Adventures in Copyright: (butter)Fly on the (m)all

Aug 26, 2008 @ 2:12pm

tory burch and old navy.jpg The first thing of note is that Tory Burch made a print without using her logo.

The second thing is, Old Navy ripped it off.

And it's not really that cute.

Tory covered half her Spring 07 line with rainbow colored butterflies - shirts, bags, dresses, even flip-flops - and almost a year later, Old Navy followed suit.

Their butterflies are a little paler, a little more spread out and just on a dress and top - literally watered down. Though the shape of their dress is infinitely more flattering than the shape of Tory's top.

But the real question is, butterflies? Seriously?

posted by styleexchange

Aug 26, 2008 2:21PM

seriously, i saw that dress at old navy and i thought they were joking. i mean, is this old navy or the limited juniors department circa 1995? i just don't understand.

posted by guest

Aug 26, 2008 2:24PM

i had a dress like that when i was 5. not so sure if this seems like a real adventure in copyright, so much as being inspired by tacky.

posted by guest

Aug 26, 2008 2:42PM

I agree with #2- EVERYONE has done butterflies. you could say that TORY was ripping off Dolce & Gabanna circa 1998. Butterflies look tres similar.

posted by guest

Aug 26, 2008 3:08PM

#3, I thought it was Versace. I KNOW it was 1995, because here's the great McMenamy on the cover of Vogue in it:

http://kristenmcm.altervista.org/data/database/covers/images/7.jpg

I find most of these Adventures in Copyright pretty dubious, especially when it is not an exact copy. And why would anyone think that Tory freaking Burch has an original bone in her body? She began her career as a "designer" by buying caftans while jet-setting, bringing them home and slapping her name (and jacked-up price tags) on them. Tory isn't a designer, unless one considers a basic ballet flat with a ostentatious toe coin to be somehow innovative.

posted by guest

Aug 26, 2008 3:33PM

#4 agreed, definitely Versace. Remember when they had that dress diplayed at the FIT museum as an example of 1995. This print is old, old, old. Think Martha Washington had simarly printed pantaloons. Seriously this is like picking on chevron stripes as copyright infringement.

posted by bastylefilegirl

Aug 26, 2008 3:40PM

Can't we just agree that both are hideous and that fact that Tory Burch would make something so childish well baffles me.

posted by guest

Aug 26, 2008 4:00PM

You guys are right (from Guest #3) it WAS Versace. D&G did do butterflies in 96 but they were a bit different. D'arcy from teh smashing pumpkins wore a dress to the VMA's.

posted by guest

Aug 26, 2008 4:06PM

Ummm its all wicked ugly but none of it is copyright infringement. I had a similar dress as a child. Which is the only time when this hideousness is passable.

posted by guest

Aug 26, 2008 4:06PM

manish arora did a fantaaastic butterfly-covered ball gown type thing for the finale of his f/w 07/08 show. it was sculptural and unique and made me actually loove the idea of butterflies, for a second

posted by guest

Aug 26, 2008 4:25PM

Yes, both those garments are ugly.
Yes, they both use butterflies.
But saying that one is a rip off of the other? I really think thats going a little far...and I'm usually all about Adventures in Copyright.

posted by Modupe

Aug 26, 2008 5:19PM

i like the old navy better, the tory looks like my bed spread...literally

posted by my fall collection

Aug 26, 2008 6:23PM

Wouldn't "LITERALLY" watered down mean that Old Navy poured some water on the Tory Burch stuff? Or is there a nautical pun in there that I'm not seeing?

(sorry for the grammar-copping!)

posted by hannah

Aug 26, 2008 6:58PM

They're both ugly, but the Old Navy actually looks more flattering.

posted by guest

Aug 26, 2008 7:02PM

agreed with guests #8 and 10....you guys are stretching it...butterfly prints are not exactly innovative, especially this one

posted by guest

Aug 26, 2008 7:16PM

haha, I like the Old Navy better too. It's actually so cheesy that I kind of like it...poor Tory Burch.

posted by ShaSha

Aug 26, 2008 8:03PM

The Old Navy dress is adorable...while Tory's top is horrible

posted by Kara

Aug 26, 2008 8:16PM

I hate butterflies.
Well, I like the living ones. But butterfly prints are the absolute worst.

posted by guest

Aug 26, 2008 9:22PM

are you kidding me? similar prints have been around for YEARS. i mean, way before the 1995.

posted by OaFQ

Aug 26, 2008 10:23PM

These are both pretty fug. I think the only butterfly patterned image I have ever liked would be Damien Hirst's butterfly series. And that's only because they look like stained glass.

posted by monkey323

Aug 27, 2008 12:31AM

not sure a motif qualifies as copyright infringement, but yes #6, i believe all are in agreement that both lacking

posted by alisa

Aug 27, 2008 9:16AM

completely agree- my first thought was hey that looks like the hideous bikini i had in the 5th grade.. from emporium!

posted by guest

Aug 27, 2008 12:04PM

I actually bought a shirt version of this from ON... not realizing it was similar to Tory's...

I got it bc it reminds me of the print on this lovely dress I bought at Harrod's in London a few years ago (I think it's Jigsaw). That dress no longer fits me and I miss it.

posted by guest

Aug 27, 2008 12:18PM

I think Tory ripped off my sixth grade stenciled backpack

posted by guest

Aug 27, 2008 1:21PM

I saw the dress first 2 days ago and I thought it was a nightgown! The I saw the button down long sleeved shirt and I couldn't believe my eyes! WHOOOO would wear something like that out?! To bed is one thing. Gross

posted by guest

Aug 27, 2008 4:33PM

THEY ARE BUTTERFLIES. I'VE SEEN A MILLION BUTTERFLY TOPS WITH A SIMILAR FABRIC. HOW IS THIS ADVENTURES IN COPYRIGHT? SERIOUSLY IT'S NOT AN INNOVATIVE CONCEPT

posted by guest

Aug 27, 2008 9:50PM

i like the ON one *b/c* it reminds me of the '90s, but i think the cut is more modern-ish. i can see it with docs and those ripped black hose everyone was sporting on the runway... so " my so-called life"

posted by guest

Sep 23, 2008 8:51PM

I think the butterfly species should sue both of them. WTF you can't copyright nature!!