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Sociology, semiotics, and a number of other disciplines teach us that what we look like, how we act, and whatever other signs we as humans are sending define us as individuals.

One of the more obvious ways of doing so is wearing particular clothing. Something baggy or loose-fitting definitely sends a drastically different message than formal, straight-line attire. Heck, even two hoodies might mean different things if one’s a black affair with an old school rock band’s logo as opposed to a pink hoodie with some #justgirlthings poetry.

But what the following fashion statements in the form of badly-designed clothing might mean in general—I mean, your guess is as good as mine.

#1

Thanks To This Woman’s Amazon Review I Promptly Removed This Dress From My Cart

Thanks To This Woman’s Amazon Review I Promptly Removed This Dress From My Cart

JivyNme Report

#2

My Girlfriend's Peepi Socks Finally Arrived

My Girlfriend's Peepi Socks Finally Arrived

nizowosa Report

#3

My Dad Found A Face As The Pocket Of His Pepperoni Pizza Pants

My Dad Found A Face As The Pocket Of His Pepperoni Pizza Pants

cosmosclover Report

It’s a bit hard to explain how design can be bad. Much of it boils down to taste, and you can’t really argue over it. Well, OK, you can, but you ultimately need an objective frame of reference to argue taste. And that demands loads of time on your part to get educated as to what fine art is and is a whole complex story that you can rabbit-hole yourself into by reading an article we wrote about great execution but poor taste.

#4

This ~$960 Bag Which Looks Like There's Mold On It

This ~$960 Bag Which Looks Like There's Mold On It

--floridaman- Report

#5

Tie-Dye Design Hoody Just Looks Like Grease Splashes

Tie-Dye Design Hoody Just Looks Like Grease Splashes

robgod50 Report

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#6

Not Very Well Thought Through If You Ask Me

Not Very Well Thought Through If You Ask Me

michellezhaang Report

Anywho, in terms of more technical aspects of the execution, bad design becomes more easy to identify. The most obvious one would be misspellings or mislabeled (or even misinterpreted) designs. Think AIDS sneakers, Google Slides slippers, or Captain A’Mario. Here, you can immediately see that something is off—either it’s an allusion to something real or a sad attempt at alluding to something that just makes zero sense thematically.

#7

Heavy Pants

Heavy Pants

EkriirkE Report

#8

Best Nike Off-Brand Ever

Best Nike Off-Brand Ever

teorosso Report

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#9

Condensation For Days

Condensation For Days

DUDEwipes Report

Then there’s an artistic decision made that didn’t really translate well onto the fabric. Someone might have wanted a unique, scattered pattern on this bag over here, but the end result looked like the bag spent three months in a plastic bag, soaking in all the fungus from a loaf of bread someone decided to put in there as well. Same with stain marks on this hoodie—someone might’ve wanted a grease-monkey mechanic’s look, but ended up looking like someone hit the gym in a repair shop.

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#10

Sup[er]h[er]oes

Sup[er]h[er]oes

finnwormser Report

#11

Michael Jackson Backpack

Michael Jackson Backpack

Heis3nberg99 Report

#12

My New Ugly Sweater

My New Ugly Sweater

ebay.com Report

And then there’s just flat out not thinking it through. Imagine creating a perfectly logical design only to add an element that negates it completely. Thinking outside the box when the box is enough to think inside it is a great example. Or highlighting letters to make a point only to accidentally highlight other letters that make another point.

#13

The Brand Name Of My Daughter's Shirt

The Brand Name Of My Daughter's Shirt

Durph08 Report

#14

Its-A Me, Captain America

Its-A Me, Captain America

mattythebuoy Report

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#15

Found This Bootleg At My Local Thrift Store

Found This Bootleg At My Local Thrift Store

YuB_is_best_boi Report

So, why is this a thing in the first place? Minus a lack of talent and aptitude for design, there’s a bit of a misconception about misspelled trademarks in that they don’t really avoid a lawsuit. One lawyer argued that even if a trademark is misspelled, the actual brand might have the power to take it down. If the design is too similar to the original one, it doesn't matter if it’s for a product for a different industry, the whole idea behind them is to distinguish itself and cause less confusion for customers. Besides, you can never know if YouTube will one day want to branch out into tubs and bathroom accessories with a brand like YouTub.

#16

Wanted To Buy Some Brand Name Flip-Flops But My Wallet Was Like

Wanted To Buy Some Brand Name Flip-Flops But My Wallet Was Like

mixxbg Report

#17

Think Inside The Box First

Think Inside The Box First

SpeedDreaming Report

#18

The North Face Who?

The North Face Who?

reyren18 Report

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And if we’re talking about trademark infringements, there are those who also avoid it by creating very believable fakes. Why? Because the final price tag is significantly lower than that of the original. Of course, it also comes with its own issues, like lack of quality in the materials and how it’s executed. But if you’re strapped for cash and still want to impress your friends with designer clothes, this is a reality.

#19

Can't Really Wear My Favorite Death Metal Shirt In Good Faith Anymore

Can't Really Wear My Favorite Death Metal Shirt In Good Faith Anymore

0stees.com Report

#20

$600 Balenciaga Shoes Spotted On The Subway

$600 Balenciaga Shoes Spotted On The Subway

eneug Report

#21

Ham Socks

Ham Socks

LonelyAche Report

Incidentally, when we think of bootleg products, the culprit is often China. China is the biggest manufacturer of products in the world. And so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that nearly two-thirds—63.2%—of all counterfeit seizures in the world are done in China.

China is home to a lot of skilled workers who can copy and make designs with little effort. And the country’s policies against counterfeits have enough loopholes to make the industry thrive through sneaky channels and open-air wholesale markets.

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#22

Instead Of A Printed Sweater I Received A Sweater With A Print Of Printed Sweater

Instead Of A Printed Sweater I Received A Sweater With A Print Of Printed Sweater

axolotlpaw Report

#23

Lies

Lies

PTP-PATCHI Report

#24

Beautiful

Beautiful

Scaglio Report

But there’s also the issue of luxury companies diminishing in quality, slowly but surely becoming generic versions of otherwise expensive brands. And so when the Regular Joe can’t really distinguish between the quality of the fake and the real product—or the difference is minuscule—they end up going with the cheaper option.

And then there’s stories like that of Dapper Dan, forcing folks to at least consider for a second how bootlegs might be a necessary evil in progressing fashion.

#25

I’ve Never Seen A Pair Of Dress Shoes With Split Toes

I’ve Never Seen A Pair Of Dress Shoes With Split Toes

tonglongjeff Report

#26

They Went Through All The Effort To Add A Working Zipper, But Not Functional Pockets

They Went Through All The Effort To Add A Working Zipper, But Not Functional Pockets

gerrrtastrophe Report

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#27

I Saw This Backpack That Looks Like A McDonald's Bag

I Saw This Backpack That Looks Like A McDonald's Bag

etsy.com Report

Long story short, Dapper Dan is a Harlem fashion designer who, back in 1982, opened up a boutique that offered the look and feel of high-end brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton, but adapted them to new monogram designs—designs that folks wanted, but these bigger brands didn’t deal in them. Decades later, this became a staple for other designers to reference, thus creating a new kind of fashion.

#28

Found In Kurdistan

Found In Kurdistan

ninkeyminjaj Report

#29

Backpack Shoe

Backpack Shoe

nicolemclaughlin Report

#30

The Amazing Tarantula

The Amazing Tarantula

Beautiful_Fishing569 Report

And, as is also in good fashion, we’d love to hear from you about anything and everything you read here today in the comment section below.

And if you need another design fail fix, look no further than this epic and hilarious design fail listicle brought to you by the Design Failures Instagram page.

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#31

Blursed Slides

Blursed Slides

Ben9999999999999999 Report

#32

My Girlfriend’s Expensive Jeans That Came With Fake Pockets. Can’t Even Return Them Now

My Girlfriend’s Expensive Jeans That Came With Fake Pockets. Can’t Even Return Them Now

meliodas_137 Report

#33

Tie-Dye Socks That Look Like Someone Used Them As A Toilet Paper

Tie-Dye Socks That Look Like Someone Used Them As A Toilet Paper

Professional_Lunch43 Report

#34

Shrek 2

Shrek 2

unknown Report

#35

My Friend Ordered Herself Some New Gloves From Ebay. These Monstrosities Arrived Yesterday

My Friend Ordered Herself Some New Gloves From Ebay. These Monstrosities Arrived Yesterday

Mr_Wassonwheeler Report

#36

Ah Yes, Just Like How I Remember It

 Ah Yes, Just Like How I Remember It

NOODENTO Report

#37

Like

Like

NikosPRo Report

#38

These Jean Pants Are Upside Down

These Jean Pants Are Upside Down

target_aquired Report

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#39

Totoro The Hedgehog

Totoro The Hedgehog

all9050 Report

#40

I Am Laughing So Hard I Can't Even

I Am Laughing So Hard I Can't Even

ChillBackroomsMan Report

#41

Complete With Hair And Sweat

Complete With Hair And Sweat

facebook.com Report

#42

I Was Startled At First Because I Didn’t Think It Was Possible

I Was Startled At First Because I Didn’t Think It Was Possible

Potterybug Report

#43

Got This New Hoodie And Everybody Has Asked Me Why I Am Wet And I Have To Tell Them It's Just The Design Of The Hoodie

Got This New Hoodie And Everybody Has Asked Me Why I Am Wet And I Have To Tell Them It's Just The Design Of The Hoodie

sirSosig Report

#44

My Friend Bought A Shirt From Her High School In Lone Grove Oklahoma. She Didn’t Try It On First

My Friend Bought A Shirt From Her High School In Lone Grove Oklahoma. She Didn’t Try It On First

Battlescarred98 Report

#45

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

crudolph0828 Report

#46

Mockey

Mockey

Beautiful_Fishing569 Report

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#47

I Can't Even

I Can't Even

Kimwere Report

#48

The Design On My Girlfriend's Yoga Pants Makes It Look Like They're Covered In Fur

The Design On My Girlfriend's Yoga Pants Makes It Look Like They're Covered In Fur

AstroidSeenByDinos Report

#49

Nine: Consider Doing It

Nine: Consider Doing It

ObeseMorese Report

#50

Air Force Juans

Air Force Juans

IForgotAboutDre Report

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#51

This Is Always Infuriating

This Is Always Infuriating

Bulletz4Brkfst Report

#52

These Unusual Pants I Saw At The Mall

These Unusual Pants I Saw At The Mall

Cadence_828 Report

#53

Something The Grinch Would Sport When He’s Robbing All Your Christmas Gifts

Something The Grinch Would Sport When He’s Robbing All Your Christmas Gifts

vantellikicks.com Report

#54

That Design On My Son's T-Shirt

That Design On My Son's T-Shirt

GodHatesUsall1 Report

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#55

What Are You Trying To Say?

What Are You Trying To Say?

Otherwise_Forever962 Report

#56

He's Had These Zumba Pants For A While. Hadn't Noticed

He's Had These Zumba Pants For A While. Hadn't Noticed

thespottedwaffle Report

#57

My Partner Told Me She Got Me Some Designer Socks

My Partner Told Me She Got Me Some Designer Socks

criddy33 Report

#58

That's Not A Unicorn

That's Not A Unicorn

DragornFFS Report

#59

Why Can't Women Get Pockets?

Why Can't Women Get Pockets?

Crosseyed_owl Report

#60

Why Does Tom On My Shirt Has 3 Eyes? Only Noticed It 4 Months After Buying It

Why Does Tom On My Shirt Has 3 Eyes? Only Noticed It 4 Months After Buying It

HappyNuisance Report

#61

Mike

Mike

ShreksHairyToenails Report

#62

Wait, What?

Wait, What?

sarhan182 Report

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#63

Found These In The Same Store. I Just Can't Decide Which Should I Get

Found These In The Same Store. I Just Can't Decide Which Should I Get

Kubech Report

#64

Live Your Never Give Life Is Up Boring Time?

Live Your Never Give Life Is Up Boring Time?

ShiveryTimbers Report

#65

Hope This Asus Jeans I Bought You, Fit You Well

Hope This Asus Jeans I Bought You, Fit You Well

logicalOrdinate Report

#66

Anyone Knows What Sport Is This?

Anyone Knows What Sport Is This?

giannilavapanni Report

#67

Brand New Shoes With Their Own Shoelaces

Brand New Shoes With Their Own Shoelaces

reddit_0885 Report

#68

It's Called Fashion, Sweetie. You Should Try It Sometime

It's Called Fashion, Sweetie. You Should Try It Sometime

Cr0wsbeforeh0ez Report

#69

My Mom Bought This For Me

My Mom Bought This For Me

Verichi_ Report

#70

Death Grips

Death Grips

Trick_Cow3178 Report

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#71

Why Is The Horn There?

Why Is The Horn There?

zdog505 Report

#72

Found It In A Bazaar

Found It In A Bazaar

PreviousNecessary139 Report

#73

New Adidas Sneakers

New Adidas Sneakers

-Intronaut- Report

#74

New Model Prototype Leaked?

New Model Prototype Leaked?

BEX323 Report

#75

We Have To Decode What The Shirt Says

We Have To Decode What The Shirt Says

Insomnicwriter Report

#76

What Does The Baby Keep In Its Pockets? Wrong Answers Only

What Does The Baby Keep In Its Pockets? Wrong Answers Only

kangapaw Report

#77

What In The World Is This

What In The World Is This

Witty-Thought8211 Report

#78

I Don't Think Someone Thought This Through

I Don't Think Someone Thought This Through

ThatDamnC Report

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#79

This Piece Of Clothing That Looks Like It's Wet

This Piece Of Clothing That Looks Like It's Wet

Murarzowa Report

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#80

My Kid Said Her Pants Were Too Big, So I Went To Tighten The Drawstring. It's Fake And Does Nothing

My Kid Said Her Pants Were Too Big, So I Went To Tighten The Drawstring. It's Fake And Does Nothing

g-e-o-f-f Report

#81

Mario Great Rock

Mario Great Rock

Beautiful_Fishing569 Report

#82

Jojo Siwa's Bizarre Adventure

Jojo Siwa's Bizarre Adventure

animeware.com Report

#83

Hey Now, You’re An All Star. Congrats

Hey Now, You’re An All Star. Congrats

fitnessbreeze Report

#84

Morthy Mouse

Morthy Mouse

TheOnlyShyG Report

#85

Surer Mary

Surer Mary

Beautiful_Fishing569 Report

#86

Iec Christmas Cle Holiday Sweatshirt

Iec Christmas Cle Holiday Sweatshirt

Jesus_Eh_Christ Report

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#87

Found A Dino With Five Legs On My Kid's Shirt

Found A Dino With Five Legs On My Kid's Shirt

dixie-pixie-vixie Report

#88

It’s Supposed To Say Believe But The Only Letters You Can Really See Are Blee. As A Graphic Design Student This Infuriates Me

It’s Supposed To Say Believe But The Only Letters You Can Really See Are Blee. As A Graphic Design Student This Infuriates Me

crazycreaturess Report

#89

A Nike Sewing Error On A $100 Hoodie

A Nike Sewing Error On A $100 Hoodie

DJpetee Report

#90

I Am A Trigger Pukler

I Am A Trigger Pukler

BeepBop142 Report

#91

As Seen In Japan

As Seen In Japan

inatowncalledarles Report

#92

Found In Bulgaria

Found In Bulgaria

dwartbg5 Report

#93

My "Facebuk" Flip-Flops

My "Facebuk" Flip-Flops

DillonSOB Report

#94

New TF2 Merch?

New TF2 Merch?

ganymedes01 Report

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#95

What Even

What Even

TheRealVladimirLenin Report

#96

These Shoes That I Saw On The Metro

These Shoes That I Saw On The Metro

RedLegend619 Report

#97

Happy Halloween Guys (This Is Supposed To Be Moon Knight)

Happy Halloween Guys (This Is Supposed To Be Moon Knight)

susmansoulsfan Report

#98

"Ddidas"

"Ddidas"

SnooOwls3367 Report

#99

Can I Have One Lombarghini

Can I Have One Lombarghini

whatsthisman Report

#100

Victoriu's Secren

Victoriu's Secren

memewannabe Report

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#101

Found This T-Shirt At A Grocery Store

Found This T-Shirt At A Grocery Store

vinciblanco Report

#102

Got This As A Present 9 Years Ago. Still Cracks Me Up To This Day

Got This As A Present 9 Years Ago. Still Cracks Me Up To This Day

Afksrry Report

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#103

No Idea What's Supposed To Be Written Here

No Idea What's Supposed To Be Written Here

ta_becheli Report

#104

Madrid On This Sweatshirt My Coworker Wears Often

Madrid On This Sweatshirt My Coworker Wears Often

Ryuktf2 Report

#105

Love I Ca Ts

Love I Ca Ts

SamubGamer Report

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#106

"Oh No, We're Running Out Of Pants! We Only Have Nine Pants"

"Oh No, We're Running Out Of Pants! We Only Have Nine Pants"

MackWasntTaken Report

#107

This Shirt

This Shirt

MasterPro9517 Report

#108

Aisada

Aisada

markusalkemus66 Report

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#109

Cute Purse But Doesn’t Stay Closed If I Have Stuff In It

Cute Purse But Doesn’t Stay Closed If I Have Stuff In It

ATMiceli Report

#110

Nike Got Some Competition

Nike Got Some Competition

battalaloufi12 Report

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