026 15:49

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,

and this is one such item that you wouldn’t pick. She has though. And that’s really all there is to it.

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 15:48

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 02/05/2026 15:44

We need a link. Honestly we need to see if you are reasonable or not and then work back to fixing this.

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

Friend’s awful dress and my reaction
OP posts:
Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 02/05/2026 15:48

Please show the dress.

MetaDaughter · 02/05/2026 15:48

Mischance · 02/05/2026 15:41

Anyone mad enough to spend that sort of money on one dress would not be my friend. People are using food banks FGS!

This is an utterly ridiculous comment. Everyone has different priorities. I know plenty of people who buy their clothes from Vinted, or charity shops, but spend astonishing amounts on holidays or cars. What about school fees? Or nails / hairdressing / Deliveroo?

Who are any of us to judge another person’s legal and legitimate spending?

bostonchamps · 02/05/2026 15:47

Mischance · 02/05/2026 15:41

Anyone mad enough to spend that sort of money on one dress would not be my friend. People are using food banks FGS!

So because some people have very little money, others’ spending habits should stop? Do you have even a basic understanding of how an economy works?

EasternStandard · 02/05/2026 15:47

Link pls op

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