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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:
Thread gallery
32
Heisrevising · 03/05/2026 14:31

MargoChanningsglass · 03/05/2026 14:28

Your post today at 12.19 was deleted. Obviously for a reason by the mods.

Ergo Im not getting into a slanging match. Ive been perfectly polite with you in the face of your snarkiness and clear riling, but it ends now.

Ah yes

it was a reference to another thread about the exact same dress. Nothing more nothing less.

Tunnocksmallow · 03/05/2026 14:32

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:

Wow that’s very “what happened to Baby Jane” will she have a very powdered face too? 😬

MargoChanningsglass · 03/05/2026 14:33

SummerFate · 03/05/2026 14:24

She said she was cooking for nine, not that they were there right now.

The spuds are just peeled so catching up. 😁

This thread is another level 😆

Reallyneedsaholiday · 03/05/2026 14:34

I guess all of our faces have subtitles at times 😂😂😂

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 03/05/2026 14:36

Style and Beauty AKA Just Another Mumsnet Warzone. 😂
And there's me thinking it was a naice discussion about frocks! 👗

CherryRipe1 · 03/05/2026 14:50

Not rtft but I'd imagine that dress would be a wow in the AB/DL community.

Blanknotebook · 03/05/2026 15:14

I’m getting ‘Little House on the Prairie’ vibes.

MargoChanningsglass · 03/05/2026 15:26

Blanknotebook · 03/05/2026 15:14

I’m getting ‘Little House on the Prairie’ vibes.

Im getting little Bo Peep has lost her sheep

ExpressCheckout · 03/05/2026 15:28

I once ate a lovely dessert at a restaurant that looked just like that dress Cake

QGMum · 03/05/2026 15:37

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 03/05/2026 14:36

Style and Beauty AKA Just Another Mumsnet Warzone. 😂
And there's me thinking it was a naice discussion about frocks! 👗

I do love the Mumsnet war zones

whatwouldlilacerullodo · 03/05/2026 15:40

You did all the right things. You weren't mean. If your friend likes clothes that are "out there", she has to deal with not everyone liking her choices (specially when people are polite like you).

user233675892 · 03/05/2026 15:44

MargoChanningsglass · 03/05/2026 14:28

Your post today at 12.19 was deleted. Obviously for a reason by the mods.

Ergo Im not getting into a slanging match. Ive been perfectly polite with you in the face of your snarkiness and clear riling, but it ends now.

If we're using that as a metric, I believe the OP has had more posts deleted than anyone else on this thread. I'm not sure how meaningful that is?

Heisrevising · 03/05/2026 15:50

user233675892 · 03/05/2026 15:44

If we're using that as a metric, I believe the OP has had more posts deleted than anyone else on this thread. I'm not sure how meaningful that is?

My deleted post was simply linking to the mumsnet thread about this very same dress

MargoChanningsglass · 03/05/2026 16:15

It wasnt. It was the post where you answered me saying dont you ever wonder why some mumsnetters have no friends.

Hence me saying yes from both perspectives, which was when you got snidey.

Wasnt going to engage but dont like to see untruths posted.

MargoChanningsglass · 03/05/2026 16:17

If you dont believe that then try finding that post. Mumsnet didnt like it.

Fiftyandme · 03/05/2026 16:19

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:

Clearly we’re heading into a shortage of nappy bags.

Truly truly awful

Heisrevising · 03/05/2026 16:19

This reply has been deleted

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

MargoChanningsglass · 03/05/2026 16:27

QGMum · 03/05/2026 15:37

I do love the Mumsnet war zones

Bun fight😆

GrumpyButOk · 03/05/2026 16:38

I'll take my ball home if you're not careful and then none of you will get to play with it. I'm not sorry either. Well maybe a bit sorry. But I might retract that partial apology...unless you agree with me now. Do you agree with me yet? Do you?

Throwmoneyatit · 03/05/2026 16:40

If my friends lied to me and told me a dress was lovely that they really thought was hideous, I'd be upset that they weren't honest with me.

That's what friends are there for - being honest with each other. You can tell them your biggest secrets, or your worst worry and expect them to be honest with you.

I don't think you're being unreasonable at all. Just a normal friendship within my circle.

Fishneedscycle · 03/05/2026 17:01

FeliciaFancybottom · 02/05/2026 15:48

Is it this?

That is stunning

ValhallaCalling · 03/05/2026 17:05

Tikitaka20 · 03/05/2026 13:32

You can still stand by everything you’ve said and apologise. If you won’t apologise to me, I’m taking back my apology.

OMG! Grow up!

ccccccccc · 03/05/2026 17:47

That is a really awful dress. Awful style, awful colour, awful fabric, I'm not surprised that you couldn't keep a straight face @SummerFate

Bikergran · 03/05/2026 17:50

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:

Christ on a bike!!!!! I am 72, so have lived through some utterly hideous phases of fashion, but honestly, if I saw that in a charity shop I'd wonder who on earth thought it was a good idea either to design, manufacture, or buy it. You are right, and she is a fashion victim. I hope she kept the receipt.

SisterMidnight77 · 03/05/2026 17:54

I don’t think that’s objectively vile. It’s a bold choice, for sure.