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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think wearing a £2600 dress is vulgar?

301 replies

CloudsofBrick · 28/10/2015 12:25

According to This Morning (I'm on half term with a rare child - free day, don't judge) Kate Middleton was wearing some designer flowery thing for a night out this week that cost £2600.

AIBU in feeling slightly sick at the thought of a garment costing so much? Especially when that is almost two month's wages for me.

Even if I got rich, I swear I would never feel comfortable spending that sort of money on clothes Confused

OP posts:
CarrotVan · 28/10/2015 13:00

I think the fact that it's HIDEOUS is more of a problem

The Dress

That skirt ruffle with the piping is just all wrong and it doesn't fit properly.

DeoGratias · 28/10/2015 13:00

It's a day or two of wages for me, but I still don't like to spend too much. The dress I wear most at present cost £600 which to me is a lot as it's only a lump of cloth when you come down to it,. I could afford to spend a lot more on clothes than I do but other things interest me more.

villainousbroodmare · 28/10/2015 13:01

Wealthy people spending money creates employment, spurs creativity, makes the world a more beautiful place. There would be little great art or architecture without rich patrons, far less woodland if not for those wealthy enough to annexe great tracts of land. All sorts of pursuits of privileged people, like horse-racing, yachting, wearing haute couture creates niches for others to live and work and prosper.

villainousbroodmare · 28/10/2015 13:03

What a pity the dress is so awful! Grin

CarrotVan · 28/10/2015 13:03

The Bond premiere dress was so close to being nice but missed - lose the sleeves and make it a halter and it would have a been a lovely update to 70s style rather than traditional 70s style

DinosaursRoar · 28/10/2015 13:04

My wedding dress cost best part of £2k. Was my whole bonus for that year.

It was my one day of wearing something that extravagant and truly excellently made, I really thought I understood what great clothes were until I wore something that was effectively made just for my figure by very skilled people out of quality materials.

KM, for all her faults, is expected to dress to the standard of a bride for every evening occasion. It's not all that surprising that the frocks cost around the same amount.

(And just because it would cost you £2.6k to get it, doesn't mean she paid anywhere near that, designers heavily discount or loan dresses to KM as it's amazing advertising for them).

TalkinPease · 28/10/2015 13:04

OK
I've looked at CarrotVans link
£20 would be a waste of money for that dress.
Bad fabric not lined up over the darts and sub 80's ra-ra tiering
Yeuch.

DamnBamboo · 28/10/2015 13:04

Are you at the same premieres/matches then?
How awful that you bump into them so often.
Must be so tiresome!

DamnBamboo · 28/10/2015 13:06

Why can't people just leave this woman alone.
I don't get the raging hatred. I really don't.

kali110 · 28/10/2015 13:06

Who cares what she does with her money?
Vulgar, really?
If you spent £50 on a dress could i call you vulgar because i feel people should only spend £20?
She can choose to spend what she wants on what she wears.
If i had the money i would probably spend loads on a designer wedding dress.

CarrotVan · 28/10/2015 13:08

I have no issue with her spending whatever she wants on clothes but that dress is just nasty. With a standard A-line from the natural waist (possibly with very simple broad pleated front,and no 80s tier to the skirt, a better fitting bodice and a wide black belt it would have been a nice dress if very conservative and a bit dull.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 28/10/2015 13:09

Of course it's not vulgar.

In terms of economics, there is almost an expectation that people with a lot of money should be spending more on goods, to keep the economy going.

And you might not think you're bitter or jealous, but you really do sound it.

CarrotVan · 28/10/2015 13:09

I love looking at high end fashion and have no objection to Kate Cambridge at all. I quite like the Royals.

Red carpet events are great for a good look at high fashion frocks

TalkinPease · 28/10/2015 13:12

Dinosaurs
And just because it would cost you £2.6k to get it, doesn't mean she paid anywhere near that, designers heavily discount or loan dresses to KM as it's amazing advertising for them

Apparently not.
She genuinely insists on paying - so that she is actively supporting the UK economy rather than just trading on her name.

Yes, it means we pay full whack for her wardrobe
but then we are paying less in tax credits to the staff at her dressmakers Grin

CarrotVan · 28/10/2015 13:14

Naomie Harris also wore a truly hideous dress to the Bond premiere. Rachel Weisz wore a reasonably nice dress though.

overthemill · 28/10/2015 13:14

YABU. She represents the Royal Family ( who I abhor) and Britain. People would flame her if she wore a £12.99 child labour dress from Primark. I am not much of one for fashion but sometimes I recall that nice speech Meryl Streep does in 'the devil wears Pravda' about the cerulean jumper... That dress represents jobs for people. If she spends money it benefits the economy

Ilovetorrentialrain · 28/10/2015 13:17

Thing is OP why just pick on the dress? Why not the Bentley that she was no doubt driven there in or the cost of the wine at the dinner?

Personally I think YABU as what people spend on items is personal choice, plus the money is going into paying for the craftsmanship of a limited edition or one off piece of work. Wages will be paid from it.

Picking on the dress is easy as it's thoughtless headline fodder in the style of the Daily Mail / breakfast telly.

OOAOML · 28/10/2015 13:17

I am genuinely baffled that people pay three figure sums to get their hair cut and coloured. I see it on here a lot. But do I post about how appalling it is? No. People make their own choices based on their opinions, preferences, lifestyle and income. I am happy to leave my grey streak alone, but am spending over two thousand pounds having my teeth straightened. Does that disgust you?

Armi · 28/10/2015 13:17

What irritates me more is those who sanctimoniously say that even if they had loads of money they still wouldn't spend that amount on a dress. I imagine they'd probably donate their entire wealth to a foodbank and sit outside it wearing a flour sack telling everyone what a nice person they are.

I'd spend that, and more, if I had the money.

QueenPotato · 28/10/2015 13:18

Ah look at that dress. See that illustrates for me exactly why I want to get my hands on her in a shameless Trinnt and Susanah kind of way.

Cut the dress off at the knee, and it would be cool. Add some funky boots. And a directional short haircut. Voila.

Queenbean · 28/10/2015 13:19

Totally agree with all the other comments. Yabu, and mean and jealous sounding.

Also, using a biscuit instead of engaging in debate is really pathetic.

tiddlyipom · 28/10/2015 13:20

Prince Charles pays for the clothes she wears when doing official engagements, in fact, I'd be surprised if she gets told the price, she'll probably get a load of things sent to her,to try on, picks what she wants, the bills going straight to the POW.

The80sweregreat · 28/10/2015 13:21

Its not just Katherine that wears these beautiful clothes is it? The Queen's outfits are just as costly ( probably more so) and Diana always wore very expensive items, the one time she wore an 'off the peg' dress it was noted in the media - still probably cost loads though.
KM at least wears high end high street fashion I think? ( not really up on it, but Mango and Zara have been mentioned ) and I looked up some LK Bennett shoes ( to see what the fuss was about really) and they are not that expensive really, compared to what a hand made pair would cost. I could never afford them, but if I was working full time without children I could probably save enough over time to buy one pair! KM bashing is rife just now she has appeared again - we have the royal family for now and she has to look good for their image. I don't agree with it all, but it is what it is until we don't have them around anymore. Its true is in a boost to the british fashion industry, to its not all bad I guess, if you care to look at it like that.

Tapirs · 28/10/2015 13:22

You have a 'rare child-free day' and you're choosing to spend it watching daytime TV and bitching on MN.

That's fucking vulgar IMO Grin

PisforPeter · 28/10/2015 13:25

Aside from the money, it's a hideous dress.