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Friend’s awful dress and my reaction

974 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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SummerFate · 02/05/2026 19:03

Maybe just be a kinder friend and support her choices to wear what she wants? Your friend’s self-esteem might be quite bruised now. Was it worth contributing to that?

As I’ve made very clear, I didn’t actually SAY I hated it. I don’t think a grown woman needs me to “support her choices” - of course she can wear what she wants to wear.

As for her bruised self-esteem, she’s not a shy 16 year-old who’s just been told her prom dress makes her look like a drag act doing Bella Emberg. As another poster pointed out, she wears bold clothing a lot of the time, which takes a certain amount of confidence. That’s why I’m surprised she is so bothered about my reaction. Maybe she just really loves the dress and has taken it more personally than she normally would.

OP posts:
CharleneElizabethBaltimore · 02/05/2026 19:03

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:

overall its not the worse, personally id say its different than traditional but other than that it seems ok, whos the designer ?

Dishwashersforever · 02/05/2026 19:04

You can’t control your face! If you don’t like it why would you pretend you do? I’d rather my friend told me the truth and wouldn’t get annoyed if they did!

Delici · 02/05/2026 19:04

My friends often think that my clothe choices are ridiculous but I don’t care!

CharleneElizabethBaltimore · 02/05/2026 19:04

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 19:03

Maybe just be a kinder friend and support her choices to wear what she wants? Your friend’s self-esteem might be quite bruised now. Was it worth contributing to that?

As I’ve made very clear, I didn’t actually SAY I hated it. I don’t think a grown woman needs me to “support her choices” - of course she can wear what she wants to wear.

As for her bruised self-esteem, she’s not a shy 16 year-old who’s just been told her prom dress makes her look like a drag act doing Bella Emberg. As another poster pointed out, she wears bold clothing a lot of the time, which takes a certain amount of confidence. That’s why I’m surprised she is so bothered about my reaction. Maybe she just really loves the dress and has taken it more personally than she normally would.

id say thats the reason, she likes it more than previous ones

EmeraldShamrock000 · 02/05/2026 19:05

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 15:46

Stop reacting to things?

Yes. Learn to use a plain face. Your opinion shouldn’t be strong enough to read it from your face, especially over a dress

Instructions · 02/05/2026 19:05

Well it is a hideous dress and I would struggle to pretend I didn't think so.

ChiliFiend · 02/05/2026 19:06

Clearly I'm the only person on earth with this view, but I like it :) I couldn't pull it off but I love the metallic pink.

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 19:07

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 19:03

Maybe just be a kinder friend and support her choices to wear what she wants? Your friend’s self-esteem might be quite bruised now. Was it worth contributing to that?

As I’ve made very clear, I didn’t actually SAY I hated it. I don’t think a grown woman needs me to “support her choices” - of course she can wear what she wants to wear.

As for her bruised self-esteem, she’s not a shy 16 year-old who’s just been told her prom dress makes her look like a drag act doing Bella Emberg. As another poster pointed out, she wears bold clothing a lot of the time, which takes a certain amount of confidence. That’s why I’m surprised she is so bothered about my reaction. Maybe she just really loves the dress and has taken it more personally than she normally would.

I didn’t say anywhere here that you’d said you hated it. You just sound very inconsiderate to your friend.

Also, your posts don’t really make sense to me. Your OP seems to say one thing (I’m so worried I might have unintentionally upset my friend) and your subsequent posts seem to say another (here’s a link I’m posting anonymously to the horrible and ruinously expensive dress so you and I can all mock it together, but please please don’t tell my friend - she’ll kill me!)

To me, this blows up your argument that you didn’t mean to hurt your friend’s feelings.

Also, the Daily Fail have picked up this thread, so your friend might see it.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 02/05/2026 19:08

ChiliFiend · 02/05/2026 19:06

Clearly I'm the only person on earth with this view, but I like it :) I couldn't pull it off but I love the metallic pink.

I like it too. I wouldn’t have anywhere to wear it.

CharleneElizabethBaltimore · 02/05/2026 19:08

ChiliFiend · 02/05/2026 19:06

Clearly I'm the only person on earth with this view, but I like it :) I couldn't pull it off but I love the metallic pink.

id say its ok, but its the colour and the metallic that needs improving

watchingthishtread · 02/05/2026 19:09

No one could pull that dress off. You have done her a favour. You are a good friend.

2ndcarowner · 02/05/2026 19:09

If she’s going to a Kath and Kim fancy dress party as the mother then it’s a great dress, otherwise I think you’ve done her a favour, it’s fugly and I can’t imagine anyone could pull it off that they wouldn’t look better in something else. I would also not have been able to hide my true feelings had I been in your situation.

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 19:11

EmeraldShamrock000 · 02/05/2026 19:05

Yes. Learn to use a plain face. Your opinion shouldn’t be strong enough to read it from your face, especially over a dress

Thank you for telling me how strong my opinion should be. All these years I’ve been thinking my opinions were my own to navigate. Thank heavens you told me.

OP posts:
MayDaySunshinePlease · 02/05/2026 19:12

JoyLoveJoyInOrbitNsoul · 02/05/2026 15:57

Over a toilet roll type dolly dress.

Even a self respecting toilet dolly wouldn't be seen in that!!

74username74 · 02/05/2026 19:12

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 18:42

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

It was probably written by the Daily Fail.

Lavenderandbrown · 02/05/2026 19:12

Made by those villainous men who dressed Kourtney Kardashian….with all
the money in the world to spend on a wedding dress…in this ….

Friend’s awful dress and my reaction
LemonyCurd · 02/05/2026 19:14

It Uhm. Well. It looks like viscera!

Yeaaaaaah.

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 19:15

This reply has been deleted

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HearMeSnore · 02/05/2026 19:19

Ok I am the first to admit that I know nothing about fashion.

But I cannot imagine anybody looking good in that. It looks like somebody made it for a practical joke at a fashion show. Like that guy who gate crashed New York Fashion Week in a bin bag and shower cap.

WhatterySquash · 02/05/2026 19:19

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:

Farking hell! I was prepared to concede a dress can't be "objectively hideous" but I've changed my mind!

I'm also someone who often cannot arrange my face to hide my thoughts, however hard I try and I totally sympathise with that. My friends are nice about it and one told me she quite likes it because she knows if I have a positive reaction, it's genuine. Your friend is BU to take offence after putting you through that! She likes a fugly dress, she can wear a fugly dress – it's obviously designed to be a talking point/get noticed and if that's what she likes, that's fine. You weren't scathing or mean, you just don't like it. Also fine.

Illegally18 · 02/05/2026 19:21

EmeraldShamrock000 · 02/05/2026 19:05

Yes. Learn to use a plain face. Your opinion shouldn’t be strong enough to read it from your face, especially over a dress

Nonsense! That's what faces are for. Communication.

Dancingintherain09 · 02/05/2026 19:22

I think we all want to see this dress now

Strawberrydelight78 · 02/05/2026 19:23

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's awful it reminds of a bad 80's bridesmaids dress. 🙉😂

CharleneElizabethBaltimore · 02/05/2026 19:23

Dancingintherain09 · 02/05/2026 19:22

I think we all want to see this dress now

the op put it on the thread not sure when

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