The 'How To Make a Cute Dress Out of Shorts' meme originates from the wave of rapid-fire DIY life hack videos popularized on platforms like TikTok and 5-Minute Crafts. While the original videos often show a seamless transition from a pair of athletic shorts to a stylish sundress, the internet quickly turned it into a classic Expectation vs. Reality trope. Users often pair the tutorial steps with images of themselves looking disheveled or literally stuck inside the garment, highlighting the absurdity of oversimplified fashion hacks. It has become a staple for mocking the impracticality of viral internet advice and the inevitable chaos of attempting a complex craft project with zero professional experience.