Humans have been making and designing clothes for thousands of years, and to this day, we still find ways to transform them and come up with something new time and time again. However, some attempts at doing so aren’t always successful and (nowadays) end up online for everyone to see and critique.
Today, we present you with a best-of-all-time compilation of badly designed clothing pieces we’ve previously featured on Bored Panda. They are the perfect proof that you can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a garment.
While you're scrolling through, don't forget to check out a conversation with freelance fashion designer Harriet Goodings, who kindly agreed to tell us more about dress design in particular.
#1
Image credits: Mandy Vedder
#2
Image credits: Ana O'Harrow
#3
Image credits: Jaime Flatt
It's hard to tell whether these clothes and dresses, in particular, are trying to make a bold fashion statement or are truly the epitome of poor design. To be able to differentiate between the two, we reached out to freelance fashion designer Harriet Goodings (@harrietgoodingsdesign), who's been in the fashion industry for more than 12 years.
"Poor design can be a dress that doesn’t fit correctly, maybe the collar stands away from the body or the armhole is in the wrong place," she explains.
#4
Image credits: Amanda Arendale Sykes
#5
Image credits: Anlu Harrison
#6
Image credits: Dani Knox
Whereas a bold fashion statement is something that turns heads and gets people talking, she tells us. "It’s more of an emotive response," Harriet notes.
"It’s also dependent on the wearer. If the person feels good, who is anyone else to say the design is poor?"
#7
Image credits: Jennifer Culver-Irwin
#8
Image credits: McKenna Johnson
#9
Image credits: Ayla Gresham
When it comes to the construction of dresses, Harriet says that depending on the complexity of the design, they're usually neither more difficult nor easier than any other type of garment to make.
"A ready-to-wear dress will involve many rounds of fittings and smaller quantities of production. Whereas a fast fashion chain will have strict deadlines and may not meet the high standards of fitting, attention to detail, and sustainability like their RTW peers," she explains.
#10
Image credits: Kerri Elvira Morningstar
#11
Image credits: Myah Rodeman
#12
Image credits: Crystal Sanders
The process of making a dress usually involves coming up with a design (which can sometimes take a lot of research), making a pattern and cutting it to size, making the toile, fitting, choosing the right fabric, and making the final garment with some last touches of draping and styling.
The toile in clothing design refers to an early version of a finished garment, or simply put, it's a draft of the final design. It's usually made of cheaper fabric (cloth or canvas) to test the design and perfect it before making it out of the final fabric. Toile allows designers to visualize their design and make any necessary tweaks to it.
#13
Image credits: Lillie Griffith
#14
Image credits: Guy Zohar
#15
Image credits: Alex Smith
On top of this, clothing brands have tech packs for their designs, which are essentially blueprints for final garments. It includes sketches of the design, information on materials to be used, measurement specifications, size gradings, colorways, etc. Tech packs are used as a tool to communicate with manufacturers so the accuracy of design and quality are ensured.
#16
Image credits: Mandy Vedder
#17
Image credits: Ana O'Harrow
#18
Image credits: Emma Hehl
However, tech packs don't protect from poor design choices of the designer. One of the most common design mistakes that Harriet sees in dresses is having too many details.
"The design is supposed to elevate the look of the wearer by complimenting their proportions and making them feel good wearing it. If the silhouette isn’t considered, it can be quite jarring on the eye," she explains.
#19
Image credits: Patrícia Chies
#20
Image credits: Brittany Ernest
#21
Image credits: Charmayne Lam
Harriet says that the most important thing to consider when designing a dress while ensuring that it’s both stylish and comfortable is to think about what is setting the design apart from others.
"What is your design doing that your competitors aren’t? Maybe the way the fabric moves or the subtle details and simplicity are what make the style eye-catching. Making sure that getting into the dress is easy and not too fussy. Fabric plays a big role in comfort as well as style."
#22
Image credits: Mary Elizabeth Morgan Himmelstoss
#23
Image credits: Bountiful
#24
Image credits: Kassidee Marselos
#25
Image credits: Lindsey Ivy Filar
#26
Image credits: Elizabeth Berke
#27
Image credits: Dorottya Appia Papp
#28
Image credits: Andrea Nichole Kram
#29
Image credits: Lisbeth Bengtsson
#30
Image credits: Ophelia Danielle
#31
Image credits: Narys anonimas
#32
Image credits: Nicole Baker
#33
Image credits: Anna Tribe
#34
Image credits: Jennifer Culver-Irwin
