A fashion designer has gone viral for sharing her seven biggest pet peeves when it comes to clothing, sparking an online discussion.
Nicole Adalina (@nicoleadalina), 24, works in New York City as a development technical designer at a contemporary fashion brand. She recently revealed what instantly turns her off from purchasing a garment, focusing on aspects that compromise quality rather than stylistic choices.
“I’d say my biggest fashion pet peeve is when a garment feels compromised in quality, rather than something stylistic,” she said. “For example, when the design doesn’t extend to the back of the garment or when the stitching is sloppy and uneven.
“Also, a poorly fitting piece—whether it’s too tight in all the wrong places or just doesn’t sit well on the body—is never worth purchasing. It’s those details that can make a garment feel cheap, even if the overall look is there,” Adalina told Newsweek.
nicoleadalina
She elaborated further in her video, detailing specific features that make her walk away from certain items.
“Here to deinfluence you,” she captioned the video, which has garnered 3.5 million views and 362,300 likes.
Shirred Back Panels
A shirred back panel is a design feature that uses elastic thread to create gathered fabric, often for stretch or comfort. While it can improve fit, Adalina feels it detracts from a garment’s overall look.
“I hate shirred back panels, honestly. Just, like, cheapens the look and kind of shows that there wasn’t much thought put into fit of the garment. It’s just an eyesore for me,” she said.
Exposed Zippers
An exposed zipper, as the name suggests, is a visible zipper used as a design feature or functional detail. Adalina said that when exposed zippers are not intended as a design element, she finds them “horrid.”
Tortoiseshell Cardigan Buttons
Cardigan buttons, particularly tortoiseshell styles, are another pet peeve.
“I don’t like tortoiseshell buttons. I don’t like any buttons that look very plasticky. If the color is off, I feel like they’re usually off,” she said.
Adjustable Straps
Adjustable straps, often featuring a small slider for size adjustments, also fail to impress the designer. “Any adjustable straps? Cheapens the look. No. When I see that slider, it’s an immediate no,” she said.
Prints That Don’t Extend to the Back
Adalina also takes issue with garments where the print or pattern is present only on the front. She calls it a blatant cost-cutting tactic.
Ruching at the Center-Back Seam
Ruching, particularly at the center-back seam, is another turnoff for Adalina, who associates the feature with budget-friendly online retailers like Shein.
Short-Sleeved T-Shirts
Adalina admitted that her dislike for short-sleeved T-shirts is more personal, as the fit can trigger sensory issues for her. “I will not purchase tees where the sleeves ride up the bicep,” she said.
Social Media Reactions
Adalina’s video drew varied responses from viewers. Some supported her critiques, while others saw these features as practical or inclusive design choices.
“The shirring back panel is the best addition to a top ever if you’re hourglass shaped and adds necessary space for comfort for all body types,” said one user.
Another wrote: “Kinda confused about shirring back panels and adjustable straps considering they make clothing more inclusive…what do you think those should be replaced with lmao.”
“Heavy on the shirring back panels. It always looks cheap every time,” said Kayla.
Another viewer said: “Tortoise shell buttons are the cheapest button in production, that’s why they’re on every fast fashion cardigan.”
Another person wrote: “Those of us with small chests really really appreciate adjustable straps.”
Adalina’s Response
Reflecting on the reactions, Adalina told Newsweek: “In the video, I edited out a lot of my reasoning for my pet peeves for the sake of short-form content, and it ended up sparking a lot of conversation—which is good.
“Fashion is so personal, so at the end of the day it’s your opinion that matters most. I would never want to discourage someone from following their personal style,” she said.
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