Coming back for a call out - Imitation = Flattery? Atlantic-Pacific x Halogen edition

Eons ago (10 years!) in blog world, I called out an early influencer's collaboration "collection" as being a pieced together mishmash of design elements lifted from well-known and established brands' pieces.  And over the years I've tried to point out knock-offs in my "Imitation = Flattery?" series.

Sadly, this hasn't stopped even a decade on.

The latest, pretty egregious, set of products got me riled up enough to post.

I'm a big fan of Blair Eadie's style. I have no idea where she keeps it all and I'm sure the overwhelming majority is gifted to her but, I still like a lot of the same things she likes.   I just wouldn't have the nerve to take a bunch of high end designer pieces from my closet and then work with a company to dumb them down and mass produce them.

If you can tell me these aren't nearly straight lifts, I'd be astonished.

Blair has said she loves a printed furry coat, especially from Shrimps, which is know for these bold styles -

Here's the coat from the A-P x Halogen collection.

Taking shoe inspiration from others really sets me off. Here's Blair wearing Prada patent, stacked-platform oxfords a while back and a close up of a pair from that same collection.

And then there's the styles from her "designs"...

I might have become the most mad about the triple-bow tops and dresses because she's making so much of them on her site.  Well, here's the ASOS dress (top) the inspiration it came from.  I bought this dress too. A bit miffed to see it knocked-off as if the A-P versions (bottom) are totally new.

And last, but certainly not the least example, is the Prince of Wales plaid blazer with faux fur cuffs.   The collection version is cute with the pink for sure...

But I wonder how Fendi feels about being ripped off...

Pretty clear where the inspo came from, huh???

Her "collection" is filled with prints and tiered tulle skirts - very a la the pieces she wears from Red Valentino and Viktor and Rolf.  I  think its all very cute but I don't think intellectual property theft is a label I'd want to wear.

Atlantic-Pacific images sourced from:

https://the-atlantic-pacific.com/2016/07/13/colors-of-west-village/

 https://the-atlantic-pacific.com/2019/01/30/faux-fur-colored-suits/

https://the-atlantic-pacific.com/2017/08/11/feeling-fall-plaid-paris/

https://the-atlantic-pacific.com/2017/10/15/fendi-resort-veuve-clicquot-los-angeles/

Vintage All Over Again

It always cracks me up when I see a very vintage design crop in in a modern story or store.  Not even an "inspired by" design but one totally reproduced from a vintage piece they must have gotten a hold of.

For example, I was browsing a Who What Wear article on "9 Style Secrets That Bloggers Know (and You Don't)" and saw this purse featured from Gaia.

Oh wait!

 I know that purse... because I have it!

And mine was not $98. It was like $20 and is an actual vintage piece bought from an vintage accessories dealer at a show in 2011.

Maybe I'm a blogger in the know.

At least I know to buy the original vintage piece for a much better price and quality than a reproduction!

Banana Republic is Stealing Shoe Designs

I know its been ages since I've posted but I had to come out of my semi-closed writing state to comment on what I think is pretty blatant shoe design theft going on over at Banana Republic.

Sure they are knocking off Stuart Weitzman's Nudist sandals like most other mid-tier brands but they are really not being subtle about these items. The top item in each pair is a current/recent Banana Republic shoe and the bottoms is the pretty obvious "inspiration" -

BR Honey vs Aquazzura Wild Things -

 BR Jasmine vs Alexandre Birman Lolita

BR Jackie vs Prada 2008

 

To me this is the worst one - BR Cadi vs Carven's bow slingbacks

 

Knocking off is not cool. You can have a unique shoe at any price point. You won't have any cute shoes if we keep supporting intellectual property theft.

It. Not. Cool.

Not then, Not now

Not only is this a knock-off, but I didn't like the mold inspiration in 2007 from YSL...

And I certainly don't like it now from Stuart Weitzman.

 

Stop trying to make "mold shoes" happen. They aren't going to happen!

 

Imitation = Flattery? SJP Angelica and Maddalena Pumps vs Manolo Blahnik "Something Blue" Hangisi

To say I'm utterly disgusted and disappointed would be putting it mildly.

When I saw that the SJP collection was coming to Bloomingdale's, I thought I would go by and see how the collection, which I've reviewed previously, was expanding.  I figured I would see some pretty yet boring pieces along the lines of the initial styles.  I was not expecting to see something shocking.

But I was absolutely floored to see that SJP had utterly ripped off possibly the most iconic shoe from all of Sex and the City - the Manolo Blahnik "Something Blue" Hangisi pump.

Here is the Angelica from the new SJP Collection at Bloomingdales (The similar 'Maddalena' style is at Nordstrom's and has a pointier toe.) -

And here is the Hangisi. The shoe which is essentially the emotional touchstone of Carrie and Big's resolution in the movie.  The shoe he proposes to her with. The shoe bought for her wedding, abandoned and then worn for the simple ceremony they ultimately had. A shoe created just for this movie by Mr. Blahnik.

In some articles the leveraging of the style is more blatant. Heck in the Bloomingdale's item description, they even include a reference to "something blue". I know the Blahnik team is involved in the SJP Collection, which makes it even more disappointing. Why not use her line as an opportunity to do something new and delightful.  It can't be the price point because these heels are over $500 (ironically, that is what they said the MB's were in the movie. Now they're over $900), not exactly a bargain.

So am I being too harsh? Are they different enough? Or are they leveraging a little too heavily on the SATC/Carrie magic and not creating any magic of their own?

Read more in the Imitation = Flattery series.

Imitation = Flattery? Dior Metal Pump vs Tildon Megan Pump

One of my favorite heel designs from Spring 2013 was the Dior metal strap pump.

I thought the heel was great, the colors were perfect for Spring and the use of the bold metal strap toughened up and modernized what could have been a bit simple and girly.

Yet it still keeps the feminine look that pairs well with the dresses and skirts of the season.

I guess that why I should not be surprised that there is already a knock-off in stores, specifically the Tildon Megan pump.  The lines are not nearly as good and the way the metal strap is done looks cheap. 

I didn't buy the Diors, although I wish I could have, but I certainly would not consider the Tildon's.  they took a beautiful, graceful design and dumbed it down to the point where it is pointless.

Sigh.

Imitation = Flattery? Rupert Sanderson Lintie vs Levity Mitzi

Last year I fell in love with the Rupert Sanderson Lintie peep-toe.  I am still sad that I did not buy these adorable mary janes.

What was I thinking???

They even came in a shiny sky blue platform option.  I love the colors, scalloped edges and buckles so much.

So imagine how shocked I was when I was scrolling through DSW and saw these heels from a brand I'd never heard of - Levity.

It's always sad to me to see a less well executed version of a design.  And one that is so obviously stolen.


The charm of the originals has been cheapened.

Imitation = Flattery? ModCloth Out Owl Night Bag vs Kate Spade Night Owl Bag

I can't believe that I'm here again with ANOTHER product on ModCloth that is totally ripping off a Kate Spade design.

 Seriously, what the heck???

This time I felt a little sick to my stomach because I'm totally in love with the original design.

But let's get right to it. Here is the ModCloth Out Owl Night bag -

It is a shoddy replica of the Kate Spade Night Owl bag from last Fall/Winter -

Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

I mean, there are some instances when the knock-off/inspiration is debatable such as with the Prada Flame wedges or with the Prada mary janes, but this is just as bad as Chloe boots or when the Kate Spade Enchantment Under The Sea coin purse was ripped off.

Kate Spade is a big fashion brand.  These are not hard to find or secret items.  Obviously the ModCloth supplier is aware of the designs and is totally stealing them (and making them worse in the process).

ModCloth, I really like a lot of your products, especially your dresses, but this is ridiculous!


UPDATE:

 Turi (ModCloth) said...

Update: we're pulling the bag from our site while we contact the vendor and look into this. Thanks