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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
TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 02/05/2026 16:08

HereAndNo · 02/05/2026 16:04

Am wondering if it’s a bit better here.

Trust me, it isn't.

Gwenhwyfar · 02/05/2026 16:08

Leavesandthings · 02/05/2026 15:40

People who dress extremely boldly, and in a way intended to get a reaction, should take it on the chin if someone else doesn't like it!
It's par of the course.

Yes. I always laugh at people with lots of piercings, colourful hair, etc. complaining that people stare at them!

Grammarninja · 02/05/2026 16:08

She's chosen this dress because she knows it's not the norm. She hardly expected to go out in it without receiving polar opinions. If anything, I'd say that was what she was aiming for. I wouldn't worry about your reaction. She's clearly not too fussed about negative opinions generally if she's willing to risk an outfit like this!

ForCosyLion · 02/05/2026 16:08

BinNightTonight · 02/05/2026 15:33

I want to see the dress Grin

I SO want to see it! OP, can you link it, if you know where it's from? Or just describe it? Am so curious.

tartyflette · 02/05/2026 16:08

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:

Er, wow. I have no more words except to say you’re not wrong, OP.

PivotPivotmakingmargaritas · 02/05/2026 16:09

What’s the saying… you can tell when a designer loves women or hates them… in this case … hates them … openly laughing at the women who buy the dress

WhatDoRacoonsSay · 02/05/2026 16:09

Gwenhwyfar · 02/05/2026 16:08

Yes. I always laugh at people with lots of piercings, colourful hair, etc. complaining that people stare at them!

Saaaaame

RaisinRainbow · 02/05/2026 16:09

Thanks for sharing the photo. My first reaction was a sharp intake of breath - a gasp! And I said outloud - wow that really is hideous. I can well imagine that slipping out in the moment as that dress really is quite the confection. I googled it and it is eye-wateringly expensive to boot. Maybe it will look better on but it's ticking too many boxes: naff shade of pink, metallic/irridescent wet-look sheen, oh! the ruffles! too many tiers. Honestly it's the type of dress I might have wailed my eyes out through being forced to wear as a bridesmaid in the early 80s. It's all wrong - the price tag is a further insult, IT IS objectively hideous.

Gwenhwyfar · 02/05/2026 16:09

"Have you considered that as she is very knowledgable about clothes she may know more than you?"

Ha ha ha ha. You've never heard of fashion victims?

Zippidydoodah · 02/05/2026 16:09

Oh my. That’s a dress and a half! I think, own your opinion, and your apology is perfect. Hopefully you won’t lose a friend over it, but I don’t think you should.

Catterbat · 02/05/2026 16:09

Holy absolute bastard, you’re right OP, that is an objectively awful dress.

Its like a plot from Dallas in the 1980s where an evil gold digger marries a rich oil tycoon and makes his poor daughter be a bridesmaid wearing that dress, out of spite.

Zippidydoodah · 02/05/2026 16:10

How much was it?

Tfq · 02/05/2026 16:10

Fuck me. The dress looks like some sort of frilly lampshade from 50 years ago.

I can’t imagine anyone looking good in it.

twohotwaterbottles · 02/05/2026 16:10

Fuck me that's a monstrous dress. Tbh if she didn't want an opinion she shouldn't have asked for one. I think most of us would've struggled to quickly rearrange our faces seeing that. YANBU

BiddlyBipBipBeeBop · 02/05/2026 16:11

Looks like the toilet roll dolly my granny used to have in her loo.

WetBandits · 02/05/2026 16:11

I generally subscribe to the “well, it would be boring if we all liked the same things” school of thought, but that truly is the most ghastly dress I have ever seen 😂

Tinnybinnylinny · 02/05/2026 16:11

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:

Oh dear - I can see why the brain was too slow to tell your face not to react

Inmyuggs · 02/05/2026 16:11

The price to look like a xmas decoration
Cheap and nasty
Fashion" does not mean tasteful or style it can mean over priced crap...I believe your described it spot on accurate.
Friend finds it...we are all entitles to our own style and opnions love..maybe get some!

StephensLass1977 · 02/05/2026 16:12

I'm missing where the friend asked op for her opinion.

None of us know why your reaction was so strong, we haven't seen the dress. There's nothing you can do to "fix" it. You don't like it, she does. Why are the pair of you making such a drama out of it? You don't have to like it, it's not sewn onto her body permanently. It's just a dress.

Wynter25 · 02/05/2026 16:12

Yanbu after seeing the dress

Boomer55 · 02/05/2026 16:12

Mischance · 02/05/2026 15:41

Anyone mad enough to spend that sort of money on one dress would not be my friend. People are using food banks FGS!

Which is nothing to do with someone buying a new dress. She obviously doesn’t need to use a food bank. 🙄

sunnybluesky75 · 02/05/2026 16:12

Oh my...... 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

ForCosyLion · 02/05/2026 16:12

newornotnew · 02/05/2026 15:34

But why did you react so strongly? It doesn't matter if you dislike someone else's clothes, you don't wear them.

As she said, she was so surprised that her face betrayed her.

BeanQuisine · 02/05/2026 16:13

She probably reacted badly because having shelled out that money on a "daring" choice, she realised, as soon as she saw your face, that even she would be too embarrassed to wear that gruesome heap of tat in public.

Gwenhwyfar · 02/05/2026 16:14

"And possibly Amy might have worn it in the Big Bang Theory."

Whoever did Amy's wardrobe was a genius. Almost every outfit was awful. Even if the individual items were OK, the way they were combined was always terrible.

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