I must confess, I’ve made some questionable fashion choices over the years. I don’t cringe at them the way I used to; instead, I just laugh and call my 2010s style ‘camp.’ Still, I’m thankful none of my more disastrous outfits ever made it online.
These poor dresses, on the other hand, weren’t so lucky.
They’ve had their moment in the spotlight on the Facebook group aptly named ‘You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress.’ We feel a bit sorry for how much attention they’ve drawn, but we couldn’t resist putting together a best-of-all-time compilation of the ones we’ve featured on Bored Panda.
Scroll down to reminisce with us and upvote the looks you think deserve the title of the most hideous!
#1 Seen Today At Tjmaxx And I Feel Like It’s The Definition Of What This Group Was Created For
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
#2 Weird Looking Clothing
Image credits: Olivia Rice
You might be laughing at these ridiculous fashion statements now, but I’m sure many of you have had those late-night flashbacks to an embarrassing wardrobe choice—maybe from your 2007 prom. No judgment, I’ve been there, too. But according to experts, there are ways to ease the emotional reaction to things that happened long ago.
#3 On A Shein Ad. I Have No Words
Image credits: Amber Ennis
#4 A Surgical Glove After Boil Removal Procedure
Image credits: Hansu Bansu
#5 Fashion In 2022
Image credits: DigZoo
Understanding why we get embarrassed in the first place might help you feel better. And don’t worry, it’s not because the universe enjoys seeing us suffer for a laugh. Researchers suggest that embarrassment evolved as a way for our ancestors to repair relationships after unintentionally breaking social norms.
#6 Saw This In The Comments Of Another Group Of Mine
Image credits: Raylin Alarcon
#7 We Might Need A New Group Called “You Can’t Just Slap A Stuffed Animal On It And Call It A Dress”
Image credits: Kennedy Heath
#8 Not Covering Her Face Bc She’s A Model But Cmon Now Shein What The Hell Is This
Image credits: Brianna Carbajal
Historically, those who felt distress over how others perceived them were more likely to remain part of the group, which was crucial for survival. If you didn’t care about your social standing, you risked being ostracized—or even killed. Feeling embarrassed helped patch things up with those you may have wronged and ensured you learned from your mistakes. And, let’s be honest, it’s still useful in some situations today.
#9 It Had To Be Said
Image credits: Karen Baez
#10 Pizza Dress
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
#11 Ms. Girl Is Famous, Thought It Looked Like Post-It’s Lmaoo
Image credits: Sarah Vess
But here’s the thing: while embarrassment can help us learn and grow, dwelling on old memories doesn’t do much for personal progress. We can get stuck replaying those moments in our minds, allowing them to take up too much space until it stops being helpful.
#12 Not A Dress But Wtf Balenciaga. Almost 1k For A Towel Wrapped Around The Waist? No Thanks
Image credits: Andrea Ruiz
#13 Hmm
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
#14 Ummm A Scuba Diving Dress? My Questions Are Why, For Who And Why Is It Almost $5,000
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
“Focusing on the negative experiences increases our unwanted emotions, which makes us see more negative things until they’re all we see,” says clinical psychologist Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D., author of Better Than Perfect: 7 Strategies to Crush Your Inner Critic and Create a Life You’ll Love. “It’s like pushing on a bruise. It doesn’t feel good and it prevents healing.”
#15 Ummm
Image credits: Christina Ward
#16 I Don't Understand Boutique Clothing. Who Would Wear This And Where Would They Be Going And Why The F*** Would Anyone Pay Over $3000 For Horribly "Reworked" Levi's?!?!
Image credits: Tiffany Runyon
#17 Noah Cyrus. She Looks Comfy
Image credits: Tara Myers-Vendetti
However, research suggests that focusing on the details of a painful memory—like what you ate or wore that day—rather than how it made you feel, can help break the cycle of stress these memories create.
In a 2014 study led by psychologist Florin Dolcos, Ph.D., at the University of Illinois, participants recalled their most painful memories while undergoing brain scans. When they focused on neutral details—such as where they were or what the weather was like—the emotional centers in their brains calmed down, and they reported feeling less distress.
#18 Saw This Dresss On A Wedding Photographers Page And Knew I Had To Share With Y’all
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
#19 Ummm, No. LOL
Image credits: Hannah Sanchez
#20 When You Just Don't Have Time For Gardening
Image credits: Maria Theren
This method is far more helpful than our initial reaction to painful memories, which is often to suppress them. However, that approach frequently causes the emotions to resurface even stronger and more negatively. Instead, by allowing ourselves space to acknowledge the memory, we can decrease the stress it triggers.
#21 Hmm
Image credits: Destiny Dutton
#22 Hmm
Image credits: Hailey Boivin
#23 What In The Happy Hell Is Going On Here? (Phaedra Parks)
Image credits: Spirit Gonzales-Mendez
So why not try this experiment on yourself right now? Think of a cringy memory—the one you really hate, perhaps the day someone embarrassed you in front of your crush in high school. Now, reflect on what else was happening that day. What did you do? What music were you listening to at the time? How was your school day? Did you run into that one teacher you loved or the one you couldn’t stand? If you’re no longer feeling like you want to claw your eyes out, chances are you’re on the right path!
#24 Ahahhahahahahahha
Image credits: Rachel McHale
#25 Some Girl From My College Wore This To Formal
Image credits: Abi Ricci
#26 Greek Gyros
Image credits: Guy Zohar
#27 Oh Man…
Image credits: Kennedy Heath
#28 I Finally Found Something To Post On Here
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
#29 That Awful Dress My Goodness
Image credits: Areli Aguirre
#30 4500$ Absolutely Not
Image credits: Ariyon Weese
#31 Today’s Finds
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
#32 I Don’t Understand “Fashion” These Days
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
#33 This Is A Down Comforter And A Bath Mat
Image credits: Steph Lannutti
#34 I’m Just.. So Confused!
Image credits: Sienna Stanley Clipson
#35 Looking For Summer Street Style For A Client I’m Photographing And I Find This Monstrosity
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
#36 For Your Consideration… Some Of This Is A Photoshop Fail, Admittedly
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
#37 That's One Way To Wear Your Dress
Image credits: Katherine Sinhawk
#38 Look At This
Image credits: Deborah Ratto Dash
#39 Don’t Worry Ladies, You Too Can Look Like A Figureless Polka Dot Worm For The Low Price Of $2,790!
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
#40 The Belly Button Though
Image credits: Sarah Brown
#41 Saw This On Tik Tok LOL It Flatters Her Figure Tho!
Image credits: Jadyn Sullins
#42 UPS
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
#43 I Love Björk, Her Music Is Awesome And I Get That The Quirky Fashion Thing Is Her Deal. But Did She Not Dress Like Covid
Image credits: Stephanie Stephens
#44 I Am Plus Size And Like Compliments….this Dress Is Not For Me
Image credits: Sarah Ihrer
#45 Finally Found Something Worthy To Be Shared Here. This Reminds Me Of When I Tried To DIY A Purse Of Out Of Pair Of Jeans And My Sister Threw It Away Thinking Its Scrap (Because It Was Trash)
Image credits: Sabarni Sengupta
#46 Its A “Skirt”
Image credits: Emma Lohnes
#47 Not Covering Her Face Cause She’s Famous Here In Brazil….but Why?
Image credits: Lara Falkievicz Niehues
#48 Skirt…
Image credits: Patti Peters
#49 Fungus-Core??? An Homage To The Mushroom Zombies Of The Last Of Us?
Image credits: Lyn Beavers
#50 Ok, But What?
Image credits: Fernanda Moraes
#51 I’m Not Too Sure Why But This Is What I Saw Today On Snap. Would You Even Call This A Dress?
Image credits: Lavinia Juren
#52 I Love And Hate This So Much. Its Giving Swamp Siren, But Also Looks Like A Sweater I Could Find On The Sidewalk Downtown Hahah
Image credits: Group member
#53 I….what Is Burberry Doing?!
Image credits: Sarah Ihrer
#54 Fashion In 2022
Image credits: DigZoo
#55 I'll Never Allow You Twilight People To Live That Phase Down
Image credits: RobynThe Human
#56 Weird Looking Clothing
Image credits: Hanene Zarrouk
#57 Bruh
Image credits: Nicole Brooks
#58 I’m Torn Because At First It Looked Cool But Then You Realize She’s Wearing Butter Knives
Image credits: Kinder Dozier
#59 I Saw This On Insta Earlier And Knew Where It Belonged. I Absolutely Hate It, But I Wanna Know What Others Think
Image credits: Midas Moore
#60 Umm
Image credits: Pradeep Bandara
#61 Hmm
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
#62 I Have No Words
Image credits: Jenna Burke
#63 At First, I Thought It Was AI
Image credits: Nick Emuchay
#64 Weird Looking Clothing
Image credits: Guy Zohar
#65 Weird Looking Clothing
Image credits: Jennifer Culver-Irwin
#66 Julia Fox At Cannes, With Stars Added So The Photo Doesn't Get Zucced
Image credits: Rebecca Mis
#67 Jill Biden
Image credits: Sun Knee
#68 Saving For National Dress As Your Favourite Vegetable Day
Image credits: Lauren Williams
#69 I Present To You All
Image credits: Stacey Boings
#70 Why?
Image credits: You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress
