shocking adj.

1690s, "offensive, giving offense," present-participle adjective from shock (v.1). It is attested by 1704 in a stronger sense of "causing a jolt of indignation, horror, etc." By 1798 as "deplorably bad, so bad as to be shocking." Related: Shockingly. In fashion, shocking pink was the name of a color introduced February 1937 by Italian-born designer Elsa Schiaparelli.