Friend’s awful dress and my reaction

[SummerFate]

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.

And how would you know that?

I wanted to make it very clear what I think of the sentiment of your thread.

Because you can’t change your username after your first post on a thread.

It's the prom dress from Never Been Kissed

How?

People can be so ridiculous. I always thought that I was over sensitive until I became a regular visitor to MN.

I have to say that if any of my friends suggested that they wear that hideous (IMO) dress, I would have been totally stumped as to how to react. But then, I don't know anyone who would wear that, so I'm doubly stumped.

Don't fall out over a dress.

Ooooohhh, noooo!! You’ve reported me?! Whatever will I doooooo?!!

If you don’t know, I can’t explain it for you.

This.

The OPs reaction seems pretty plausible and genuine - and having seen the photo - she's only human! If the friend shows the dress and the OP reacts in a genuine way how can you blame her? It's a pretty outlandish dress and the OP said her self that she's more conservative with her choices. It seems from what she said she conveyed a more surprised response rather than mean girl however, she's acknowledged that her friend could be hurt which counts for something.

I’m very happy with my posts in this thread, thanks.

Oh the carry ons on this thread! It’s horrendous - there’s no two ways about it. It might be dolce but there’s a reason it’s heavily reduced and now being sold in Debenhams. I don’t care what anyone says, that is bought purely to say it’s a designer label, just like when people buy the monstrosities that Balenciaga sells.

Reminds me of the dress josie grossie wore in never been kissed.

I think a good friend would actually tell the truth, however I also think to be that upset because someone doesn’t like your dress is ridiculous.

Don’t be ridiculous 😆😆😆

I’d already got that. And could not give the tiniest of flying fucks 🥳🥳🥳

Lots of harsh comments here.
My friends know me well enough that if they ask my opinion I will give it to them plain and simple.
So, if I didnt like something at all I would say that. If I didnt like something for me but think it would suit them I would say that. Its not hard.
I wouldn't lie to someone but my opinion is just that - mine. Not theirs.

Tbh if a friend showed me this dress I would say it looks like one of those dolls you used to cover toilet rolls up with. Because thats MY opinion and they asked for it. You cant just people please all of your life, or walk on eggshells. Sounds as if OPs friend knows that she would be honest and that they have different tastes.

I’m not. That’s exactly it. You’re either brave or you’re cowardly. And, well, you haven’t been brave. You’ve just hidden behind an anonymous username to criticise your friend and any posters who’ve disagreed with you.

Literally every Mumsnet name is an anonymous username. Including all of yours!

Erm… bully for you?

I’m not sure what you want me to say here.

Can you read? Yes?

Then have a look at this.

You said: I also know it’s possible to have more than one account. And I replied to say: You can’t use more than one account on one thread though. I was responding to you.

Got it? Good.

You also can’t change your username after your first post on a thread, as I previously mentioned.

That was in response to your sock-puppeting photo, suggesting everyone who disagreed with you was just the same poster. Which isn’t possible to do now on MN, as we can’t change username mid-thread.

Understood? Good.

How? 🤔

Er, nothing?

Correct! (Gosh, guys, this one’s a bit quick learner!) Except your posts were nasty. And could possibly be classed as cyber bullying. Which your friend may - or may not - have seen. Depending on if she read MailOnline this evening. Is your friend a MailOnline reader, usually?

Okay! Very nice language. Very classy.