Adventures in Copyright: Is Marc Vicky's Secret?

Aug 15, 2008 @ 11:29am

bootie copy.jpg If Victoria's Secret knocked off an Elle MacPherson bra, even we probably wouldn't realize, (until we tried it on, of course).

But if Victoria's Secret knocks off Marc Jacobs' Fall 07 runway booties, we notice. Especially when readers email us their own investigative work.

We're not really sure who buys shoes from Victoria's Secret in the first place, in fact we kind of forgot they've turned themselves into an entire brand empire hawking everything from lipsticks to teddy bears to teddies, but we'd never guess that the girls who do are looking for the perfect grunge ankle bootie to wear with their military socks and PVC leggings or knit tights and velvet coat like Tao Okamoto.

We'd also never guess they'd wait over a year to knock them off, after fashion's taken a turn for the ladylike and even Marc's getting ready to show Spring 09.

But we would guess they'd only cost $88 instead of almost $600

posted by guest

Aug 15, 2008 11:45AM

looks like they did a better job of knocking off marc than f21...

posted by bastylefilegirl

Aug 15, 2008 12:03PM

Both shoes hella ugly remenicent of the Manlono Blahnik Timbs from yester-year but clunkier and fuglier.

posted by my fall collection

Aug 15, 2008 12:06PM

vs is my secret friend. b/c selling online enables VS to avoid the cost of selling via brick and mortar stores, they can afford to amass a wide selection of stuff. usually there's a few pieces that are totally not cheesey, not typical VS, and actually quite avant garde. and surprise surprise, no one buys them and they become crazily discounted during their clearance sales. this is when i swoop in.

posted by guest

Aug 15, 2008 12:14PM

Agree, VS is a little under-rated. Sure they sometimes look like bimbo supermodels, but I've picked up Vera Wang and Betsey Johnson collections from there, and they weren't even advertised.

posted by guest

Aug 15, 2008 12:52PM

Branding Empire or not, VS has some good stuff. This is a low-blow from them though. When you're that big, you can't expect to copy someone else's design and not have anyone notice. I guess no one is above that anymore...

posted by guest

Aug 15, 2008 1:06PM

I love both pairs. The Marc ones look more expensive (obviously) but the VS ones are just as cute. I might get them.

posted by fashionfifi

Aug 15, 2008 1:28PM

I just saw these on shopstyle when my gf asked me to find her some hot lace-ups. Luckily I got the real deal at Marc's 90% off sale. If I didn't own them, I would totally go VS. They're uber-cute and-uber high!

posted by guest

Aug 15, 2008 2:06PM

i also got these boots for 90% off and ended up paying only $57 for the real thing...it's a little sad that people are desiring the knock off, seasons later and for more than what i paid for my marcs!

posted by marc lover

Aug 15, 2008 2:18PM

agathe from the old blog style bytes bought knock off balenciaga booties from vs last year. they were the huge ones that mary kate was always seen wearing. i admired agathe for being able to pull those things off! they looked just like the real thing.

posted by guest

Aug 15, 2008 4:26PM

wow, i didn't know vs was that fashion-forward...i though all their stuff was tacky.

posted by doll

Aug 15, 2008 5:00PM

I see a million knock offs a day in every facet of life - knock off potato chips, cars, shoes, rings. Can you just get over this feature? Unless its an OMFG knock off, its freakin boring.

posted by guest

Aug 15, 2008 6:01PM

I think the Marc Jacobs are on sale on the Barney's website....

posted by guest

Aug 16, 2008 1:50AM

call me when walmart makes a class A knockoff. THEN shit will go down, and it will do so happily.