Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

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

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:
Thread gallery
32
Dancingsquirrels · 02/05/2026 19:45

I don't love the dress

And can understand why you found it hard to hide your views

But I'm really judging you for starting a thread about it. That's low

Unless this is a hoax

abracadabra1980 · 02/05/2026 19:45

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.

Edited

Agree 100% with this sensible, pragmatic, reply.

RampantIvy · 02/05/2026 19:46

PivotPivotmakingmargaritas · 02/05/2026 15:51

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

Mine too. I don't have a very good poker face.

It is truly awful, and objectively hideous.

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 19:46

Dancingsquirrels · 02/05/2026 19:45

I don't love the dress

And can understand why you found it hard to hide your views

But I'm really judging you for starting a thread about it. That's low

Unless this is a hoax

Agreed.

Colscar · 02/05/2026 19:47

kermes · 02/05/2026 19:38

This is what my dress looked like when I was a bridesmaid in 1987.

Same.

I kinda like it though. It’s better than same old same old.

LBFseBrom · 02/05/2026 19:48

You are right. It is dreadful.

HideousKinky · 02/05/2026 19:49

Riverpaddling · 02/05/2026 15:54

Is it made from nappy sacks?

My thought exactly!

BunnyLake · 02/05/2026 19:51

I think she’s over reacting. You don’t like the dress, so what, it’s not a big deal. She needs to have more conviction in what she likes and to hang anyone else’s opinion/taste. If I really liked a dress I wouldn’t care if others didn’t like it.

FateAmenableToChange · 02/05/2026 19:52

The girl needs to know and real friends tell the truth. If shes worth keeping as a friend, she will also realise this.

BunnyLake · 02/05/2026 19:52

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:

That really is hideous 😂

user233675892 · 02/05/2026 19:53

Dancingsquirrels · 02/05/2026 19:45

I don't love the dress

And can understand why you found it hard to hide your views

But I'm really judging you for starting a thread about it. That's low

Unless this is a hoax

Agreed. Really shit thing to do (if real)

Peony1985 · 02/05/2026 19:53

Presumably she likes it because it is so unfashionable.She can make it her own style.
She wants reassurance she can pull it off.
Give her an example of another stupid outfit (that looks crazy on anyone else) that looks good and where she can rock this one

Aiming4Optimistic · 02/05/2026 19:54

Don't apologise again - you really haven't done anything wrong. You can't control every facial expression and you shouldn't have to! You are allowed to not like something and to say so, if asked for your opinion. Your friend needs to stop sulking.

BunnyLake · 02/05/2026 19:58

ruethewhirl · 02/05/2026 17:42

Tbf I think that does fall into the objectively hideous category. 😬But even if it didn't... if she's going to make 'out there' fashion choices then she needs to own them, and she needs to be less bothered by other people's opinions. Sounds like she's not sure about this one herself, but it's unfair of her to react like this just because your face betrayed your thoughts.

Exactly. People who have very out there tastes usually know full well their choices don’t have mass appeal and aren’t at all bothered. So either this isn’t real or her out there tastes are not the real her.

Namechangerage · 02/05/2026 19:59

I am considered a bit “out there” with my style. I still had an OMG reaction. The price and style are both 😳

I agree that if you dress like that you should be aware and used to it that there may be some reaction.

As friends you should be able to be honest and laugh about it. She must have issues if she is that sensitive about it.

loislovesstewie · 02/05/2026 20:00

It is hideous.
She should not ask if she doesn't want an honest opinion.
I don't have a poker face so, for goodness sake, please don't ever ask for my opinion.

Blarn · 02/05/2026 20:00

It looks like ruffles of ham.

supersop60 · 02/05/2026 20:02

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 19:40

My thoughts exactly. OP sounds like a mean girl. The Daily Mail have now picked up this thread, so hopefully the friend will see it and never contact OP again. Your friend had a lucky escape tbh.

I rather think the ‘bloody hell’ referred to the dress.
It is awful, and if a friend of mine asked my opinion, I’d have trouble finding anything nice to say about it.

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 20:04

supersop60 · 02/05/2026 20:02

I rather think the ‘bloody hell’ referred to the dress.
It is awful, and if a friend of mine asked my opinion, I’d have trouble finding anything nice to say about it.

You sound delightful.

justasking111 · 02/05/2026 20:04

Wonder if this will hit the national press 🤣🤣

LoveItaly · 02/05/2026 20:04

DownyBirch · 02/05/2026 19:23

How has OP been rude and judgmental? All she did was fail for a moment to hide her instinctive reaction.

Agree. I don’t have a poker face either, and probably wouldn’t be able to hide my initial reaction to a dress like this quickly enough. I think that it’s rather ridiculous and unfair when people ask for opinions and then get all hurt when the response isn’t what they want. As usual on Mumsnet, more than a few posters can’t wait to stick the boot into the OP.

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 20:05

As @Dancingsquirrels and @user233675892 have said, it’s pretty poor of the OP to have started this thread purely to mock their friend. For your friend’s sake, OP, I hope she cuts all contact.

PurpleVine · 02/05/2026 20:06

the only word i can think of for that dress is flammable.

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 20:06

justasking111 · 02/05/2026 20:04

Wonder if this will hit the national press 🤣🤣

It has!

Girlking · 02/05/2026 20:06

Blarn · 02/05/2026 20:00

It looks like ruffles of ham.

🤣