35 Ugly Dresses We Wish We Could Unsee (2024)

Beauty, Fails

Taste is subjective… up to a point. When it comes to fashion, there are some design decisions out there that might just make most of you Pandas recoil in horror. And thesefashion disasters, or as we so lovingly call them, ugly dresses, get shamed on the popular Facebook group,‘You can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress.’

And they’re right; you really can’t just slap some fabric together and call it a dress. And the proof is the photos from the group that we’re featuring today, dear Pandas. Scroll down for the cream of the crop, the worst of the worst of ugly dresses, be it ugly prom dresses or ugly homecoming dresses.

As you’re scrolling down, don’t forget to upvote the pics that you enjoyed the most, whether you loved the sheer horror of these ugly dresses or you’re actually a fan of the designs. And if you’re interested in swimming in some more bad taste, why not check outBored Panda’sprevious articleabout the Facebook group? It’s a cut above the rest with a myriad of ugly wedding dresses, dubiousfashion choices, and designs gone awry.

What is the Definition of Bad Fashion?

As we’ve mentioned earlier, taste is a very subjective thing. That said, bad fashion can still be defined in a pretty concrete way.

According to the general consensus on the Internet, bad fashion can be described as a style that sticks out like a sore thumb on a given occasion or environment or one that is considered horribly outdated and unflattering.

On the other hand, bad fashion can also refer to style choices that are overly flashy or serve as a means of obvious attention-seeking. And let’s not forget inappropriate or offensive clothing!

So, basically, if you’re looking to avoid a fashion disaster by unintentionally picking an ugly prom dress or an ugly homecoming dress, stick to universal fashion guidelines, and you’re good to go!

What Fashion Trend Should Not Come Back?

While recent years have shown us some excellent trend examples incorporating organic materials into everyday clothing and comfortable (finally!) shapes of clothes that do not restrict movement, there was a decade that was notorious for horrible fashion trends. Oh yes, we’re talking about the Noughties! Although some fashion trends were quite alright, there were trends from the early ‘00s that should never come back.

Here are some of them:

• Capri pants — not really pants, not really shorts!
• Low-rise jeans — inappropriate, horribly uncomfortable, and plain hilarious.
• Dress over jeans — it’s like they couldn’t decide which garment to wear, so wore them all at once.
• Velour tracksuits — nope, they weren’t fancy.
• Micro miniskirts — it was almost impossible to tell whether it was a belt or a skirt.

We’d also add those ugly sweater dresses to the list of fashion trends that should never come back. They were shapeless and oddly uncomfortable to wear! And if you’re looking for some truly horrible fashion decisions made during the noughties, search for ugly wedding dresses and ugly bridesmaid dresses that people deemed okay to wear during the early 2000s. They were truly shocking with their tackiness!

How to Look Beautiful in an Ugly Dress??

We get it; there are times when you need to whip out your tackiest outfit and stun everyone with your unique fashion sense. Take, for instance, an office Christmas party where you’d like to wear an atrociously ugly Christmas dress but still look stylish and elevated while doing so. And that’s completely doable if you were to follow these styling pointers:

• Mix and match — if it’s the dress that’s the ugly component of your outfit, you might want to match it with a demure jacket or a sweater to neutralize it a bit. This rule works with just about any piece of garment you deem as ugly.
• Accessorize — sometimes, a stylish accessory can elevate your outfit so much so that nobody would even dare to call it ugly any longer.
• Tailoring — the most common problem making a regular dress into an ugly dress isn’t its design but rather an ill-fitting tailoring. If you like the dress but don’t like the way it looks on you, try bringing it to a seamstress to fit it better.
• Embrace it — one man’s ugly is another man’s unique! Embrace the quirks of your outfit and turn them into a fashion statement.
• Personal style — all in all, fashion is a very subjective thing. If you feel confident in the clothes you wear, then it is the most important thing!

How Can I Look Beautiful in Every Dress?

It’s always about feeling your best and your most comfortable, rather than adhering to any specific beauty standards! Of course, we have some tips prepared for you on this topic, too. By following them, you’re sure to look stunning in anything you choose to wear:

Flattering styles for the win! Always choose garment styles that compliment your figure and are well-tailored. For that, understanding your body type (pear, apple, hourglass, etc.) might be very helpful.

Find your color match! Color theory is not just a theory - it’s something that truly works. Find the color that compliments your skin tone, eye color, and hair the best, and see how good they look on you.

Be confident! Sure sure, confidence might not always come easily, but if you love that dress and it makes you feel like a million bucks, then wear it with no regrets.

Everybody is unique! Wearing the same things store mannequins wear might be trendy, but let’s admit — it might not be totally you. Search for your own style and own it because being you is the most important.

Feedback time! If you have friends or family whose taste in fashion you trust, always seek their feedback or advice if you’re lost in style choices. Who knows, you might come up with fun new outfits working together!

And lastly, you can always use the ugly dresses on our list as an example of what NOT to wear!

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real.At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design.In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle.I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

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