We went to Gen Art last night and did some serious damage to our already weak wallets. On our way out, we approached a rack of chain jewelry, wine in hand and announced, “Wow, this looks just like Erin Wasson’s.”
We were impressed, just like we were when we first saw Erin’s pieces, until the girl standing next to the rack, Bliss Lau, looked like she might cry. Apparently, allegedly, her work looks like Erin Wasson’s because the model bought one of her necklaces, re-cast it and threw the copies over Alexander Wang’s Fall 08 collection on that dirty Chelsea runway.
All would have been forgiven, maybe, until Wasson wore the original Bliss version in her Nylon write up.
We love Erin, and now we kind of love Bliss, and it’s impossible to know exactly who’s right or who’s wrong, (though Bliss has been making her body chains since Fall 2007).
So we sighed, bought the necklaces from Bliss because they’re super pretty and got the hell out of there before we spent any more money or heard any more scary stories.
Tags: BlissLau, Erin Wasson, Nylon
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So, guest 46, what is an example of another line with similar body chains that is in the NY and Paris showrooms? A few commenters have said that but have not provided supporting evidence.
When I google “body chains” it brings up tons of tacky stripper wear and belly chains, nothing similar to the gorgeous, high fashion designs of Bliss Lau.
And to reiterate, the signature piece of Wasson’s that was shown at Wang FW08 is obviously based on a Lau design, a design which Erin Wasson was most definitely aware of, since SHE IS PICTURED WEARING IT. The shape is identical, the materials and (lack of) leather accents are not.
I think that Erin stole Bliss Lau’s ideas and tried to reinvent them in the hopes that no one would ever find out. I mean to be honest, I had never heard of Bliss until now but I had definitely heard of Erin and her jewelry line. I think Erin knew this and intentionally went along with it. Erin is more well known so she could put her designs out easily and get them noticed (courtesy of Alexander Wang) and be hailed as a creative somebody, rather than a model nobody. Its such a shame. Erin could have approached this in a better way and got a small designer noticed, instead of stealing her ideas and taking all the credit. Why couldn’t Erin ask Bliss to collaborate with her? Oh well, I’m glad she’s been exposed. I just hope she hasn’t ripped anyone else off for her RVCA collection.
LOW LUV= LOW LIFE.
Good job fashionista for exposing this!
Stylist Switch
Alastair McKimm to style Alexander Wang’s Spring 2009 show–but what about Erin Wasson?
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
(NEW YORK) Wang and Wasson are two names that have existed ensemble for so long that it’s tricky to imagine them apart. But come September, model Erin Wasson will no longer be assembling the looks for Alexander Wang’s runway show. The designer has hired Alastair McKimm to replace his best friend. Why the shift? “I love his work and he gets the whole street aesthetic,” said Wang. “We connect on a lot of levels.” The designer confessed to being a long-time fan of McKimm’s work for Russian Vogue and i-D.
The Daily couldn’t help but wonder if Wasson’s duties were relinquished following the recent speculation mounting that Wasson had taken a bit too much inspiration from jewelry designer Bliss Lau. “Alex and Erin are such good friends, and she is doing a lot of other projects,” said a Wang spokesperson. “It’s an evolution for them both.” Wasson will still create the jewelry for Wang’s Spring 2009 show with pieces from her Low Luv line, but will she be styling subsequent collections? “Probably not, but you never know.”
Wang’s show will take place at Eyebeam on September 6 at 5 p.m..
-www.fashionweekdaily.com
Well done fashionista!!! This kind of information cascade in regards to Wasson, is proof of the effect the blogosphere is having.
Its interesting to see that this whole issue was mentioned on Wassons Wikipedia entry this week. However it has now been removed, and replaced with information about her upcoming RVCA collaboration.
When will people like Miss Gnarlitude.com realise that this is just a case of pretty popular people, taking advantage of the less fortunate. For all the punk rock she goes on about, you’d think she would know the difference.
happens all too often never mind the ‘coolhunters’ and the ‘trendspotters’.
not that body jewellery like that is new.I made something like it about 93/94 and probably ended up selling it for $20.00.not that I was copied or that I thot it up.tho I can be original.hard to say for sure.but Copying is shameful.
that is pathetic, leave designing to real designers
I used to love Erin until thissss
not surprised at all. unfortunately, this happens A LOT. and it sucks. but hey, i guess if your some well known supermodel, you can get all the glory.
I remember reading a post on The Fashion Spot from some person who ran into Erin, basically saying she was an obnoxious attention seeker. I forgot all about that until just now.
I’m extremely disappointed that it seems she does indeed have a “sucky” personality; in pics she exudes so much natural coolness. Sigh.
ps Which Gen Art event was this? Just curious.
i feel bad for bliss but lets face it shes not the first designer to make body chains and chain harnesses. Tem has been making body chains since at least 2006 and his stuff is available at barneys. .www.temjewelry.com. . not to mention many other designers, sex shops and motorcycle shops since the 1980′s.etc .its clear that erin took her inspiration from bliss and its unfortunate that she didnt really do her own thing with that inspiration but its a body chain, not a piece of literature. . nobody here invented the wheel.
ok, it’s true that body chains have been around for ages…since like people wearing armour in the middle ages, but I think that Bliss Lau’s chains are quite distinctive in both design, and how they are supposed to be worn. They are modern and original.
I’m really disappointed, I love Erin Wasson’s style, and when I read about her line, I though it was a really fresh idea. That’s exactly why it was receiving so much hype in the first place. But all the respect I had for her has evaporated at this news.
I wonder how many high-end designers would want to hire her after this news, when chances are they have experienced the frustration of their designs being copied.
Erin styled a magazine editorial in Australia that featured all ‘her own’ jewelry. Makes me want to go find it and take a second, MUCH closer look….
what a bitch and a fake. If this is true, I would like to see her get sued and publicly humiliated so she falls right back down to where she crawled up from.
Bliss has been making those pieces for a long time. I bought one long before the A.Wang show where the knockoffs were shown. And I’m not alone in knowing this…Bliss has a crazy fan base that was seriously miffed by all the recent press Wasson has been receiving for making the EXACT same thing.
Unfortch, this is par for the course.
It’s not usually someone with a profile, though. Most commonly, it’s large sort of anonymous companies that quickly & cheaply knock-off the pieces in China.
Friends with small jewelry design companies since early 80s have all got out of the pop jewelry business because of knock-offs. They’ve moved into either high-end commissioned one-of-a-kind pieces or to metal-work gift items.
Not funny.
i just ordered one of bliss’s necklaces. i hope this post brought her lots of good business.
I support real designers as I dabble myself
Now what?
Does one hide their loved and labored over designs in the back of the closet or proudly sell them and fear for their original lives?
The only good thing is that Erin Wasson will be “last year’s model” very soon, and Bliss Lau’s real talent will still be there for year’s to come.
guest 69:
last years model? you obviously know nothing about erin. shes been working for a very long time…
I’d like to know who did Bliss copy when she made her jewelry. The idea is really not that unique.
Cool publicity stunt for Bliss, that I have to say, there’s no pr like victim-sympathy and joined evil-hating.
Anyone who knows bliss wouldn’t know this isn’t some “publicity stunt”
If anything, Erin was the one acting out. She made such a point about how she’s “more than a pretty face” yet can’t make an original design.
typical model, thinks she’s entitled to whatever she wants, even the work of someone else.
OH my GAWD. i know that i’m friggin forever late on this. but i just have to say. I was really impressed with Erin and would have totally bought one of her chains, but really. to take someone elses idea like that, knowing that she has the upper hand?
Despicable.
In French ‘Numero’ Issue 54 (june , july 20004!, Erin was already wearing those kind of stuff , a strass harness, by Lanvin, in a Lindbergh shotting.
So No wonder from me were the idea came from, those kind of jewellery are not new, they are just becoming popular.
I do encourage Erin which i love face, in her new orientation career.
Kahuma23
Arin 100% Ripped off Bliss! there is no question about it. end of story.
And I thought stupid comments about homeless people being fashionable were enough reason to dislike Erin but this is just too much.
I hope there is some justice for Bliss Lau