« Next entry

Adventures in Copyright Dec 17, 2008 @ 1:53pm

Adventures in Copyright: Bebe is Not YSL

caged heel adventures.jpg Everyone was up in arms over Bebe’s Louis Vuitton rip-off last month.

They’ve officially entered the realm of designer shoe rip-offs, though they’re not very good at it. Their “France” shoe was an embarrassment to the Louis version - unless adding and subtracting details and changing the proportions is their attempt to thwart us.

Either way, it’s easy to see where they got the inspiration for their caged heel. You can’t buy the platform, peep-toe stiletto online yet, but we found it here and in stores.

The original, the Spring Summer YSL, is so much cooler not because it’s YSL, but because the caged heel so perfectly mirrors the leather cage pattern over the foot. Not to mention it lacks the front platform that kind of pushes the shoe from sexy to hooker.

If Bebe wants into the world of rip-offs, they’re going to have to do better than this.

« Next entry

Fashionista Main

And Now a Word From the Customer »

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 2:10PM

Get over it. This so-called "Adventures in Copyright" is the lamest feature I have ever seen. (In fact, Bebe are doing everyone a favor... ripping of shoes no one can afford).

I really do wonder sometimes why this website has sponsors/visitors. Do the sponsors read the blog? (I would be embarrassed to place an ad on this website). It is the worst fashion blogs in existence. It has absolutely no valuable content, copies all their stories from WWD, posts the same old nonsense everyday and is an all round complete waste of time.

I think the "writers" should be fired. Pronto.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 2:21PM

*snap* ahhha.

posted by AmandaMichele

Dec 17, 2008 2:22PM

I see ads, and I am here reading it, and you are obviously here spending lots of time reading then wrting bitter responses to the posts. While I do not always agree with some of the opinions here (I think those Bebe shoes are kind of fun!) I find that they have a good array of articles from various sources that save me the time of reading all over the internet and just give me the Cliffs Notes version. I heart Fashionista - keep up the good work!

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 2:29PM

I love you guys!!!

BEBE sucks in every way possible!!!!

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 2:35PM

I wouldn't say this is really a rip-off, maybe more of an "inspired by". Couldn't you argue that the Bebe shoes are not a direct copy, but part of a fairly widespread extreme strappy shoe, open-toe, low-boot trend? Where is the line between rip-off and just being on-trend?

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 2:36PM

I don't think they're close enough to be considered a knock-off. The Bebe's have a different heel, a platform and diamond style caging. They might be inspired by YSL, but most mall brands do the same.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 2:45PM

ugh fashion toast is gross

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 2:48PM

they are tragically hideous, but not a straight-up copy. definitely a case of inspired-by

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 3:04PM

Dear F,
I've read this blog since day one and I have to ask - what happened?! Your snarkiness is off the charts, the accuracy is overwhelmingly questionable and the content just seems so forced. I've always appreciated your opinionated voice, but lately you're just too mean.

Snap out of it!

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 3:06PM

Why does this feature have to appear so frequently?
A lot of the time it's just taking two examples of a trend and saying one copied the other.
Those shoes are not identical and I think YSL can handle it. I like Bebe, they're edgy for their price range.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 3:17PM

i'm usually with you guys on the adventures in copyright...but i don't think these are similar enough

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 3:39PM

When is it ever appropriate for designers to "copy"? Is it only appropriate when it goes from high to low? I always get the feeling that people have the problem when it goes from high to low and not low to high.

I do love those YSLs. I wonder if they will retail for over $1000? And more importantly how many have been prepaid and pre-ordered from the YSL on Madison.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 3:53PM

I adore this site. I read it many times a day. and to know that fashionistas are really complaining about something that is a predominate feature in fashion (copying another designers work) is just sad. I find it interesting that designers really do this. Although i cant afford much of the fashion that is copied i still want to know what is going on.

keep on keepin' on!

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 3:56PM

guest 12 is so right. the commenters on this site are always up in arms if a smaller designer or artist gets ripped off - what makes this any different? just because they're a big name doesn't mean they're creative ideas and designs should be copied in malls across america/sweatshops across the world

posted by etoilee8

Dec 17, 2008 3:59PM

I always shake my head out how much outrage pours out of some of the comments on here whenever they post Adventures in Copyright. I enjoy this feature. It's good to see who your item was inspired from and who should really be getting your money for their ideas. I hate Bebe but I also hate this shoe, so I guess it's a lose-lose situation.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 4:20PM

i hate bebe more than anything.
hence, i hate them for not getting some original ideas.

posted by abby_kate_lee

Dec 17, 2008 5:32PM

agreed! For some reason I am very fascinated by bebe clothes. maybe it's cause they lack originality! the bebe version looks hookeresque!

posted by abby_kate_lee

Dec 17, 2008 5:32PM

agreed! For some reason I am not very fascinated by bebe clothes. maybe it's cause they lack originality! the bebe version looks hookeresque!

posted by abby_kate_lee

Dec 17, 2008 5:32PM

agreed! For some reason I am not very fascinated by bebe clothes. maybe it's cause they lack originality! the bebe version looks hookeresque!

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 5:54PM

i wish you people would get off of ysl's ass for once.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2008 8:24PM

I love how the people that say Fashionista is lame and stupid and talk about stupid things are defending Bebe.

You're defending a company that write, in sparkly letters, their brand name across the ass of velour sweat suits.

Really? You consider that fashion? Come on.

posted by etoilee8

Dec 17, 2008 11:35PM

Haha guest 21. Agreed. Bebe gained popularity when I was in high school and even in my youth I was repulsed by it. Wanna look like a cheap skank? There's your store!

posted by guest

Dec 18, 2008 2:59AM

Ugh, Bebe is so tacky.

posted by fay

Dec 18, 2008 7:25AM

Guest # 1 obviously some people can afford then, and price shouldn't be an excuse for copying someone else's designs.

However, I agree with an above comment that this really doesn't qualify as an 'adventure in copyright'.

High Street stores are always going take influence from high-end designers, this is nothing novel or newsworthy. Where it's a Steve Madden-esque total copy however, is a different story.

posted by guest

Dec 18, 2008 8:44AM

HEY GIRLS!

You can tell your advertisers that uninsightful caddy little posts like these are exactly why many of us stopped reading your blog as often as we would like. Mind you, we still check in occasionally but it really lacks the substance that it appears many of your readers can handle. Its mindlesss..

Also important to note: Target pays thousands to advertise on your website.. is that why you never include their cute and trendy shoes and purses in your "adventures in copy rights" posts?

xox,
cara

posted by guest

Dec 18, 2008 12:53PM

Those bebe shoes are way cuter than the YSL's

posted by etoilee8

Dec 18, 2008 5:36PM

Hey Cara your comment was pretty catty (not caddy. . . unless it's golfing fashion we're talking about). Some of this do read and enjoy this website. I think you need to can the self righteous, obnoxious act. If you find it so mindless, what on earth are you doing here? Xo!

PS- I heart Target. Everyone copies, yes. But at least when Target does it, it's not only affordable but nicely done :) Plus, they do plenty of designer collaborations which are awesome.

posted by guest

Dec 23, 2008 3:01AM

Please. If you're going to say Bebe copied YSL (and I'm no Bebe fan, I think their stuff is horrible), then don't you also agree that YSL ripped off men's tuxedos, Mondrian, sailors, Russian cossacks... Karl Lagerfeld copies street fashion all the time but that's okay?