Fashionista - Fashion Designers, Models, Shopping, Style - Adventures in Copyright: Bootie Call

Nov 27, 2007 @ 1:07pm

Steve Madden, master of all things copied, has struck again.

We've gotten used to seeing his Chloe rip-offs and Miu Miu imitations but this time there's a twist.

The Chap is a white, platform covered ankle bootie with a black patent toe and black buttons up the side. According to the site, the shoe's "Back by Popular Demand" and is apparently Steve Madden's "Most Wanted" style.

We remember seeing these in the store at least a month ago - it's hard to forget something so utterly unwearable yet cute, (unless of course you're Christina Aguilera pre-pregancy and then you could totally rock them).

So we were taken aback when we found Christian Louboutin's Emily boot, newly exclusive to Net-a-Porter and only available to pre-order. It's almost exactly like the Chap, except the buttons are white and the heel is covered in light grey leather. They can be ordered now, but it might not ship until January, nearly six months after the debut of Steve Madden's obvious knock-off.

Or not so obvious? Which came first, the Emily or the Chap? Is there an evil spy embedded in Monsieur Louboutin's workshop?

posted by esvm3915

Nov 27, 2007 1:27PM

Believe I saw the Christian Louboutin version at Saks two weeks ago. Don't recall the grey leather, but the silhouette was definitely the same.

posted by guest

Nov 27, 2007 1:40PM

the emily! it went with Roland Mouret's new collection, of course!

posted by Laia

Nov 27, 2007 1:44PM

yeah i think the color might be the only exclusive thing to net-a-porter, as i had seen these before as well.

Nov 27, 2007 1:56PM

Steve Madden knocked them off - the Louboutins were on the runway long before their look was copied. I remember because i loved them and was excited to see a version that i could more likely afford.

Nov 27, 2007 2:52PM

louboutins were definitely first on the scene at roland mourets runway as i think someone said already..but the fun part about the maddens is that on their website you can customize the shoe as part of their design your own program..you can change the heel the toe the middle and buttons..and you can pick from a ton of colors...its fun

Nov 27, 2007 3:52PM

You know, I have to say I'm really over the whole "Adventures in Copyright" section! For a fashion website, you sure seem to know very little about how the industry works. I'm not about ripping off someone's work directly, but it's not exactly as if Louby reinvented the wheel here! It's a classic shoe with a heel in trendy proportions. Such trends start at the designer level and filter down to better markets and then to the mainstream - the Steve Madden customer doesn't want "new ideas" or "interesting design" - she wants a damn knockoff, so as a business person he gives it to her. If Steve Madden (or H&M or Forever 21 or whoever) just started designing whatever they felt like their clothes would never sell. I know you guys aren't their target customer, but the girls that don't live in New York and aren't so fashion-forward don't start trends, they follow them. Also, I don't think Louby is losing customers to Steve Madden - the girl who's going to shell out the big bucks for the designer version wants the name, the quality and craftsmanship, and can afford it. The Steve girl just wants to look like an Olsen.

Everyone - EVERYONE - in the industry works this way. Honestly - do you think Marc Jacobs doesn't hand his sample room vintage coats, etc, to copy for fit, detail or both? He just adds some big buttons and his great sense of styling and color. This is not a new phenomenon, and it's definitely here to stay.

Sorry girls - give it a break already!

posted by Kara

Nov 27, 2007 3:59PM

I wish I could pull off those loubatins!!! beautiful. the steve maddens look really ugly in comparison.

posted by Ali

Nov 27, 2007 4:00PM

Though I agree with the above poster, I think it's harsh to say girls who shop at Steve Madden are somehow followers with no fashion sense. If I had the money, I would obviously buy the Louboutins, but honestly, few people are so rich then can drop $600 on shoes w/o a second thought. Is it more "fashion forward" to spend your rent money on a pair of shoes or go for a month w/o dining out to afford them? I'd rather have pay a sixth of that for a shoe that looks exactly the same.

posted by Emily

Nov 27, 2007 6:36PM

What about this?
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2941818?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=betsey+johnson+in+All+Categories&origin=searchresults

Nov 28, 2007 12:51PM

Call me crazy, but I really like the more cartoonish proportions of the Madden more than the Loubis. Somehow, it looks more applicable to my closet. Still, I feel like the pricetag on those shoes (the Steve Madden rip-off) is just a little absurd. But maybe that's just me.