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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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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32
Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:01

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 23:57

Because you’re being a drama queen?

How am I being a drama queen?

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:01

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

user233675892 · 03/05/2026 00:02

This reply has been deleted

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SpryTaupeTurtle · 03/05/2026 00:02

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:

Suffering fuck. That's hideous. It's like a quality street wrapper

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:03

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:01

How am I being a drama queen?

By making out I’m somehow going to permanently crush my friend’s self-esteem by starting this thread? Or that I’m a terrible person for doing so?

OP posts:
SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:04

This reply has been deleted

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SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:05

Tikitaka20 · 02/05/2026 20:06

It has!

Try Googling it. It doesn’t come up.

OP posts:
user233675892 · 03/05/2026 00:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

A twat for answering your AIBU with, yes, you are? Ok. Anyway, I've reported this thread, so MNHQ can decide whether or not you're genuine, so in the meantime, knock yourself out being unpleasant.

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:05

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:03

By making out I’m somehow going to permanently crush my friend’s self-esteem by starting this thread? Or that I’m a terrible person for doing so?

That’s not being a drama queen. I think it’s called… being nice? You should try it.

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:06

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:05

Try Googling it. It doesn’t come up.

Sometimes their articles don’t come up on Google. Try the main homepage.

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:06

ThreadGuardDog · 02/05/2026 20:10

What on earth do you think your friends’ choice in clothes has to do with you ?

Nothing - until she shows it to me and asks what I think. I would have thought that was fairly simple to work out.

OP posts:
SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:06

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:06

Sometimes their articles don’t come up on Google. Try the main homepage.

I did.

Someone is having you on.

OP posts:
SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:07

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:05

That’s not being a drama queen. I think it’s called… being nice? You should try it.

Nah, it’s being a drama queen.

OP posts:
Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:07

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:06

I did.

Someone is having you on.

It was definitely there earlier. They may have deleted it 🤷‍♀️

user233675892 · 03/05/2026 00:07

You're spiralling quite fast now @SummerFate

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:08

So you didn't like it. Why did you pretend you did when she asked?

I didn’t. That’s kind of the whole point of the thread.

OP posts:
Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:08

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:07

Nah, it’s being a drama queen.

No. It’s called being nice. But that doesn’t come to you naturally. My condolences.

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:08

user233675892 · 03/05/2026 00:07

You're spiralling quite fast now @SummerFate

Spiralling?

OP posts:
SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:08

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:09

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:07

It was definitely there earlier. They may have deleted it 🤷‍♀️

Why would they do that?

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Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:10

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:09

Why would they do that?

Not sure - they sometimes do. I used to work in journalism and we sometimes deleted articles if needed. Your friend may have seen it, or perhaps not. Maybe text her to check? That might help put your mind at ease.

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:10

Dodorogers · 02/05/2026 20:33

Tbf you do sound totally lacking in humour at least your friend has a sense of fun

😆😆😆

OP posts:
SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:11

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 00:10

Not sure - they sometimes do. I used to work in journalism and we sometimes deleted articles if needed. Your friend may have seen it, or perhaps not. Maybe text her to check? That might help put your mind at ease.

My mind was never not at ease.

OP posts:
SummerFate · 03/05/2026 00:12

SurferRona · 02/05/2026 20:42

Really? So your very on point friend, fashion wise, has selected a dress which was previously discussed on Mumsnet a few years ago? 🧐🤨🧐🤨

I doubt she checks Mumsnet before shopping.

OP posts:
chaosmaker · 03/05/2026 00:12

it isn't even a dress, it's a toilet roll cover of the type that were knitted/crocheted in the 70's