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Slideshows May 18, 2009 @ 12:35pm

Adventures In Copyright: Give It A Pearl

Alber Elbaz re-appropriated the classic pearl necklace for his Spring 09 show, bejeweling his girls with chandelier shapes.

The jewels were so beautiful, in fact, that Forever 21 was “inspired” to delve into their good old bag of blatant knock-off tricks — a reader noticed after spotting the Lanvin collar in an Elle editorial.

Maybe the mega-chain thought the addition of a plastic rhinestone or two would hide the fact that they stole the essential shape and drape of Alber’s design? But we’re pretty sure it doesn’t make up for the “pearls” and cheap glue used in production.

We don’t know about you, but we’d prefer our jewelry to last past Memorial Day.

—CARSON GRIFFITH

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posted by guest

May 18, 2009 1:03PM

Lanvin's is made with "pearls" too (glass ones), just like F21's...all Lanvin's jewelry is costume. I should know, I have a few Lanvin necklaces. I love it, but we're not talking Cartier here. I guess it's a complement to Lanvin that some people think it's real, though.

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 1:38PM

who cares? The designers all copy from vintage so I don't know why they would expect respect for "their" designs.

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 1:44PM

I agree with the other commentator. Lanvin's necklaces are all costume as is the same with Forever 21. I think it's extremely insulting to those of us who do not have wealthy wall street boyfriends (oh wait they're not rich anymore) or trust funds to afford Lanvin. I care about fashion but at the same time I am a graduate student who is paying for school through loans and looking at bleek job prospects. I can't afford Lanvin and neither can my friends. Forever 21 is one of the few retailers who have seen a steady stream of profits unlike most others. I know this is about copying designs and not price points, but fashion is made up of trends. If bubble skirts are in then all of the designers will have them, then it will trickle down to the mass retailers. Everyone wears the same thing anyways. How dare you be so condescending to the people that shop at Forever 21, or wear knock off designer shoes by Steve Madden. What if that is what they can afford? Some of us actually have bill payments and car insurance to pay.

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 2:06PM

this knockoff is slightly less blatant than some though

posted by houseofstyle

May 18, 2009 2:19PM

I am completely with guest #3 but on a completely academic note the Adventures In Copyright articles make me wonder how a lawsuit over some of the items would play out...?

posted by RashomonRebel

May 18, 2009 3:06PM

#2, I don't think Rei Kawakubo copies from vintage. But then again, I haven't seen any knock-offs of her crazy ass designs.

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 3:16PM

the f21 is not as blatant as other adventures posts, and it came off sounding very condescending

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 3:18PM

link on the F21 site please?

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 3:25PM

That thing from F21 is HIDEOUS. (and I say thing because that should not even be called a necklace.)

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 3:42PM

I love how this Carson person actually tries to come off like a total elitist. Its funny to me because she clearly knows nothing about anything. You really think Lanvin doesn't use "pearls" & cheap glue?

Just because its expensive - doesn't make it high quality, darling.

Do your research... thats an important step to making it out of the intern closet.

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 3:43PM

seriously fashionista, if you could stop being so condescending to everyone who shops at f21, topshop, or otherwise? there are a lot of people who are fascinated with fashion who don't have money. I write my own pretty successful fashion blog, and none of my readers seem to have issue with the fact that I've worn the f21 wang alexis knockoffs, bakers alaia sandals, or even target frye knockoffs in the past year. not everyone has so much money as your writers apparently do.

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 3:45PM

#10 well put.

Carson: what is expensive glue? Do tell...

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 3:51PM

seriously, what's happen to fashionista. this post was so snarky!

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 4:02PM

they're not saying you can't shop at forever 21 or topshop or wherever - just that when you're there, don't buy blatant knock-offs.

it's so simple. how are you guys still bitching about that?

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 4:07PM

guest 11.

every time you wear those alexander wang rip-offs or alaia copies i hope you consider the fact that both designers, though one's young and one's older, are relatively small, not rolling in cash and trying to make it in a floundering industry.

furthermore, i hope that you take a moment to consider what it would feel like if someone came along and took original content - your thoughts, words, ideas - off of your "pretty successful fashion blog," re-appropriated them elsewhere and made money off of your hard work because really, it's the same exact thing.

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 4:23PM

is guest 11 rumi neely from fashion toast?? just wondering because ive seen her in those f21 wang knock offs but then also wearing real wang...

posted by Signature9

May 18, 2009 5:16PM

If you've seen Lanvin jewerly in person - not just in a magazine - you'd immediately know that it's not fine jewelry by any stretch. The quality of construction is decent enough, the design is feminine and fun (all of the bows, and crystals, etc). But Lanvin pearls are closer to the F21 pearls than Mikimotos or something.

It does seem a bit condescending to suggest that someone who can't splurge on costume jewelry is somehow less than another person who does

posted by guest

May 18, 2009 6:43PM

oh guest 15, hahahha. "consider the designers"

im pretty sure both are doing quite well and not sitting in their studios crying that f21 is copying them. and im more than sure that people who can afford to buy alaia and wang shoes, are not even thinking about f21.

i hate hearing "but the poor designers who got ripped off!" please. this is fashion! its how it goes. ideas get reworked and copied over and over again. geez.

posted by guest

May 19, 2009 1:03AM

I think you're all missing the point here. Those don't look anything alike.

And while the Lanvin one looks like a design design, the Forever 21 one looks like a style that has been around quite a while. Again, it doesn't look like the Lanvin.

I have to say, though, (and I'm not coming down on either side of the argument, just quibbling with a rhetorical point) the money argument doesn't work for me. If it's wrong, it's wrong. It shouldn't be subjective. If it's not wrong for some, it's not wrong for all, and vice versa.

posted by guest

May 19, 2009 1:05AM

If you like this necklace the way Forever 21 has produced it then buy it, wear it, enjoy it. Maybe it'll distract from the chip on your shoulder.
I really don't think Fashionista is attacking you personally and I really don't think they have a problem with low cost clothing. They're commenting on the extremely common practice of mass marketed designer copies. Not your lifestyle.

posted by guest

May 19, 2009 8:35AM

im european but went to the us last week and thought i should check out forever21 as i see it mentioned on blogs all the time. so maybe this was a coincidence and is not always the case... but seriously guys, think whatever you may about those 'adventures in copyright' posts but posting about forever21 seems unnecessary. isnt knocking off designers quite blatantly their whole point?

posted by guest

May 19, 2009 10:50AM

i'm quite surprised that fashionista continues to write these adventures in copyright entries with this sustained level of snarkiness considering that each and every time there are dozens of readers who respond that these posts are alienating and silly. i love lanvin and i would certainly wear it if i could afford it, but lanvin didn't invent pearls. relax carson, the designers of the fashion world don't need you to defend them.

posted by guest

May 19, 2009 11:52AM

Sigh - so stupid, as usual. Does anyone who works at this website know ANYTHING about fashion? Like we want to hear what some queen who's probably wearing wayfarers and white flip flops thinks about Forever 21? Please educate yourself as to how this industry really works before you bore us with more of this dribble.