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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
ForeverTheOptomist · 04/05/2026 00:55

Gosh, that's all been a bit of a mess, hasn't it? I'm sure that we could all have done without the personal attacks.

How many posts have had had deleted OP? Impressive! - I'm not being sarcastic!

Yes, the dress is seriously hideous. I wouldn't let any friend of mine go out wearing such a monstrosity.

Todayismyfavouriteday · 04/05/2026 01:14

FeliciaFancybottom · 02/05/2026 15:48

Is it this?

Can anyone have that much money available for a single dress, and that bad taste?

mondaytosunday · 04/05/2026 02:23

Surely if she likes to dress in quite bold fashion she understands that not everyone will love it? And she should have enough self confidence to accept this and if she thinks it’s great will go ahead with it irrespective of your thoughts? I just can’t imagine that your opinion would matter that much in the grand scheme of things. She wants to make a statement and be noticed, and she will be. So just don’t mention it and move on.

YippyKiYay · 04/05/2026 03:02

OP that dress is truly awful!
I would not have been able to control my face either, and I work in a field where a poker face is a requirement....
Your 'friend' needs to toughen up if they are going to make such bold fashion choices. That's not on you to solve.
As for the nasty responses on this thread, shame on you all

Todayismyfavouriteday · 04/05/2026 03:20

FeliciaFancybottom · 02/05/2026 15:48

Is it this?

And it also comes in white (bridal category) for the bride with no taste but plenty of money.

CupcakeFunny · 04/05/2026 05:11

She asked for your opinion. You gave it. If she wasn't willing to accept whatever you said, then she shouldn't have asked.
Doesn't matter if you liked it or hated it. It's your opinion. She asked for it. Life goes on.

Snakebite61 · 04/05/2026 08:24

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.

There's nothing wrong with being honest.

Dollymylove · 04/05/2026 08:57

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:

Good grief thats hideous.
Probably less so on a little girl attending a princess party

busymomtoone · 04/05/2026 09:44

I'm not certain anything clothing wise can be “ objectively hideous” but your friend is being very immature if she expects you to lie about clothing she’s asked your opinion on. You obviously have very different tastes and you’ve accommodated that in the past, acknowledging she can carry some eccentricities off. If she didn’t want your opinion she shouldn’t have asked , and I don’t think there is anything to “ salvage” here - if anything it’s for your friend to apologise a. For expecting you to lie b. For taking a huff when you were trying ( albeit failing!) to be subtle ! She must have already been uncertain of it to ask your opinion anyway! You have nothing to apologise for.

jjW29 · 04/05/2026 09:45

DownyBirch · 03/05/2026 19:21

Unusual is one thing. Actively hideous is definitely something else.

Each to their own,some people find leggings actively hideous which I’m sure lots on this thread wear🤔

Forestgreenblue · 04/05/2026 11:46

Absolutely insanely I read this thread and INSTANTLY thought of that D&G dress!!! For some completely bizarre reason it came up on my google search the other week where I was searching for ‘wedding/hen dresses’

I am absolutely astounded that it’s that dress!! I was like who on earth is spending £2k on that!!!!!

However if anyone is looking for a particularly awful expensive pair of joggers I highly recommend these. Also coincidentally D&G! I used to love D&G back in the 90s - what happened!!!

Friend’s awful dress and my reaction
NeedyLimeMember · 04/05/2026 12:00

Forestgreenblue · 04/05/2026 11:46

Absolutely insanely I read this thread and INSTANTLY thought of that D&G dress!!! For some completely bizarre reason it came up on my google search the other week where I was searching for ‘wedding/hen dresses’

I am absolutely astounded that it’s that dress!! I was like who on earth is spending £2k on that!!!!!

However if anyone is looking for a particularly awful expensive pair of joggers I highly recommend these. Also coincidentally D&G! I used to love D&G back in the 90s - what happened!!!

RRP £5000?!? What on earth? They look like something they'd sell in home bargains for kids.

Wildefish · 04/05/2026 12:16

SummerFate · 04/05/2026 00:13

Not entirely sure what this means. If anything.

My opinion is you are now making your friend into a laughing stock. Ok the dress isn’t to most peoples liking but now it’s getting personal. I don’t think you meant to. I would take this post down and hope she never sees it. If she does you are toast. Just my opinion.

Petlover9 · 04/05/2026 13:25

DownyBirch · 03/05/2026 22:07

We've been told about both. Read OP's posts.

Sorry, I was in too much of a rush! When I saw the dress AND the price I had to have a G&T; the word monstrosity came to mind😁

Catdoorman · 04/05/2026 13:48

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:

I would have loved that in 1984, when I was 13. Not so much now 🫣.

Kelly1969 · 04/05/2026 14:29

She needs to get over it, people have different taste, does she expect her friends to be fake and pretend they like something they don’t

Kelly1969 · 04/05/2026 14:36

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:

Omg that is one vile dress!
It looks like it’s made from shiny pink bin bags, my face would have told her exactly what I thought too, it’s bloody ridiculous!

Besafeeatcake · 04/05/2026 17:02

SummerFate · 04/05/2026 00:13

Not entirely sure what this means. If anything.

I was responding with the same language to someone else who responded to me.

Illegally18 · 04/05/2026 17:04

Besafeeatcake · 03/05/2026 23:01

FFS because she did.

No she didn't FFS.

Nearly50omg · 04/05/2026 17:27

I hope the admins have noted that the op is being stalked and bullied by this horrible person who clearly has nothing else better to do!

Youremyannie · 04/05/2026 17:55

It's amazing to her.

Padz12 · 04/05/2026 18:07

Don’t worry about it!

Oldartist · 04/05/2026 18:35

No, I wouldn’t have reacted any better than you, and I’m good at not showing feelings.
(it’s really giving me Moira Rose vibes).

Usernamenotav · 04/05/2026 19:02

SummerFate · 02/05/2026 15:31

You haven’t seen it 🫣

Edited because I asked you to post the dress but you already have

Usernamenotav · 04/05/2026 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:

GOOD GRIEF