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If I learned anything from the countless episodes of Project Runway I watched as a child, it’s that fashion is all about taking risks. Sometimes designs flop, but that’s arguably better than being bland and quickly forgotten. So it seems like many designers have decided to err on the side of outrageous design, and no one knows that better than the members of You Can’t Just Slap Some Fabric Together And Call It A Dress

Contrary to what the name of this Facebook group says, apparently, you can! But you’re likely to be mocked for it online. Below, we’ve gathered pics of some of the most comically bad dress designs that deserve to be shamed, so feel free to channel your inner Tim Gunn and be sure to upvote all of your favorites (or those that you can’t believe anyone actually wore).

#2

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Stephanie Tavlarides Stratos Report

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Daniel Atkins
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Somewhere there is and older gentleman wondering how she got her pant up so high and wants tips on how he can do the same.

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Famous fashion designer Vera Wang once said, “I want people to see the dress, but focus on the woman." Perhaps that’s why she’s been so successful, because her designs aim to highlight the wearer rather than distract from everything else around them. 

Clearly, not all designers have the same mindset, though, or You Can’t Just Slap Some Fabric Together And Call It A Dress wouldn’t have any content. This Facebook group has been around since April, 2020, and it has already amassed an impressive 61k members. The concept of the group is simple, as the rules state that it’s for “dress shaming only”, and the members stay active sharing all of the fashion atrocities they come across from all over the internet.

In a previous Bored Panda article featuring You Can’t Just Slap Some Fabric Together And Call It A Dress, we reached out to the group’s creator, Mary Waldron, and she was kind enough to have a chat with us and provide some insight into how the group began in the first place. “The group name was actually inspired by a comment on a post in the group, ‘That’s it, I’m wedding dress shaming,’" Mary previously told Bored Panda.

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#5

Shaming-Funny-Dress-Fashion

Lyn Beavers Report

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Clay S.
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is that mushrooms? The beginning stages of the "the last of us " apocalypse?

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"The group was originally just a wedding dress shaming group called ‘You Can’t Slap On A White Skirt and Call it a Wedding Dress,' but over time, as more and more people joined, I decided to allow other types of dresses,” Mary explained. Then in May, 2021, after Mary and the admin team decided the group needed a more inclusive name, You Can’t Just Slap Some Fabric Together And Call It A Dress was officially born.

But this dress-shaming group has been popular since the beginning. “I noticed the group gaining more popularity about 6-7 months after I created it, and it was honestly out of nowhere,” Mary previously told Bored Panda. “I never expected it to be such a big group, but honestly, I should have because at the time, shaming groups were a big trend on Facebook.”

"Looking back, I think the thing about shaming groups in general that brings people together and really resonates with them is the idea that there are things so bad out there that they feel compelled to share them with everyone for a good laugh,” she continued. “Just like when a group of kids in school will see a teacher with a really bad tie and make a few jokes. To me, it’s that same concept, just on a much larger scale, that really makes these groups what they are."

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Mary also previously shared with Bored Panda what makes a dress truly terrible, in her opinion. “The dresses I tend to really gawk at are the ones that look like they could fall off, tear, or just completely malfunction at any given moment,” she explained. “But outside of the group, I try to keep an open mind when it comes to fashion because a person’s taste is as unique as their own. At the end of the day, if a dress makes you feel happy when you wear it, then you wear it relentlessly because your body is your own to dress how you want to,” she added.

#11

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Amber Ennis Report

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A C
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like she got up from the toilet quickly and forgot to pull 'em up.

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If you tend to think all of the outfits featured on runways look ridiculous, you’re not alone. Renaud Petit wrote a piece for Medium breaking down why fashion shows are filled with unwearable garments, and he explains that those bizarre pieces we see on models aren’t ever going to end up in boutiques or in department stores. But they can be a great way for designers to express their creativity. “Designers are artists and they wish to express something through their designs,” Petit writes. “As you can easily imagine, a basic T-shirt or a pair of trousers are not deep enough to be turned into powerful artistic supports (unless you decide to write a strong statement on them but that is called ‘punk’ and has been done before and done again a million times). Many of them thus need to be able to create their own sculptures, real artworks that play the role of canvas.”

#15

Shaming-Funny-Dress-Fashion

Madison Mishoe Report

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Daniel Atkins
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did she come out of a tv and because I looked at it. I need to pass it on or she will come after me?

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Petit goes on to explain that the looks featured in fashion shows are typically more of a “mood board” for what the actual collection will look like than they are pieces that should be sold on shelves. “This is actually why it is called ‘a show’ and why it is not simply a range of products displayed on still mannequins,” he writes. “It is some kind of dance in a carefully chosen venue, with finely-worked décor and music. The garments you see can be compared to costumes. The audience needs to interpret the moves and costumes to understand what the story is about in a ballet. This is basically the same with a Fashion show.”

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“Runway pieces are like muses, they make for some kind of base on which the actual collection will rely on,” Petit continues, in defense of absurd pieces on runways. “Presenting such exaggerated pieces also makes it easier for us to understand what were the real inspirations behind the collection. They sometimes are used to subtly introduce new hints on what the designer wants to do for future seasons. After the show and if the public liked it, an idea may survive and be found in upcoming collections. There is thus another reason why Fashion shows are so weird-looking: they display several ideas from the designer in order to guide them and set the guidelines for future collections.”

#19

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Sarah Ihrer Report

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RafCo (he/him/ele)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Give my six year old a pair of scissors and your sweater, she'll do this for you. Then she'll claim she has no idea what happened. We have to hide all the scissors in the house.

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#20

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Group member Report

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Camilore
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The upper part doesn’t work well with the bottom, maybe paired with another style could work, as a wedding dress with a slight victorian vibe. The bottom is horrendous…

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Robin Givhan also wrote an article for The Washington Post explaining that there’s a good reason for fashion to be so weird. “Is weird fashion simply clothing struggling to be taken seriously as art? Perhaps, if the definition of art is an expression of creativity that aims to provoke an emotional response. But fashion is not the same as a painting or sculpture or ballet. Fashion is a commodity — it has to be worn, it has to live outside of a gallery or theater,” Givhan writes. “It doesn’t have to be worn by everyone. It doesn’t have to be appropriate for the office or the mall or  a White House state dinner. You and your cul-de-sac neighbors don’t have to like it. The point is that you react to it.”

“If fashion makes you laugh, good. It means that it has jarred you from complacency. It means it has caught your attention. Now, think about why you laughed. Then ask why. Ask why, again. That’s the starting point of a conversation,” Givhan goes on to write. And I have to say, the photos on this list have certainly gotten a reaction out of me. So even if you hate every single dress here, that’s totally fine. That doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t fashionable… Many of them just also happen to be tasteless. 

#25

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Jade Loren Jeffries Report

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Clay S.
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cool concept, but I would have chosen a team that made it to the superbowl

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Is there any chance you would ever wear any of these dresses, pandas? I’m all for a bold choice myself, but I think I’ve got to leave these for the  runway models and celebrities who have more money than brains. Keep upvoting the looks you find most atrocious, or so ugly that they’re brilliant, and let us know how you feel about this “high fashion” in the comments below. Then, if you’re interested in checking out even more of these wild dresses, you can find Bored Panda’s most recent article featuring You Can’t Just Slap Some Fabric Together And Call It A Dress right here!

#30

Shaming-Funny-Dress-Fashion

Ricky Martinez Report

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McKenzie LeValley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

DESIGNER:what should we do with this extra fabric HER: PUT IT ON MY HEAD DESIGNER: what? HER:DO IT

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#34

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Karla Carreon Ferry Report

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Camilore
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The fabric is off, the colours are off, the style is off, this beautiful lady deserves much better. Don’t get me started on the buttons

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#35

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Becca Grace Fee Report

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Cara
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me halfway through getting dressed and realising that my top is still in the dryer. Hoick up skirt so I don’t scare the neighbours whilst getting it.

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#48

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Sol Benucci Cruz Report

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Couriva
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really don't see an issue with this one. It has a pretty color and I like the design.

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#49

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Chloé Yoko Mkb Report

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Brittany Grawe
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is this here? Yes, it needed to be tailored better, but this is is beautiful.

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#50

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Megan Schuldt Report

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sh30joy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This doesn't belong on this list - it's cheap lingerie, not high fashion. These are also amateur photos, which makes me hope she gave her consent.

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Li’l E.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, I agree. It’s one thing to make fun of celebrities and pretentious fashion designers, but this seems below the belt.

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Sapphonie Steph
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's just bc she's big. Plus it's lingerie. If she were built like Kim k or Megan fox nobody would complain

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Catlady6000
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's the same size as me. This does not look good. Fashion should flatter and accentuate your best features. This does not. Put her in a plunging halter top, with a fitted, not skin-tight, skirt and heels. She has killer legs and those should be what we notice first, not an outfit.

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Emma London
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There should be no body shaming of plus size people wearing cheap erotic lingerie. It's great that the dress is offered in larger sizes, too!

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Catlady6000
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree in principle, but not in specific. She's the same size as me. This does not look good. Fashion, even cheap fashion, should flatter and accentuate your best features. This does not. She has killer legs, but the first thing you see is the unflattering outfit.

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Crouching hippo hidden panda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like this one is just plain out trying to fat shame. Doesn’t belong on this list

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Turner Floor
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, it’s a mustache, but it’s the “disguise” emoji…. Also, women can/do definitely have mustaches. We’re just not “supposed to”… 😁

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Benita Valdez
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah this is like a bodycon lingerie thing and doesn't belong here. I have something like this too for sexytime

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Robert T
Community Member
1 year ago

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TheKnightOwl
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would you rather than run around naked? There are always going to be people of different sizes, if you don't like it then don't look. I'm sure you're a picture of perfection, right?

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Kitty1019
Community Member
1 year ago

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Some really needs to advise these women that just because they can squeeze into it, doesn't mean they should attempt to wear it. Be proud of yourself but don't humiliate yourself in the meantime.

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TheKnightOwl
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because you're a privilege, immature online persona who is poking for validation from others who are just as privileged and immature.

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