When Art Direction Goes Bad

Poor Michael Phelps. Just days after winning a record-setting eight Olympics gold medals, he appears on the cover of Sports Illustrated wearing a spangly halter top.

Of course, in reality those are his medals. But the bad art direction makes it look like he visited the wardrobe department at Sabado Gigante.

And if you are going to appear topless, isn't it necessary to show the pants? For all we know, he's completely naked.

Now he's the nude Olympic Champion with a penchant for girls' shirts.

Suddenly Mark Spitz's patriotic Speedo and gold chains seem like pure genius. (See below.)