ADVERTISEMENT

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? It can be hard to pinpoint exactly what makes someone, or something, attractive, but when it comes to design, there are many factors that can come into play. Personally, I’m a huge proponent of focusing on the positives, so even when something isn’t your cup of tea, there’s probably something nice you can say about it! If nothing else, “great execution” should do the trick.

Below, we’ve gathered some of the most perplexing pictures from the ‘Awful Taste But Great Execution’ subreddit, showing how people somehow managed to perfectly pull off tasteless ideas. Enjoy scrolling through this list that might make you feel conflicted as to whether or not you love or hate these pics, and keep reading to find conversations we were lucky enough to have with lifestyle and fashion bloggers Lorna Burford, of Ford la Femme, and Natasha Kundi. And remember to upvote all of the photos that impress you (even if you would never want those things in a million years).

#1

This Cup. Kinda Cute Though…

This Cup. Kinda Cute Though…

MiaMiaPP Report

If you’re not familiar with the Awful Taste But Great Execution subreddit, allow us to introduce you. The group has been around since August 2016, and it’s amassed an impressive 1.9 million members since then. The subreddit describes itself as “for everything that displays quality craftsmanship in the least elegant way possible”, and states that “all things gaudy, tacky, overdone, and otherwise tasteless” can be found there. “Work done so well, you won't know whether to love it or hate it,” the mods write in the group’s ‘About’ section.

While anything and everything can be found in ATBGE, there are certain topics that tend to come up more frequently. Common themes on the sub are Art, Automotive, Tattoo Tuesday, Fashion, Food, Decor, Home, Body Art, and DIY. And lucky for us, Bored Panda was previously able to get in touch with one of the group’s moderators to provide more insight into how it began in the first place.   

#2

Sandwich-Style Wrapping Paper!

Sandwich-Style Wrapping Paper!

alazystoner420 Report

One of the moderators of Awful Taste But Great Execution previously told Bored Panda that the subreddit was initially made to be a spin-off of another sub called [Bad] Car Mods. “In the beginning, r/ATBGE focused heavily on automotive-related posts, but we knew doing this would potentially limit our user base,” the moderator explained. “To make r/ATBGE more appealing to the masses, we opened up the subreddit to include things beyond autos (tattoos, fashion, décor, etc.).” That’s when the community really started picking up traction.

ADVERTISEMENT

“As we grew, moderators were added and subreddit rules were further refined,” they went on to explain. “Now we are here, and things are still looking good. We continue to add new subscribers each day, which is a good thing (considering we all do this for free).” And even after 7 years, the sub continues to grow, as it’s well on its way to reaching 2 million members soon.

Many of the things featured on this list fall into categories that are quite subjective: fashion, furniture design, product design, and tattoos. We know that we don’t all have the same taste, and life would probably be pretty boring if we did! But we wanted to learn more about how subjective fashion really is from an expert, so we reached out to England-based lifestyle and fashion blogger Lorna Burford. Lorna was kind enough to have a chat with us examining the idea behind something having ‘awful taste but great execution’. 

“I think [fashion] is objective and through the eyes of the individual, however, there are plenty of things I find tacky, tasteless, and disgusting, from my point of view, but others love them and wear them,” she told Bored Panda. “Maybe this comes from them not knowing anything about fashion and how to style in an aesthetically pleasing way, as well as not having an interest in it, therefore it's a mess. But the fashion industry pushes the boundaries every single day and plenty of designers put looks on the runway that are awful - they just don't work, but people go along with it. So I think it's genuinely a mixture of both, as it's all individual and some people just follow along without really giving it a thought, just because it's 'cool'.”

ADVERTISEMENT
#7

Someone Told Me It Belongs Here

Someone Told Me It Belongs Here

ThePunisher213 Report

Add photo comments
POST
avery0151 avatar
waddles
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

a part of me is like "COOL," but the other bit thinks this is a tad icky, yet cool

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

The Ultimate Jigsaw Puzzle For The Guy That Installs Wooden Flooring

The Ultimate Jigsaw Puzzle For The Guy That Installs Wooden Flooring

EndersGame_Reviewer Report

ADVERTISEMENT

We were also curious if there were any popular fashion trends that Lorna can’t stand. “I absolutely hate the balloon or horseshoe jeans trend!” she revealed. “What is this? Bowing out at the knees in the shape of a horseshoe? It's the most unflattering thing! It's also a pet peeve of mine when someone's leather jacket sleeves (or blazer sleeves) are down to their knuckles, instead of stopping at the wrist. I think it makes the entire outfit look ill fitted and sloppy.” Lorna even wrote a blog post about the horseshoe jeans trend on her second website, The Jeans Blog, that you can find right here.  

#9

This Dissected And Mounted Furby Pet

This Dissected And Mounted Furby Pet

rosseepoo Report

#10

Why Not A Pair Of Illuminated Chandelier Earrings

Why Not A Pair Of Illuminated Chandelier Earrings

Dr_Zol_Epstein_III Report

When it comes to outfits that had great execution but poor taste, Lorna says many of the street style looks during fashion week could fall into that category. “Everything is an expression of art and who can stand out the most, so I understand the concept, but sometimes the final looks are nothing but ridiculous,” she explained. “But because they're so ridiculous, it's 'cool'. Lady Gaga's old outfits are probably a prime example of this! But the execution works as they go into the finer details too. You can't fault the effort.”

ADVERTISEMENT

But Lorna likes to keep an open mind, as she notes that it’s always possible for something to go from tacky to fashionable if it’s executed well. “We have designers on the runway to thank for that,” she said with a laugh. “Tiny denim mini skirts were a trend for so long, back in the early 00's, then they became extremely tacky, and now I've noticed that they're trending again. However, it's about styling them in a different way. No longer with Uggs/furry boots and tight cami tops, it's with sneakers or sandals and looser knitwear or blazers.”

“I think with 99% of items, it's all about how you style them,” Lorna added. “Speaking of big furry boots though, Gucci are bringing those back for FW23. They were featured throughout the runway show and are trying to make those ugly things work again. We will see where that goes!”

#13

Narcissist Much?

Narcissist Much?

Professional-Gear-39 Report

#14

This Marge Simpson Shoe

This Marge Simpson Shoe

froopy_doo Report

Add photo comments
POST
avery0151 avatar
waddles
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i've seen this many times and each time i see it i love it a little more

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

“The 90's had some awful trends and fits in terms of bagginess, but that's trending again,” Lorna went on to note. “Everything is oversized, everywhere. I don't really like it at all, however, because people are better at styling these days, it looks infinitely better than anything did in the actual 90's. So it really does come down to how you wear things and make them work for you.”

If you’d like to learn more about Lorna or gain some style advice from her, be sure to visit her website, Ford la Femme, right here

#16

When Realism In Design Crosses The Line

When Realism In Design Crosses The Line

CaVeRnOusDiscretion Report

Add photo comments
POST
ppepworth avatar
Peppy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is the poo poo the light switch? That’s awesomely gross

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

This Organ Made Out Of Exhaust Pipes

This Organ Made Out Of Exhaust Pipes

ugogilbert Report

We also reached out to London-based lifestyle and fashion blogger Natasha Kundi to hear her thoughts on the topic, and lucky for us, she was happy to answer our questions as well. “I think everyone has their own sense of style. Some people like to stick to their own personal style, but some people also like to follow trends,” she told Bored Panda. “The issue I have with people who follow the latest trends is that they do not take into account whether it suits them or, they just go ahead and wear it. I try to follow trends too, but if something doesn't look nice on me, I never try to wear it again. I think we should always take into account our body shape and skin complexion. The right size and color makes a lot of difference to how we look.”

ADVERTISEMENT
#19

When Your Tattoo Looks More Like You Than You Do Yourself #tattootuesday

When Your Tattoo Looks More Like You Than You Do Yourself #tattootuesday

EndersGame_Reviewer Report

Add photo comments
POST
jonjonsscagsy avatar
scag$y
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aw, bless him. When he's old he can roll his sleeve up and go; 'See how hensome you ole grampa was, young Cletus?'

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

And when it comes to trends Natasha can’t get behind, she shared, “I personally like to wear clothes that fully cover me, so full dresses that have a hole in the back or front or anywhere just seems so ridiculous to me. The only good thing that comes out of such styles is that I get to save my money.” She also noted that, “The leopard and lion dresses at Paris fashion week this year looked amazing with great execution, but the idea behind them wasn't very helpful for animal or wildlife welfare.”

#21

This Hand Carved Staircase

This Hand Carved Staircase

Gainsborough-Smythe Report

Natasha also admits that something tacky can be considered fashionable “provided that it's styled and carried well.” And finally, she wanted to remind readers that fashion doesn’t have to be expensive. “I love how Kate Middleton wears clothes from all price ranges and looks amazing. She is a great source of inspiration,” Natasha says. 

If you’d like to follow Natasha and learn more about her or gain some fashion inspiration, be sure to visit her website right here

Knowing how subjective taste is, Emilia Petrarca at The Cut recently attempted to get to the bottom of who has the best and the worst taste out there (as far as famous individuals go). She surveyed 850 readers, who determined that Audrey Hepburn is the epitome of good taste, and when it comes to who has the worst taste, Donald Trump was the winner, with Julia Fox coming in second. 47% of people surveyed also agreed that influencers have the most impact on deciding what is fashionable at the moment. And when it comes to colors, black was hands down deemed the most tasteful. So when in doubt, you can’t go wrong with that little black dress. 

#24

The Crocodile Rug Extension

The Crocodile Rug Extension

Imoneforsanity Report

#25

Heel Supports

Heel Supports

j3ffr33d0m Report

Add photo comments
POST
carpel-frantic-0x avatar
Kat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's kinda bugging me that the left shoe has a right hand and the right shoe has a left hand

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Is It Bad I Kind Of Want To Buy It?

Is It Bad I Kind Of Want To Buy It?

T_Griff22 Report

See Also on Bored Panda

And while you might find some of the photos on this list to be absolutely tasteless, you’re not alone, but you may change your mind one day. It’s almost impossible to predict what will be in fashion in the future, but one thing we do know is that things go out of style quickly. When it comes to clothing in particular, Beccy Hill at Stylist UK says, “Good taste is defined by the wearer, and not the actual items themselves. People who are confident in themselves have always been able to have this effect on those less confident.” So if the execution is done well, either in the creation or in the styling and wearing, who are we to judge?

#28

Icy Haircut

Icy Haircut

69jmily69 Report

Are you becoming more open-minded in terms of your taste, pandas? Perhaps some of these tacky executions are starting to grow on you? Well, they probably aren’t, but we have to admit that they’re well done! Keep enjoying these shocking and confusing photos, and don’t forget to upvote the ones that required excellent craftsmanship. Then, if you’d like to find even more startlingly well done terrible ideas, you can find Bored Panda’s last article featuring the Awful Taste But Great Execution subreddit right here!

#30

Would You Like A Cup Of Teeth?

Would You Like A Cup Of Teeth?

HarmoniumSong Report

#31

"Honey!? I'm Planning To Do Some Remodels To The Kitchen. How Texas You Want It!?"

"Honey!? I'm Planning To Do Some Remodels To The Kitchen. How Texas You Want It!?"

DefenderOfNuts Report

Add photo comments
POST
phoenixchavez avatar
Phoenix the Frog
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once went to a hotel in Texas and they had huge Texas shape waffles like so huge and now I want some.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

Hulk Hands On This Car

Hulk Hands On This Car

damndamon7 Report

#34

Mcdonald’s Covered In Giant Yarn

Mcdonald’s Covered In Giant Yarn

QuicklyThisWay Report

Add photo comments
POST
sandrasc avatar
hoppsa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That actually looks beautiful. Definitely an improvement, at least until its raining.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

This Is Extremely Well Done!

This Is Extremely Well Done!

EnvironmentalLet7490 Report

Add photo comments
POST
kimwimgoddess avatar
Otto Katz
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How much weight did that add to the car? And aerodynamics just went into the toilet.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

Armoured Crocs…

Armoured Crocs…

cricklecoux Report

Add photo comments
POST
ajshipway23 avatar
AJay
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For when you are going jousting at 10 but boating at 11

View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#37

I Don’t Know What To Call This

I Don’t Know What To Call This

Silojm Report

#39

Cherub Bobby Hill

Cherub Bobby Hill

No-Association3574 Report

#40

30,000 Crystals Just To Look Like A Marvels Villain. (Doja Cat At Schiaparelli Fashion Show)

30,000 Crystals Just To Look Like A Marvels Villain. (Doja Cat At Schiaparelli Fashion Show)

__THE_TURTLE__ Report

#41

Horn Of Gondor

Horn Of Gondor

danruse Report

#42

Man Wearing 4 Kilos Of Gold Shirt Costing Over $200,000

Man Wearing 4 Kilos Of Gold Shirt Costing Over $200,000

decreasinglyverbose Report

#44

The Great Wave Off Kanagawa On Body Hair

The Great Wave Off Kanagawa On Body Hair

feelsonline Report

Add photo comments
POST
cali-tabby-katz avatar
Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've heard that growing your armpit hair out long and then dyeing it is a thing now :) I've only barely just had the bravery to dye the hair on my head recently, though XD

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#45

I Came Across This Magnificent Thing In Nashville, Tn

I Came Across This Magnificent Thing In Nashville, Tn

Hutwe Report

#46

Excellent Design, Questionable Premise. Molar Of The Groom Wedding Ring

Excellent Design, Questionable Premise. Molar Of The Groom Wedding Ring

BrokilonDryad Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#48

I Need Help Captioning This One…

I Need Help Captioning This One…

SDF5150 Report

#49

Hello Kitty Lash Extensions

Hello Kitty Lash Extensions

Koda_kola Report

Add photo comments
POST
maria12956 avatar
Mari Balot
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They kind of look cute. at least you wouldn't have to spend hours trying to make something like that with eyeshadows :D

View more commentsArrow down menu
#50

Drake’s “Outfit” Here. It Does Look Comfy Though…

Drake’s “Outfit” Here. It Does Look Comfy Though…

Artesian Report

Add photo comments
POST
cassandra-grant avatar
Hendo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Snap! I wear this when I'm just ducking out grab some milk and bread

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 119 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.