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Original poster

Anyone want to come and mourn the reality vs expectation of new purchases with me?

706 replies

Swimminguphill · 07/12/2017 15:16

I bought this beautiful jacket online. In my mind I'd look like Blondie in the 80s, very rock and roll and all round awesome. In reality I look like a giant angry teddy bear/yeti. I have broad shoulders and a bust although slim in general, and it doesn't do me any favours. I wanted it for ages and it's now sold out, and so the joy of getting it in my size just in time is sadly wasted. It is a beautiful jacket - just not on me! Anybody else want to come and mourn reality vs fantasy with me?

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58
coffeeagogo · 30/09/2026 21:10

I decided to go red à la Christine Hendricks and treated myself to a brow tint whilst the colour was lifting. I got home and my daughter nearly died laughing, she called me angry bird for about 2 months

Gettingbysomehow · 30/09/2026 07:20

My vet nurse in Seaford used to be Jordan, punk Jordan from the 1970s aka Pamela Rooke. She still looked like Jordan but fatter in her 60s. She once punk hairstyled my beautiful half persian moggy. He was properly matted. She completely shaved his trousers off from the waist down and left the front fluffy and had the nerve to snigger when I picked him up. The poor boy didnt go outside for weeks!!

Thegirlwhowent · 30/09/2026 06:44

I woke in the night feeling anxious and needing distraction. I'm glad I thought to look in the MN Classics and found this thread - so funny!

Tortycat · 09/08/2026 22:11

I came downstairs in a new chic jumpsuit. Or so I thought.

Ds1 - where are you going?
Me - to have dinner with a friend
Ds1 - is it fancy dress?
Me - no.... what do you think I might be going as?
Ds - a vicar

He was serious. But I wore it anyway:)

fishonabicycle · 02/08/2026 14:33

Going to the supermarket in horizontal striped leggings, and fake uggs (look cute and quirky). My teenage son refused to get out of the car with me 'dressed as an elf'.

SaraHoliday · 30/07/2026 00:16

HearMeSnore · 08/07/2026 22:09

Oh the perm stories! Grin

I remember it well. Mine started when I strode hopefully into the salon clutching an early photo of Kylie Minogue.

Reality? Keith Harris.

My hairdresser at the time said the perm would "drop into a loose wave after a few weeks....". Well no it didn't. The spiral curls had to grow out. One and done. Never again!

I think I spent a year with my hair tied up!

Interestingly (to me) I recently asked my hairdresser if people still have perms; she said she won't do a perm on anyone.

SaraHoliday · 30/07/2026 00:09

RhiannonOHara · 09/07/2026 08:08

😄😄😄😄😄

THANK YOU, whoever resurrected this thread. I’ve been snorting and giggling at it all over again for hours.

Show quote history

Me too! 😂

mumumental · 12/07/2026 22:18

I had a perm on mid length hair many years ago, and the next morning it had “fallen out on one whole side. The perm, not my hair. I was told it was because I was pregnant. I never had another one.

RhiannonOHara · 11/07/2026 14:48

SlightlyJaded · 11/07/2026 12:37

Last summer when it was all Lemons on everything, I bought a long silk skirt with a lemons/leaves/orange splash print. Expectation: ' Amalfi Coast Chic', reality: a walking jug of Pimms.

I am wearing it today cos fuck it.

I actually like the sound of that 😄

SlightlyJaded · 11/07/2026 12:37

Last summer when it was all Lemons on everything, I bought a long silk skirt with a lemons/leaves/orange splash print. Expectation: ' Amalfi Coast Chic', reality: a walking jug of Pimms.

I am wearing it today cos fuck it.

CinderellaParker · 11/07/2026 08:10

Have laughed my way through this thread - I've had my own Suzi Quatro's fat nan moment.

A recent one was me in a Toast style slightly cropped trouser - not quite a barrel leg but getting there - and a linen smockish shirt with some Blundstone boots - trust me, it looked better than it sounded. I thought I looked a bit arty, maybe a pottery teacher.

DH: 'If you want to really look like a 1940s land girl you probably need a headscarf.'

TBH, I quite like a scarf. Might lean into that look...

Giggorata · 09/07/2026 14:01

I love this thread!
My latest failure, already alluded to on the summer clothes thread, is a long cotton lagenlook dress with bright stripes in green, blue and purple.
Expectation: boho vibe cool summer dress.
Reality: voiced by DH, “you look like a 1950s deckchair.

moggerhanger · 09/07/2026 12:39

I'm currently re-reading Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie, and came across this quote. I felt Mrs Oliver would be one of those contributing to this thread 😆 Expectation: classy and understated. Reality: obsolete battleship!

Anyone want to come and mourn the reality vs expectation of new purchases with me?
DontDareCallMeDarling · 09/07/2026 09:11

researchers3 · 07/07/2025 09:52

I know this is a really really old thread but a fellow mumsnetter has just linked to this thread. I'm snorting and wheezing at Richard III 🤣

Show quote history

My sister in law's Shih Tzu went for a haircut because of the heat and came out looking like Richard III.

RhiannonOHara · 09/07/2026 08:08

HearMeSnore · 08/07/2026 22:09

Oh the perm stories! Grin

I remember it well. Mine started when I strode hopefully into the salon clutching an early photo of Kylie Minogue.

Reality? Keith Harris.

😄😄😄😄😄

THANK YOU, whoever resurrected this thread. I’ve been snorting and giggling at it all over again for hours.

HearMeSnore · 08/07/2026 22:09

Oh the perm stories! Grin

I remember it well. Mine started when I strode hopefully into the salon clutching an early photo of Kylie Minogue.

Reality? Keith Harris.

NovemberMorn · 07/07/2026 19:09

Whoever linked to this thread...THANK YOU. I have had tears streaming down my face for the last half hour.
Brilliant. 😎

Stickykidney · 15/07/2025 14:53

My expectation.. dark November rainy night, loose 'country' overcoat with boots and my granny's old handbag... Effortlessly chic and put together mixing glam with function... Reality... The bird lady from home alone two... The fingerless gloves did it

Anyone want to come and mourn the reality vs expectation of new purchases with me?
Paganpentacle · 07/07/2025 12:55

researchers3 · 07/07/2025 09:52

I know this is a really really old thread but a fellow mumsnetter has just linked to this thread. I'm snorting and wheezing at Richard III 🤣

Show quote history

Hamble for me 😂

researchers3 · 07/07/2025 09:52

TossDaily · 08/12/2017 11:00

Haircuts can be buggers for this too.

More than once I've aimed for a Louise Brooks bob and instead achieved Hamble off Playschool or Richard III.

And we don't talk about the bright red pixie crop that made me look like a fat match Blush

I know this is a really really old thread but a fellow mumsnetter has just linked to this thread. I'm snorting and wheezing at Richard III 🤣

TrtseHkpr · 20/06/2025 17:33

TossDaily · 08/12/2017 08:18

God, pleated midiskirts.

I had a metallic silver one. I looked like I was wearing the bottom half of a Dalek costume.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Rednotdead · 20/06/2025 02:31

These are so funny

Sweetpea1532 · 02/11/2024 06:22

I feel ya, @IHaveBrilloHair ! My DD is 41 and still at it. I don't think she's ever forgiven me for wearing hot pink, high-waisted, peg-leg jeans when I went to pick her up from year 6 many moons ago.. poor child!😂Grin

IHaveBrilloHair · 01/11/2024 22:04

Sweetpea1532 · 31/10/2024 18:32

@IHaveBrilloHair teens...they don't hold back, do they?!🤣 Did you still wear your pipe cleaners just to spite them?

Teens are brutal!
She's 23 now and hasn't outgrown it, thanks dd!

Sweetpea1532 · 31/10/2024 18:35

@AppleDumplingWithCustard
That is hilarious! 'Black pudding legs ' probably would look the same on anyone.😂