In yet another example of a big fashion chain “borrowing” ideas from an independent designer, Topshop recently rolled out a set of “punctuation rings” that look a hell of a lot like the awesome swear ring set by jewelry designer and fashion blogger Wendy Brandes. Wendy posted a response on her blog yesterday that addressed the cyclical nature of fashion and Topshop’s choice to manufacture a product so similar to her own. Check out her thoughtful reaction after the jump … Keep reading »
I was really excited for Rachel Zoe‘s first collection when the photos were featured in WWD yesterday. The collection features structured ’70s-style fashions; the garments are more tailored than loosey-goosey bohemian. Even though the $250 to $700 price range is a little beyond my means at the moment (unless Gilt Groupe plans to have a sale … hint, hint), I thought Rachel did an adequate job of bringing her signature ’70s style to the masses. But then I came across the above photo that questions the authenticity of a Rachel design on Fashionista. Did Rachel, who has made herself a brand and powerful person in the fashion industry, actually knock off another designer? Keep reading »
Willow Smith has received a huge amount of attention for the look she wore to the American Music Awards. She even landed on our worst dressed list. Many of the negative comments focused on the yellow sleeve thing she wore so proudly. Now we wonder what her reaction would be to the fact that her accessory is a knockoff of a piece by Mother of London. And the designer of Mother of London, Mildred Von Hildegard, is pissed. “I’m disappointed and saddened that this will negatively impact my business. My original design is now recognized in the mass media as someone else’s work, and it’s very hurtful on both a personal and professional levels,” Von Hildegard said to the site Haute Macabre. Stylist Mariel Haenn, who has styled Willow in the past, has even taken to Twitter to defend her name, saying she didn’t style Willow for the AMAs. This is a sad day in fashion, both for Von Hildegard and Haenn, but also for Willow, whose appearance at the AMAs was tarnished not only by that heinous outfit, but also because she’s a knockoff wearer at the age of 9. [Fashionista] Keep reading »
A new bill to appease the fashion industry’s gripes with copycat issues has been proposed by Senator Charles Schumer. Interestingly, the bill doesn’t exactly cut down the Forever 21s and Steve Maddens, but proposes that construction, rather than an intellectual idea, is most key when considering a copyright case. Reports The New York Times: “The proposed legislation provides very limited intellectual property protection to the most original design. A designer who claims that his work has been copied must show that his design provides ‘a unique, distinguishable, non-trivial and non-utilitarian variation over prior designs.’ And it must be proven by the designer that the copy is ‘substantially identical’ to the original so as to be mistaken for it.” This puts designers in a weird position of not being able to call out potential knockoffs for color or patterns, so much as the unique construction of a garment. Keep reading »
Buying a knock-off is one thing … but making your own knock-off? Try searching for “Louboutin red soles” on eBay, and you’ll find a couple dozen auctions for red adhesive soles in the style of the classic Christian Louboutin touch. Some are being marketed as a product to use as protection for your real Loubs, but it’s also a sneaky way to make your pumps look like the real thing. Would you do this to your shoes? Think it’s a clever or stupid idea? [eBay] Keep reading »
I’ve been wanting to buy a pair of TOMS shoes for a while … but not from Target. Browsing the shoe department at Tar-jay this weekend, I noticed a cute pair of navy-and-white striped canvas loafers with a straight cut across the top of the foot. Very nautical, very Connecticut. One problem: they look a hell of a lot like TOMS shoes. As you might know, the majority of TOMS shoes are canvas or linen loafers with a distinctive straight cut.
Coincidence? I’m not sure. But TOMS loafers retail for about $44. Target’s knockoffs only retail for $16.99. Keep reading »
Urban Outfitters’ rib cage necklace (right) bears a striking resemblance to indie designer Lillian Crowe‘s rendition (left), doesn’t it? The designer, who debuted the bone jewelry last March, thinks so and she’s trying not to be pissed. The fashion industry would have stalled and died a long time ago if designers couldn’t “be inspired” by other designers’ work, but copying a ruffled hem on a dress is entirely different from essentially knocking off a design entirely. Though Crowe’s gold necklace is more detailed (and cooler!) than the Urban Outfitters variety, something about this feels very David and Goliath to us. If this level of “inspiration” is OK, how can small designers even attempt to compete with huge retailers? Keep reading »
Because eyelash length is, for some reason, a huge concern these days, we’ve taken to applying all sorts of crap around our rather delicate eyes in the pursuit of a long lash. While the popularity of treatments like Latisse (which costs $120) shows no sign of slowing, the icky side effects of lash-lengthening knockoffs should definitely be enough to make you think twice. One woman who tried Lumigan, an $80 alternative, found stray hairs growing from the skin at the corner of her eye. [Wha!? Seriously? -- Editor Erin] We’ve got enough random hair to tweeze; excess eyelashes in odd spots doesn’t really need to be added to our list of concerns. Add to that the fact that these Latisse alternatives aren’t FDA-approved and we officially don’t care enough about the length of our lashes to deal with that mess. [StyleList] Keep reading »
While we recently learned just how bad platform shoes are for our feet and backs, we never expected to hear the same about plush sheepskin boots. It’s a little unclear what the difference between regular Uggs and the plethora of knockoffs out there is, if any, but according to Dr. Ian Drysdale, the Head of the British College of Osteopathic Medicine, wearers of the trendy boots are doing the “‘Ugg shuffle’–a lopsided, pigeon-toed walk caused by the unsupportive nature of the shoe, and just six months of wear could cause serious damage that can be difficult to repair.” The lack of structure forces feet to splay, flattening the arch and causing potential foot, ankle and hip problems. (This is perhaps of greatest concern for growing kids, whose parents deck them out in these when it’s too cold for Crocs.) Sheesh. Now wearing those comfy shoes isn’t just a sartorial felony, it’s a back problem waiting to happen. What the hell are we supposed to wear now? Orthopedic shoes? [Daily Mail] Keep reading »
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