Jessica Rogers of SomedayNewYorker work on the left. Nicki Minaj at Carolina Herrera on the right.

Earlier this week, Nicki Minaj made headlines when she sat next to a soberly-dressed Anna Wintour, wearing a rainbow, shoulder-pad-dress-concoction completely covered in neon pom-poms, at Carolina Herrera’s Spring 2012 runway show. Everyone had a good laugh, and prasied Minaj for her gusto and originality…except that, as it turns, the hip-hop singer was wearing a flagrant rip-off of another designer’s work.

Young designer Jessica Rogers, 21, of SomedayNewYorker, has been producing garments nearly identical to Minaj’s–which both the singer and Rogers refer to as “Puff Ball” style–for almost three years now. What’s more, Rogers tells us that Nicki Minaj‘s stylists had contacted her in the past about using some of her clothing–among them a Puff Ball dress–however once Rogers sent further images of her work, she never heard back from Minaj’s team. Rogers said she even followed up a month later, sending more images of her puff ball garments, eager for the prospect of working with such a big-name star.

But it seems like Nicki Minaj–or more likely, her stylist–had different plans, copying the vulnerable young designer’s work without so much as a mention. “When I saw the photos [of Minaj at Carolina Herrera] I was in tears,” Rogers said. “I’ve worked very hard to make my dream of being a fashion designer come true. I have built contacts with Teen Vogue, Gaga, Katy Perry, and Marina and the Diamonds has worn my garments. [Now,] I feel like everything has crumbled down.”
Read more »