Adventures in Copyrights: A Lesson to (Shoe) Boot

posted by xxi

Jun 24, 2008 3:48PM

I saw the all black ones at forever21 the other day and they weren't that bad. Granted I hate the shoe to begin with, and I ventured into forever21 to kill 15 minutes. But if I really liked it/hated my feet, I would for the knockoff in this case.

posted by guest

Jun 24, 2008 3:48PM

Second that! And cheap patent leather is better than cheap leather because both are covered with plastic.

posted by guest

Jun 24, 2008 3:54PM

is that a seam down the front of the forever 21 version? yucky! To me, that's the biggest difference.

posted by bastylefilegirl

Jun 24, 2008 3:58PM

LOL okay now I'm typically a defender of F21, but this is a little much. Knock off shoes should be reserved for Baker's and Steve Madden only! I actually have been lusting after the orgninal for a while now and no 347 isn't affordable for most people. I also assume you guys haven't see these:

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&categoryId=126948&parent_category_rn=42358&productId=715316&langId=-1

posted by fashionursta

Jun 24, 2008 4:06PM

One other thing- while the Chloe sandal booties are gorgeous, they are IMPOSSIBLE to walk in. I bought them at Barneys and ended up returning them after putting them on in my apt and not being able to balance. That is why such a gorgeous sandal is left over from the season and on sale. (there's always a reason). It would be interesting to know if the F 21s are as difficult to walk in. Anybody try them?

posted by guest

Jun 24, 2008 4:10PM

Yes bastylefilegirl they probably saw that shoe on TopShop, but in true Fashionista style it's better to comment negatively on Forever21 then TopShop. Come on, they think $347 for some plastic covered shoes are affordable.

posted by hannah

Jun 24, 2008 4:17PM

I don't like the Chloe ones to begin with. And guest @ 4:10 PM, you could lay off it a little. The F21 ones are far more of a direct knockoff, and far more hideous. But... people who are buying $347 shoes are not going to be buying F21 shoes.

posted by valenlb

Jun 24, 2008 4:30PM

As much as I agree with your well-stated points, some of us still can't spring for $387 shoes. F21's version falls into a completely different and much more accessible price range.

posted by guest

Jun 24, 2008 4:41PM

the problem with Lesson 4:
the girl who would enter f21 and actually purchase these ripoffs probably has no idea that the chloe version exists (or even that chloe exists), much less that they could purchase a far superior shoe on sale at net-a-porter(or that such a website even exists)...

really the two worlds rarely collide enough to keep f21 from profiting on these copy-cat creations. eg: i rarely go into f21 and f21 shoppers rarely browse shopbop or read the barneys catalog--if it weren't for your informative and fun posts-i would never know the difference

although when it comes to clothes H&M has way better chloe knockoffs :)

posted by guest

Jun 24, 2008 5:10PM

My biggest problem with this website is its elitism. It is not just the fault of the authors, but the commentors. Guest at 4:41, you assume that there is such a great divide between the rich, fashion-loving folk like yourself and the poor, unaware masses. This is simply not true. Many people shop at forever21 BECAUSE they make high fashion affordable through knockoffs. While I don't approve of their blatent stealing of intellectual property, to assume that f21 shoppers live in a different world than you, is simply absurd. A great deal of forever21's appeal is that they make high fashion trends quickly and cheaply. Also, if you were more familiar with other fashion blogs (Rumi from Fashiontoast is a great example of this) you would know that many women cannot afford Chloe or Marc Jacobs and so they buy from f21.

So, to conclude, there is already enough classism in the world, can we please keep it off this website?

posted by guest

Jun 24, 2008 5:59PM

amen 5:10!

aspects of this blog take after other blogs, such as the sartorialist, as well as blatantly reprinting from fashion mags. it's all intellectual property. and the chloe boots are fug, they are fortunate enough that someone thought them desirable enough to knockoff.

posted by guest

Jun 24, 2008 6:43PM

I don't remember if this exact pair is there, but TONS of chloe and mj shoes are hugely on sale @ iris on washington in meatpacking to the point that the are basically free...plus veronique branquinho, paul smith, and victor and rolf...so good

posted by guest

Jun 24, 2008 7:48PM

5.10 & 5.59 I agree.

posted by FashionIntelligentsia

Jun 24, 2008 7:52PM

Let me tell you, that CHLOE shoe feels like cheap plastic. I wrote about my encounter with both those shoes our our site yesterday. I think you might enjoy it!

posted by guest

Jun 24, 2008 7:59PM

i don't understand why forever 21 copied the shoe in the first place. what a terrible decision...

posted by enomissimone

Jun 24, 2008 8:03PM

I kind of love how Forever 21, Steve Madden etc. blatantly knocks off fashion trends. To me it shows how ridiculous and temporary fashion is. Beside if I saw that shoe walking down the street, I honestly wouldn't take the time to notice that it's a knock off. I agree with guest 5:10, not everyone can (or should) buy designer goods.

posted by guest

Jun 24, 2008 8:58PM

thank you 5:10! someone needed to point that out!
i am all for mixing high & low end.

posted by guest

Jun 24, 2008 9:59PM

I agree that this elitism is out of hand.
I own Chloé shoes, real ones, and lots of other pricey shoes, and I also shop at H&M and have bought things for Forever 21 before. I occasionally go in there and look. I won't buy the stuff from these stores that are blatant knockoffs of other items, but they do on occasion have cute, non-100% knockoff things...and I'm not ashamed to spend $20 on a piece there so that I have more money left over in turn to buy my Chloé shoes!

posted by guest

Jun 24, 2008 10:17PM

this makes me sick. i bought the chloe version in black for over $600 :(

posted by Malibu

Jun 25, 2008 2:52AM

I disagree 5:10. It's true that there are fashion followers in lower society. I myself can't afford expensive clothing, but I still would never stoop to F21. The clothing they make is awful. Not only do they completely copy designer's original ideas, but they do it in a trashy way. The material is cheap and the hem lines are sloppy. The clothing in general is disposable. Now, I believe that no high fashion follower would shop there because we know that quality is better than quantity. I would much rather wait three months so I can have enough to buy the real shoes then run to F21 and buy these, because I know I will be getting something made with the best material that will last forever.

posted by guest

Jun 25, 2008 7:26AM

#4 is ridiculous for all the previously stated reasons and more.

posted by HiFashionLvr

Jun 25, 2008 10:09AM

how sickening. i hav a strict anti-knockoff policy. i understand that a lot of people (myself included) can not afford the Chloe shoes, and i would have no problem with a similar pair of shoes, but they stooped as low as to copy the colors? this is ridiculous. i'm also outraged @ topshop 4 their knockoffs, though it is much more subtle. i love designer clothes & accessories, but i cannot afford a lot of them (although i occasionally splurge) so once in a while i go in2 F21 (also because most of my friends shop there) but if something is an obvious knock-off, i don't care how cute it is, i will not buy it. once i got so sickened with myself over buying a fake Burberry scarf i wore it twice and then gave it away

posted by Rose Tyler

Jun 25, 2008 10:29AM

I agree with Malibu. Design is art. Why is it ok to ripoff a fashion design but not other forms of art? Because that way we can afford it? To me street fashion is the alternative to buying high fashion. If you can't afford designer, I can't, then create your own style. This way you can still be fashionable but not contribute to these cheap knockoffs of someone else's design.

posted by guest

Jun 25, 2008 11:57AM

Malibu:
"lower society"
"I believe that no high fashion follower would shop there because we know that quality is better than quantity."

Well it's a good thing you are the spokesperson for all "high fashion followers!"
My point (I am guest 5:10) was that it is possible to respect intellectual property (I too believe fashion is art) but also to identify the elitism that occurs in posts--and comments!--like this. If you can wait 3 months and buy 400$ shoes, that is great for you, but this is not true for everyone, and that needs to be recognized. Implying that the sale price is reasonable for most people is absurd. Us "lower" folk follow high fashion, respect it, but can't always afford it. I think the most disgusting part of all this is how it quickly becomes haves v. havenots- which can be clearly seen in many of these comments. Can't we all appreciate fashion without perpetuating silly stereotypes like lower incomes= "lower society," and not a true "high fashion follower?"

posted by guest

Jun 25, 2008 12:43PM

I can't believe that no one has mentioned labor issues. Regardless of what you think about F21, their stuff is cheap in part because it is produced by underpaid workers in developing countries. Designer stuff does not always do better, but often it does. When you see some cheap knock off or super cheap anything think about WHY it might be so cheap. It is difficult to entirely avoid sweatshops but it disturbs me that most consumers do not even think about these things.

posted by hannah

Jun 26, 2008 6:29AM

I totally agree with guest at 5:10 and 11:57 AM. Malibu, speak for yourself. Maybe you would "never stoop to F21" but most "fashion followers" will shop at F21 for cheap, trendy pieces they can't afford anything else. Saying that just makes you sound like a snob.

posted by guest

Jun 29, 2008 2:35PM

Design is not Art. There is a fine line between the two.

Also, these shoes are impossible to walk in. The heel is so strange. The centre of balance is entirely shifted.

posted by guest

Jul 10, 2008 12:06AM

wearing something that is so knocked off IS PLAIN TAAAACKY!!!!!!! You are way better of buying another shoe that is cute.
How tacky!!!! F21 should be burned.

posted by bastylefilegirl

Jul 11, 2008 12:45PM

Okay Okay...I lusted after the Chloe shoe for so long...and still can't afford it ( 347 was not going to happen)...so I broke down and just purchased the Forever 21 version.....

http://www.bayareastylefile.com/2008/07/ba-style-steal-of-day-cz-3-patent.html