Adventures in Copyright
Adventures in Copyright: “We’re Not Groupies.. We’re Band-Aids”
By Natalie Hormilla
Fact: There’s nothing like jumping on the Herve Bandage Dress revival to say, “I’m a starlet, and you know it.”
Fact: It was only a matter of time before somebody rummaged through Herve’s laundry bin and reappropriated the dress in a slightly inappropriate fashion.
Fact: It was Larsen Gray, with their “Banded” dress, at right.
The funny thing is, girls don’t forego dinner to sling themselves in a bandage dress for the way it looks – the dress is secretly famous for “sucking you up” with a full body Spanx effect, while making other people (men) think you just look like Gisele. So if Larsen Gray’s version’s made of anything other than the magical stretch fabric Herve uses (it is), then the purpose of the dress goes out the window, and you’re just left with a vaguely familiar stripe pattern on 100% cotton.
PS. Does anyone else think it’s a little gutsy for these knock-offs and semi-knock-offs to tout names so evocative of the originals?
Tags: Blake Lively, Dresses, Gossip Girl, Herve Leger, Lars Gray, Oak
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It’s Larsen Gray. The lead designer was on Project Runway a few seasons back. Their stuff is typically not that exciting.
It’s Larsen Gray. The lead designer was on Project Runway a few seasons back. Their stuff is typically not that exciting and apparently unoriginal.
The Herve Leger wannabees are showing up EVERYWHERE. Again, I understand how much this site hates knockoffs, but I must admit this one at Bebe does seem to have the magical “Spanx” effect for a magically affordable price.
http://www.bebe.com/gp/product/B001AIJUK2/sr=1-13/qid=1228924580/ref=sr_1_13/184-3593906-6652366?ie=UTF8&fontColor=&node=1250735011&m=A2FMOXN01TSNYY&totalItemIn1Page=&startIndex=0&displayPageNum=1&bbBrand=core&field-clothing-size=&keywords=&firstPageItemNum=77&title=&restPageHasColor=0&myViewID=embedded-leaf&displaySalePrice=1&displayItemNum=101&standardPageSize=16&size=101&rh=n%3A1250735011&page=1&bgColor=
Goodness alive! That Bebe dress is the most hideous thing I’ve seen all morning. Gross.
I have tried on both Leger and that Bebe dress, and I must say the Bebe did almost as good a job “sucking me in.”
Why hasn’t forever 21 created a bandage dress?
Kelly Brook wore the dress on the lft to the British Comedy Awards which was sponsored by Higland Spring Water.
Personally, I don’t think it suited her and I also think that the dress on the left looks better anyway.
But the distinguishing feature of the Herve dress is the fabric and fit, not the stripes. The stripes are sort of incidental to the spandex factor. The dress on the right is just a dress with bands of color across it… I wouldn’t associate it at all with a bandage dress, even with the name.
As for the question, is it gutsy to use knockoff names so close to the original (I.e.: Bandage vs. Banded). I think no, it is not gutsy…the name of a certain outfit should not (and does not)determine whether or not said outfit will look good on your body. The Herve dress is made out of high quality material and is crafted beautifully. The knockoff “Banded” dress is poor quality and poorly crafted…therefore no one will choose to purchase the Banded dress just because of a similar name.
Forever 21 has created one. I saw it when I was there a couple months ago, I don’t think it would be on the internet anymore though.
Guest #6, Forever has created a bandage dress…
Surprised?
that bebe dress reminds me more of narciso rodriguez than herve…but that still doesnt belittle the fact that its BUSTED.
Love the title of this post.
Almost Famous is one of my favorite movies.
And the Larsen Gray dress is so hideous. No one would look good in that.
I’ve tried on the Larsen Gray dress and it actually looks super cute on!
I’m in general a big fan of your site: it’s informative in a really wide variety of topics related to fashion, it’s concise, and it’s fun to look at.
However, I think you guys need to give “Adventures in Copyright” a rest. They’re okay in moderation, but the amount that you post makes them tedious, petty, and slightly bitter-seeming. I think most people have come to terms with the fact that smaller companies knock off items from well respected fashion houses. It’s exasperating, sure, but…get over it. The quality of the knocked off good is usually so much lower that no one who’d consider buying the more expensive original in the first place would ever be swayed by a cheap tacky imitation from Forever 21.
To me, it just makes no sense to harp on about this so much.
amen guest #15
Guest #9 has clearly not seen the Larsen Gray in person – super cute, carefully crafted, and made of organic fabric. I’ll take less “sucking” for more earth-saving any day, but then again, neither the original nor the knockoff is really my style…
#15…admittedly, Adventures in Copyrights is one of the main reasons I read this site. I suppose as a soon-to-be graduated fashion student, it’s nice to know who is copying whom. I will admit this one is not as blatant as some, but still interesting.
adventures in copyrights gets an added twist for this one – since the Herve Leger dress featured is not actually designed by Herve Leger – it’s by Max Azria, who has owned Herve’s name for several years after a nasty, messy “partnership” sale. If you’re going to be loyal to a name, go for Herve “LeRoux” Leger himself!