posted by Katie

Jul 31, 2008 2:33PM

People suck.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 2:34PM

holy crap. i love erin wasson to death and everything..but damn can we leave fashion designers to actual fashion designers?

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 2:43PM

oh my god, i feel terrible for this girl - is there anything she can do?

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 2:44PM

and those necklaces are so adorable. love the diamond dress, but maybe that's your prior post influencing me.

posted by Holly

Jul 31, 2008 2:48PM

That's so awful.
I often wonder how someone can blatantly rip off another's designs, call them their own and assume no one will notice (I know it's naive to say that).
Would you need to get a patent or copyright on the design to prevent that from happening? Then again, how many new designers have the money to do that?
I hope Bliss starts to get some press of her own from this.

posted by fashionursta

Jul 31, 2008 2:51PM

This is just awful. Can she sue?

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 2:52PM

That really boils my blood. I really love(d) Erin and thought her jewelery was so great at a.wang until I read this. If this girl truly was ripped off I hope karma bites Erin in the ass. Hard.

posted by Jazzi

Jul 31, 2008 2:55PM

You guuuuuyys! Now MY wallet is going to be hurting, too :( But $ aside, I'd feel great purchasing one of Bliss' originals. That must SUCK as a small designer to have your creation ripped from under you and credited to someone with a bigger name! How can you get your idea back???

That's REALLY f'ed up. Wow. What would Alexander say? Good for Bliss and Fashionista for taking/giving credit where credit is due.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 2:57PM

Pathetic Erin.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 3:02PM

thank you for posting this.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 3:07PM

Jewelry can potentially be copyrighted as "sculpture". All one needs to prove copyright is the existence of the piece (and perhaps some photographic evidence). There could really be a case for copyright infringement.

posted by sarahchivonne

Jul 31, 2008 4:07PM

that is so strange, i have a necklace by blisslau that i purchased well over a year and a half ago, and i never realized the similarities between that and erin wasson. now i see it. and that sucks because a year ago i would have probably recognized blisslau's name over erin's.

yuck on erin.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 4:41PM

thanks for posting this...I can just picture this poor woman's face you mentioned erin! poor thing...

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 4:49PM

i like the version of the story you posted before you changed it to this one. i understand that you probably don't want to be sued from defamation of character, though. thanks for shedding light on other thieves besides the folks from f21.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 5:01PM

i have bliss lau jewelry and it is vastly prettier than what's featured in the nylon article snippet.

posted by lentil

Jul 31, 2008 5:09PM

That's really effing sad. Wasson should be ashamed.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 5:29PM

this is so sad!

bliss is such a nice girl and incredible designer. she taught my fashion design class at parsons when i was in high school. i can't believe that wasson is ripping her off.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 5:30PM

Thanks. Never buying Erin Wasson jewelry again.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 5:47PM

This situation is unfortunately extremely common. It is very difficult to copyright jewelry designs, because at least under Canadian copyright law, a small deviation in design such as a different clasp or chain colour allows a piece to qualify as an original. I imagine the US isn't too different. I'm a small designer that was almost put out of business when a big chain store copied my design, had it made overseas and sold it a well below the price I could sell it for.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 6:37PM

What Erin did is pathetic and despicable. As a "stylist" for Alexander Wang, she should have used Lau's jewelry and given her credit, rather than completely ripping her off. The greed involved is appalling.

Thank you so much for writing this post! I hope Bliss Lau gets the attention she deserves.

BTW what piece did Fashionista buy? And how much was it? Please do a post on it...her designs are super gorgeous and I am saving up for one now.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 6:46PM

thats so wrong.

what a slap in their face

how much does the bliss version retail for as opposed to Erin's line?

posted by helene

Jul 31, 2008 6:53PM

the first version of the story packed way more of a punch, i'm glad i got to see it before this watered-down version.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 8:10PM

wasson just lost a lot of points. i love those pieces. shame

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 8:22PM

this is so wrong...what these people think...I really hope karma gets back to her.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 8:46PM

Erin copied Bliss's creation? I am sooo disappointed.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 8:46PM

Yay! I bought one of these pieces last night too and although they were discounted, my wallet was still hurting slightly this morning. But now I feel a lot better about supporting this awesome designer. Her stuff is so beautiful and original!

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 9:18PM

I don't believe that Erin copied anything of Bliss Lau's. I have seen both designers lines and they are very different. Erin's designs are made of really high end materials and the collection includes unique pieces like that awesome chain headband and metal suspenders. I think this is more about Bliss Lau trying to get attention and jump on the band wagon.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 9:43PM

yes, bliss lau's creations have been around for sometime and when i saw erin's creations i was sick. it really does suck. ever since this past awang show i've disliked anything associated with erin wasson. boo erin!!!!! yay bliss!!!!

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 11:02PM

this is really old news. body chains have been around for fucking ever by the way. anyone believing your silly website regarding anything you say needs to wise up.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 11:10PM

thanks goodness word is finally getting out about this! bliss lau was totally robbed for her really original work, which she was doing way before erin came along.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 11:19PM

If this is true, I am really disappointed with Erin Wasson. She should know better, as here she is supporting a new young designer, Alexander Wang. She should support Bliss Lau by comissioning her as a previous commentor noted. Didn't Evan Yurman help her with this jewelry too? Then he should know better as well. Perhaps they changed where the rivet falls because of the copyright laws they are trying to get around?

Kudos to fashionista for exposing this if this is indeed the case. I did like the first way you wrote up the story too, but understand why you would change it. Why would Bliss Lau make this up? I am a small jewelry designer on the side and hearing this kind of thing sickens me.

posted by guest

Jul 31, 2008 11:29PM

To the commentor #28-Evan Yurman hooked Erin up with sourcing and probably materials too.

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 12:40AM

Commenter 28 = Erin Wasson

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 1:27AM

Why is Erin wearing a Bliss Lau design for an article about her own line? Is that a fact?

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 2:36AM

Of course Erin knows better, but that is what makes her such a b&*%@. Only someone so self consumed and greedy would do something this terrible to a young designer. I bet she didn't even give a second thought as to how this would damage Bliss Lau's business. What a horrible person.

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 3:14AM

Commenter 34's comment = hilarious

the biggest piece of info here is that Wasson wore the piece that she bought from Bliss for NYLON (which if you look at the A.Wang show) is the same one she threw onto the runway.

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 8:53AM

Anyone who has known Bliss for more than what it takes to establish a superficial relationship would understand that she is not the type of person to "jump on the bandwagon". Though a lawsuit may not solve matters, I think we all know that brand name and brand loyalty can go a long way to bring popularity to something or drag it down. I am just glad to see that so many people agree that what erin did is unethical and morally wrong. It is unfortunate that the design world offers such little protection for creativity.

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 9:21AM

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_4_38/ai_n25354657

i got this really bad feeling when she said 'I want to put my name on that chain and sort of make it my starting point.' wow. its just unbelievable.

commenter 34, thats exactly what i thought, lol.

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 10:14AM

What's the big surprise here? Erin Wasson wore one outfit- cut off shorts and a white vneck and ran with the new title of "stylist." Now she's copped someone else's designs and run with the "jewelry designer" title. This girl's the worst.

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 12:18PM

both bliss and erin will probably benefit from the press involved......no matter what u think.... bliss maybe even more because her stuff is less expensive.....think about that...and also when people design usually there inspiration comes from a cumulative of everything they have ever seen in their lives as well as from within....look around body jewelry has been around forever..designers many times end up with similar creations just coming from different perspectives....that is fashion. noone has done anything wrong here in my opinion.

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 12:40PM

LOL @ commentor 34!!!

poor girl! I think, yes, body chains have been around for a long time, but the way Bliss presents it is such a fresh idea, and after looking at her website, Erin's designs look SOOO similar, you can definitely tell the source of inspiration. And the fact that it was at wang's show and there was so much buzz about Erin's jewelry being unique and a fresh idea really sucks for Bliss, being a small designer without the means to promotion (Wang, modelling career, known name) as Erin does.

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 12:48PM

^^^IMO the main problem is not just that both lines consist of body chains, but that the "signature" piece of Wasson's line is identical to one previously made by Lau's established brand.

Lau's body chains are very distinctive and much different than the tacky belly chains of yesteryear.

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 1:21PM

Lau was definitley there first, but the design type is very easy to DIY (and super cheap - even retail instead of wholesale, brass-plated chain, or even sterling, is only a few dollars a yard), and easy to come up with your own variations. It just does seem unfair that Wasson capitalized on her name recognition to out-media-coverage Lau.

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 1:26PM

Upon close inspection of the photo of Erin in the Nylon article, the chain she is wearing is definitely Bliss Lau. It has leather details where Erin's version does not.

Is Erin seriously stupid enough to think that remaking another designer's jewelry in different materials is creative, let alone intellectually or socially acceptable? She must have the intelligence of a rock to wear a Lau original for an article about her knock-offs.

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 2:58PM

this is ridiculous to even report. erin is obviously a creative person - the body chain is only one component of a really cool new line! body chains HAVE been around forever..who did bliss knock off? As a buyer I've seen body chains in showrooms in both NY and Paris...Bliss should be grateful she is getting press. especially if she's been doing these for a year already...

posted by guest

Aug 01, 2008 3:09PM

erin wassson is super obnoxious. Im glad its been revealed she's a cheater.

posted by guest

Aug 02, 2008 12:10AM

I always thought she was over-rated but the fact that she would take someone else's beautiful, original design and stamp her name all over it is disgusting.
She is obviously greedy as she could hardly need any more publicity after being a "stylist".

posted by guest

Aug 02, 2008 10:06AM

does anyone even wonder if alex wang knew anything about this? i love his stuff and think he is a great designer, but he seems pretty tight with wasson...

honestly, it is a designer's responsibility to oversee the styling of their collection-
at many other small companies the designers research this stuff themselves, or even do the styling themselves and then pay a separate stylist to oversee things for the show. if he was prepared to make erin wasson's jewelry such an integral part of his collection, he should have been aware of her "inspiration" and i wonder if any oversight even took place...research is really such an important part of design and every good designer does it...

posted by guest

Aug 02, 2008 1:08PM

Nymag.com has contacted Erin's reps, so it will be interesting to hear what they find out, by the way.

posted by guest

Aug 02, 2008 1:51PM

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.

posted by guest

Aug 03, 2008 10:36AM

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.

posted by guest

Aug 05, 2008 8:51PM

LOW LUV= LOW LIFE.

posted by guest

Aug 06, 2008 9:37PM

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

posted by guest

Aug 07, 2008 10:59AM

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.

posted by guest

Aug 16, 2008 6:26AM

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.

posted by guest

Aug 18, 2008 3:35PM

that is pathetic, leave designing to real designers

posted by maiabergman

Aug 19, 2008 7:04PM

I used to love Erin until thissss

posted by Rockmantica

Aug 20, 2008 1:24AM

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.

posted by guest

Aug 21, 2008 9:30AM

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.

posted by guest

Aug 22, 2008 2:10AM

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.

posted by guest

Aug 22, 2008 2:16PM

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.

posted by guest

Aug 22, 2008 6:22PM

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....

posted by jessBx

Aug 29, 2008 5:39AM

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.

posted by guest

Sep 02, 2008 1:44AM

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.

posted by guest

Sep 02, 2008 4:31AM

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.

posted by guest

Sep 02, 2008 7:25PM

i just ordered one of bliss's necklaces. i hope this post brought her lots of good business.

posted by guest

Oct 07, 2008 1:07PM

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?

posted by guest

Oct 09, 2008 12:37PM

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.

posted by gerald

Oct 11, 2008 9:56PM

guest 69:

last years model? you obviously know nothing about erin. shes been working for a very long time...

posted by guest

Oct 21, 2008 11:41AM

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.

posted by guest

Oct 28, 2008 8:58PM

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.

posted by guest

Dec 23, 2008 5:33PM

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.

posted by guest

Mar 10, 2009 3:11PM

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

posted by guest

Mar 31, 2009 6:08PM

Arin 100% Ripped off Bliss! there is no question about it. end of story.

posted by GLOWINGDOLL

Apr 27, 2009 12:15PM

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