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
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.

newornotnew · 02/05/2026 15:34

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 15:31

You haven’t seen it 🫣

But why did you react so strongly? It doesn't matter if you dislike someone else's clothes, you don't wear them.

Notmyreality · 02/05/2026 15:34

Show us the dress..

shesarunnershesatrackstar · 02/05/2026 15:34

Show us the dress then

Sourandsweet1 · 02/05/2026 15:34

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 15:31

You haven’t seen it 🫣

Your friend has though.

and she likes it

BinNightTonight · 02/05/2026 15:33

I want to see the dress Grin

newornotnew · 02/05/2026 15:33

You can't fix it, give her some space.

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 15:31

Sourandsweet1 · 02/05/2026 15:30

and it’s hideous. Not “not to my taste” - objectively hideous.

no, not “objectively hideous” at all.

You haven’t seen it 🫣

OP posts:
Sourandsweet1 · 02/05/2026 15:30

and it’s hideous. Not “not to my taste” - objectively hideous.

no, not “objectively hideous” at all.