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Buy, Buy, Baby May 1, 2008 @ 1:32pm

A Triple Steal

by Britt Aboutaleb

topshop jacket.jpg Someone recently asked us why we don’t discuss Topshop’s copyright infringements and leave Forever 21 alone.

But Forever 21 doesn’t just interpret a designer’s idea or trend - they rip off the entire design within a single piece, whereas Topshop’s obviously inspired by the runways, but manages to stop short of directly copying. (Obviously there are exceptions to this but we’ve found it to hold true the majority of the time).

For example, when we saw this adorable jacket we thought:

- The asymmetrical cut, the collar, the poufy short sleeves - it’s so Vivienne Westwood!

- The faded stripes are semi-nautical and semi-Chanel but refrain from screaming SS08.

- We love that it’s called “The Bandstand Jacket” - irrelevant, we know, but too good to ignore.

Ok. And hopefully this is the last time we have to explain the difference.

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Fashionista Main

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 2:19PM

I disagree.

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 2:23PM

hopefully this is the last time we have to hear you talk down to your readership as if airing an arguably valid point were some sort of indication that a person should be treated as a rabble-rousing special needs child who "just doesn't get it."

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 2:33PM

Also a little Ann Demeulemeester, no?

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 2:35PM

britt you remind me of elizabeth hasselbeck. you're like a whiney toddler with no valid point. did we forget chloegate from last summer. please. holier than thou attitude because youre paying more for shipping and conversion rates.

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 2:42PM

I don't think this post could be more obnoxious.

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 2:43PM

i agree with 2:23

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 2:44PM

I saw an interview with the head of Forever 21 and she was saying they don't employ any designers (this was about 3 years ago). Therefore, everything is derived from something else. She was also really mum about everything, kinda sketchy.

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 2:46PM

hopefully, this will be the last time a moron is insulted by a post on a blog and acts like a rabble-rousing special needs child because they "don't get it."

PS. Britt, you're totally correct.

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 2:54PM

fashionista may or may not be correct but there is a more gracious way of making your point.

class, unlike clothes, cannot be bought.

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 3:00PM

i agree with 2:46 sans the "special needs" part. it's a blog. get over it or stop reading it.

and fashionista, i think you have all the class you'll ever need.

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 3:20PM

ewww, this just made me want to stop reading here. so obnoxious.

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 3:26PM

totally agree with 2:23. get rid of these two girls and offer faran whatever she wants. her posts were/are so much better.

posted by kenya

May 01, 2008 3:27PM

i think the point of this post was to explain why fashionista reports more on forever21's copyright infringements versus other companies. whether or not you like the tone is your own dilemma but i would bet they get a lot of annoying emails from readers asking why they are focusing on forever21 and not others.

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 3:27PM

Um, you're all REALLY overreactive.

there's NOTHING annoying or obnoxious here except all the faux-butthurt comments...

It's just explaining why fashionista doesn't harp on topshop like forever 21! You guys asked!

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 3:34PM

I'm glad it screams those things to you.. but to others, it might just scream, ooh.. pretty colors.. would match my jeans.. I think I'll buy it. I think Fashionista keeps missing the readers point: Which came first, the chicken or the egg. What makes you think those designers didn't copy someone else? Fashion is how you present yourself/wear the clothes and not the name on the tag.

posted by HeatherChandler

May 01, 2008 4:05PM

What'd I miss? Where's Faran?

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 4:35PM

oy vey you guys! talk about taking shit too seriously.

ps, how about changing adventures in copyrights to "forever will f21 be ripping off designers as long as theres a market for it?"

either way. the adventures in copyrights posts are getting SOOO BORING.

Who gives an F anymore anyways? fashion isnt about labels as much as it used to be. The current trend is creating a truly unique personal style, not catering to some big wig's idea of chic in the form of a pricy piece of silk.

tooootally weak. but i agree with the commenter that said fashionista will have all the class it will ever need.

this is a blog, not a bible.

posted by HeatherChandler

May 01, 2008 4:44PM

I like Adventures in Copyright :(

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 4:53PM

I only post as guest because I'm uncomfortable with internet/privacy stuff after some bad experiences (I was stalked) so I am aware this is hypocritical, but I find it fascinating that this was all "guest" postings. I am not a big fan of the constant Adventures in Copyright either, but don't see why people are so passionate about it. It's a fashion blog! It's fun. Let's talk about shoes.

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 6:44PM

I agree. lets talk about shoes...

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 11:14PM

You are not witty or clever. Cut the self-righteous tone, or bring Faran back.

posted by guest

May 01, 2008 11:41PM

someone forgot about chloegate

posted by guest

May 02, 2008 6:11AM

britt does manage to imply that there have been times topshop have copied clothes: "Obviously there are exceptions to this but we've found it to hold true the majority of the time"

but still. every time there's an AIC post against f21, we should ask why they leave topshop alone all the time so britt can explain the difference again and again, which she doesn't want us to.

honestly, i think the topshop love is because of its exclusivity, since it's british and not as common as f21 in the states, so the copying isn't as obvious.

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&langId=-1&partNumber=TS27C13SCRM
doesn't that skirt remind you of a certain miu miu skirt that was featured everywhere?

posted by guest

May 02, 2008 1:51PM

You can't all be serious! I just clicked on this post to comment 'couldn't agree with you more,' and there's this horrible backlash against Britt!!! Jeez, go to a different site then. It was a totally innocent post and I think it makes total and utter sense. So there.

posted by guest

May 03, 2008 2:04AM

Seriously, the readers of this blog are getting more and more pathetic, over reactive, and simply obnoxious.