posted by sarahchivonne

Mar 04, 2008 12:23PM

looking at the underneath view on forever21's site, it kindof looks like the shank of the shoe would collapse once someone actually would put their weight on it, making it all misshaped. not that the louboutins leave you not teetering around as well, but when has buying $20 footwear proved to be a good idea anyways.

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 1:41PM

those shoes arent even balanced. what the hell is that

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 2:29PM

so funny. i saw these last week and knew it would end up on here. i actually gave them a good look and considered trying them on, but decided against. i think its because the sole of the shoe is so cheap-looking, and then again, it's also not red...

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 3:07PM

So, I tried on these shoes too as soon as I saw them. As cool as they are to look at, they are completely unbalanced in their design. They are nearly impossible to walk in and there is absolutely no support. It makes the not that tall heel feel impossible to walk in. Lets leave Louboutin to make these shoes.

posted by Rose Tyler

Mar 04, 2008 3:57PM

Someone want to give me $775? I really love those Louboutin's and those Forever 21 knock off's would never fill the void.

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 5:02PM

this whole 'adventures in copyright' business is really getting annoying. I'll keep coming to fashionista because the rest of the articles are worth it, but every time i see these posts i want to go on a rant...

First of all, the manner in which these are posted seems very snobbish. Don't buy the forever 21 version because it's inspired by louboutain? for many people in this country, those f21 shoes are the closest they are ever going to get. if they love this design so much that they are willing to torture their feet, i say go ahead. Fashion has always included sampling of other people's ideas. My grandmother told me about how she would return from paris and have her tailor make her similar dresses to save $$

F21 knocking this off doesn't in any way reduce the profits of marc or loubie. It's not like the people who are buying the loubie see the shoe in f21 and say 'hey you know what, i'm going to buy the 20$ version instead." part of the reason you buy the designer goods is for the status (since the f21 version is identificably different this isn't a factor) or because of the quality (obviously not a factor with the knockoffs).

and finally, why didn't you end the post about marc's scarf with the same recommendation- don't buy it?
does the price tag attached some how exempt him from copyright laws?

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 5:22PM

Right on!!!

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 5:34PM

Yeah, what's up with "You still shouldn't buy them - but we're just a little bit impressed." I thought you guys were here to present ideas, inform us of what's trendy and what's yesterday.. It's 'people' like you that I love asking me where I bought something and I reply F21. I appreciate more expensive, quality made items but why should we buy the Louboutins versus the F21 ones, should they fit better and look better on ones feet? I didn't know they paid you that well at Fashionista!

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 5:40PM

guest @ 5:02
ok first of all, if you do not like the site. do not read it. simple, no?

second, do try and remember the fashionista staff DOES recommend chain stores like f21, h&m, urban, ect to their readers when its appropriate. throwing away $21.80 to buy poorly made, designer knockoff shoes is not one of those ocassions. sorry hun

also, many of the readers (excluding yourself) actually repspect mr. louboutin and his designs and this would be such an insult to him to even dare of wearing them. not to mention a risk factor considering the structure of this "shoe"

its quite clear you dont understand the concept of quality goods vs cheap fast fashion. i do not know who you associate yourself with but most readers of this site (including the fashionista staff!) do not purchase goods just for the sake of status. we purchase them for the quality of the items, and sometimes because we love the designer.(if you're looking to point fingers try the women of canal street, and china) THEY purchase items for status! which is why they all own fakes!

however, is this to say that none of us have ever purchased a tee from urban outfitters or f21? probably not, but those items do not reflect the foundation of our wardrobe. ESPECIALLY shoes. $5.99 flip flops at Old Navy? Sure! Louboutin knockoffs? no thank you.

i would suggest instead of "torturing your feet" to fit into the faux shoes because you simply do not have the funds to purchase the authentic ones, then maybe you should put more time in the office, or reduce some excess spending?

one last thing, i suggest you do your research before you start ranting as if you know what you're talking about when it comes to retail infringement laws and designers :)

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 5:52PM

Well said!!!

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 5:54PM

5:02 I agree completely. I've been dying to the say the same exact thing for months.

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 6:54PM

awesomeness to the above post

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 7:30PM

Amen!

Although i find the copyright issues interesting because it is such a highly discussed topic within all areas of design...and i enjoy seeing how companies like Forever 21 translate the designer outfit into a budget version.

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 8:04PM

guest at 5:40: so you are saying that patent-leather ankle booties that are bright purple are NOT fast fashion? that somehow the "quality of construction" overrides taste?

i'm not trying to disagree particularly--but the guest at 5:02 has a point. just because something isn't "built" with such fine quality doesn't mean it shouldn't be bought... as if it were diseased or something. most people, including myself, will never be able to afford louboutins.

i still appreciate his brilliance, of course! just because i am more likely to spend less on a pair of similar shoes doesn't mean i don't RESPECT louboutin himself!

in the words of michael kors, "lighten up! it's FASHION!"

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 9:31PM

i'm with 8:04 on this. lighten up!

at first, these comparison bits were cute and funny...now, with one or two popping up daily, i'm getting a little tired of it.

i don't read fashionista to find out who's knocking off who...i want to see what's new, cute, and can inspire what i wear every day.

really, who cares if f21 knocks off every major designer? it doesn't make the designer clothes any less gorgeous.

who cares what the "foundation" of someone's wardrobe is, as long as they make it work, and they look good?

i think one of the things we tend to forget is that fashion isn't what makes people look good, it's how they use fashion. so in the end, it doesn't really matter who made it, as long as the result is good.

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 9:40PM

I've tried these shoes on in the store and I really liked them. They are well made relative to other cheap shoes. I'm totally for designer's rights and think copyright infringment is wrong, but are they really that similar to the Louboutin's? I mean, there are definitely more obvious copies of other designers in the F21 stores. The shape and use of patent is similar but is no one ever allowed to make patent booties with a zipper ever again? There's really only so far a bootie can go. The color is totally different and if I saw them I wouldn't confuse them with the Louboutin's. These shoes are such a trendy thing too, not worth 775 for something that in three years I bet no one is even going to like anymore.

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 10:36PM

If you can't afford to buy them in the stores (like me lol) then try to purchase them from a reputable seller on ebay. Buying knock-offs are fine if you must, but it takes away from the joy of knowing you have the real thing, and plus they aren't designed to BE a high end shoe and treat your soles nice. You can get some amazing deals on ebay..I just recently purchased the Miu Miu Baroque wedges in the covered shoe (I bought the sandal version from net-a-porter for 1/2 off when they were orig. $800) and I got them for only $170, a pair of gorgeous Alaia's for $70, Zanotti platforms for $56, balenciaga platform knee high boots retailing for $1200 for only $200, 2 Chanel's retailing for $875 for $200, $600 Manolos for $175, Gabbana's for $60, and my newest addition of Louboutin Espadrilles for only $57.
And did I mention that each and every one of them have proven to be competely authentic, and brand spanking new in the box.

Oh, and those loubs pictured can be bought right now on ebay for only about $400...

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 10:42PM

who the heck are you to tell people they shouldn't by them. fashion has no rules. they aren't exact copies, and even if they were- who cares? some people cannot afford a pair of $800 shoes. both shoes are ugly and faddish anyway. anyone who takes advice from you guys litterally is a brain-dead moron. some of the things you guys say really scare me. it's sad when you're such a slave to fashion that all you look at is brands, Brands, BRANDS. you guys are downright hipocrites as well for telling people not to buy forever21 versions of things bc they are copies, but it's okay to buy jeffrey campbell's or topshop's copies of the black studded burberry sandals? it just makes no sense....

posted by britt

Mar 04, 2008 11:06PM

the point isn't that you HAVE to buy the over-priced louboutins - it's that there are endless footwear choices costing less than $30 that aren't rip-offs of someone else's creative vision. it's the same thing with fake bags - there are plenty of affordable options that don't blatantly steal someone else's idea.

posted by guest

Mar 04, 2008 11:10PM

i think it's interesting to see the similarities between f21 and the real deal, but the tone that accompanies it rubs me the wrong way. it's like fashionista has turned into the fashion police. when i come to fashionista i'm looking for inspiration or for the latest, breaking news (which you guys do well- i'm not trying to bash on fashionista)

posted by poseur

Mar 05, 2008 12:27AM

ok all the comments are there. now if we get a post about chinese kids making these shoes, it will be a full on deja-vu.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 2:27AM

This may be a shocker to some, but there are people who exist on this planet who do not have every single louboutin shoe memorized. Some of us have lives outside shopping... (e.g.) If I hadn't read this post, I could have passed by f21 to see those shoes, like them, and innocently purchase them w/o knowing they were knock offs. Wouldn't that say more about how much you truly like the aesthetic/design of the shoe, rather than knowing the brand and the price attached?

And in terms of quality... I think it's foolish to believe that just b/c it's expensive, that it means it's made well.

Anyway... I agree with others who have said "lighten up!" Bring yourself back down to earth :S

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 5:37AM

to those who "come to fashionista for this and that" you really make me laugh!!

HAHAHA you all sound like a bunch of demanding customers at a fast food location! fashionista dot com does not owe you anything!! IF YOU DONT LIKE EVERRRRRRRRRRRYTHIIIINGGGGG YOU READ HERE TRY ANOTHER BLOG/SITE!!

i love fashionista.com but i also love style.com, teen vogue/V blogs, sartorialist, diane pernet, whowhatweardaily, stylebubble, fashion week daily, tFS, ect ECT ECT ECT there are literally hundreds!

and you know something? ALL of them have their pros and cons! BUT THEY DONT AIM TO MAKE ANYONE 100% HAPPY. THEY WRITE WHAT THEY WANT!! AS THEY SHOULD! (ITS THEIR SITE!!)

so f*ck man! get over it!!! YOU'RE ALL LUCKY THEY EVEN ALLOW COMMENTS! BUT KEEP THIS ACT UP AND I'M POSITIVE THEY WILL ONLY ALLOW CERTAIN POSTS TO BE COMMENTED ON!!

posted by HeatherChandler

Mar 05, 2008 11:22AM

I like "Adventures in Copyright". DON'T CHANGE A THING!

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 4:58PM

umm... well the point of having a comment section is so that everyone can state their opinion. We don't have to like everything, thus, commenting on it. They have free speech to post whatever they want.... we have free speech to post comments if we want... That's the point of having a blog?! Not to censor certain posts that they don't want comments, it's an open forum for discussion. Things NEED to be discussed & challenged or else nobody would learn.

Anyway.... in the end, I like Adventures of Copyright, too.

posted by guest

Mar 05, 2008 7:23PM

guest @ 4:58pm

this is not an open forum. but now that you mention it! fashionista.com does have a community with forums for discussions like this. i'm sure you were aware of this :)

please join!

posted by guest

Mar 07, 2008 1:07PM

People don't seem to get that what Forever 21 is doing in regards to fashion is STEALING. It's illegal. Many retailers get inspired by runway designs and re-interpret them for their stores. Forever 21 doesn't do that, they blatantly copy. There are at least four pending lawsuits against them and the worst part is that these people claim to be devout Christians. I guess they missed the part about not stealing in the Bible. I happen to love designer clothes but I can't afford them. I've resigned myself to that but I will never, ever buy knock offs. It's illegal and unethical and the industry that creates knock-offs supports the most reprehensible practices. Designer goods cost so much because they use high-end materials and they employ specialists for certain items. The low end knock offs are created in poor factory working conditions and with cheap materials. Stop defending Forever 21. The store has terrible business practices and the owners are thieves.
Keep posting the Adventures in Copyright. People need to know this kind of stuff.

posted by guest

Mar 07, 2008 3:01PM

Dear Guest @ 1:07,

Just so you know, blatantly copying fashion is not illegal under copyright law. There is something called the useful article exception, and all clothing has been held to fall under this exception, meaning that clothing design is NOT protected under copyright law. (See 17 USC sec. 101, et seq.) However, it is accepted by a number of courts that it is possible to have a copyright in a distinct graphic design for a textile (See Peter Pan Fabrics v. Martin Weiner, 274 F.2d 489), but that does not extend very far. This means that Forever 21 could completely copy a design using a slightly different-looking fabric and never suffer any legal consequences.

Certain logos and patterns are protected under trademark law (this is why you can't create Louis Vuitton knockoffs using the "LV" logo, for example), but there is actually very little protection for clothiers and fashion designers under intellectual property law in general. Although Forever 21's practices may be unethical, they are pretty certainly not illegal, and those lawsuits against them will probably ultimately be dismissed.

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2008 12:31AM

This might come as a shock to those who don't own Louboutins but his shoes are TORTURE! I admit that some of his shoes are a little bit comfy but most of them are killer (esp. the ones I own for some reason). Just because a shoe is expensive does not necessarily mean it's comfy.

Now I'm not saying that we should all run out and buy F21 shoes. I'm just saying that price does not dictate how comfy a shoe can be. If you really want comfy shoes, I suggest Jimmy Choo or YSL.

Just thought I'd put that out there.