Stylish with Substance

This week, Fashion/Beauty Friend Friday is about copying and knockoffs in fashion. If you've read my blogs for a long time, you may know that I am dead set against illegal counterfeits. The gray area for many might come in the form of "fast fashion" and cheap thrill clothes, a la Forever 21 et al. I love a gorgeous-looking item that I can actually afford, so when there's no faux label or logo-esque detail, I'm happy to buy, yet I'm still shaky on lookalike purses and sometimes shoes. I think the styles can get too close to that line that takes fashion from cheap price tag to cheap woman.

Anyway, on to the questions!

Q1. Which side do you take… Copycat designs are a way for the average consumer to stay current and wear runway styles without breaking the bank OR Copycat designs take business from the designer and cheapen the value of their work. Explain.

A: I love to be able to afford things (duh), and as long as that above-mentioned line is not crossed, I'm happy, so I'm mostly on the side of the first statement. Perhaps even "fast fashion" cheap "couture" takes money from designers, but also recessionistas probably can't afford designer clothes right now anyway. Some of it is about being able to look almost equally beautiful. Even with couture-inspired bargain pieces, when compared to things at, say, Neiman Marcus, there is a huge difference, so I wouldn't fret the "stealing" aspect with clothes. With bags, it's a cheaper look, and why go there when the pleather will just tear fast, anyway? Consumers there don't get a lot for their lesser bucks, and they may still turn into designer customers when they are able to. Buying into the plastic purses might even be an education, later allowing a more-endowed, more mature woman to become a  great target for those life-lasting bags.

Q2. Sometimes we do things, even if they are unethical or illegal (downloading music for free, watching full movies on YouTube). Do you think it is unethical for a designer to copy a vintage piece, make it current and sell it?

A: It sounds like this is just inspiration and the designs are altered for today's woman, and I think that's great. How else can many of us find some great "Mad Men" inspiratons? For whatever reasons, many of us don't often or just don't buy vintage; so the existence of vintage-inspired, why not? Trends cycle anyway, and sometimes decades long ago come back. How else is this going to happen? It's natural and even desired; I think it should happen.

Q3. Would you buy an item that is a very well done copy of a runway garment if it fell within your budget?

A: Oh yeah, especially clothes. I'm sure I've done it. I just got this amazing bolero that is very "couture" and I'm sure it fits this category. (Left: Charlotte Russe, $40)

Q4. According to the fashion laws, at least in the US, apparel design is seen as too utilitarian to qualify for copyright protection. Would you think this is detrimental to the industry or beneficial?

A: I've already written about the possibility of a fashion copyright law in the US. Some in the small business side of the fashion industry are against it, but as one who would like to become a part of  that, I'm all for it. Even though the copyright process takes money, we must consider how large companies (more like mass market companies, not high end) rip off independent / hand-making label designs. The consumer is rarely aware this is not original. I'm on the side thinking this should stop, and it doesn't necessarily have to come with prohibitive price tags.

Q5.  Own up… share the things in your closet that are knock offs. You know those things you got in China Town, on the streets of New York, or where ever.

A: Real knock-offs? Don't have any. I've only mistakenly purchased two or maybe three from eBay, but I certainly didn't keep, carry or -god forbid- re-sell them. That's me. ;-)

Takeaway: Even though copying has a gray area, that does not mean that "Goach" bags, etc., are okay. Things near the borderline are tacky, and you should stay classy, and you'll be on the side of stylish.

Also remember that if you want to impress, cheap copies will not make you look rich to those in-the-know. Buy things you love and can afford, not cheap things that look like things you love but cannot afford. Try investing in your own career, and hope for the future!

With a flap fastened by their signature turn-lock, no key required or present, this bag is undeniably Coach-style, yet unmistakenly Hermès-inspired.

The Hamptons Leather Flap Tote
(in Coach's oft-literal naming style.)

I would totally buy one of these, but only if/when...

1. I make more money again... paying rent + utilities now and times are tougher..


2. They shorten the handles a bit.


3. They do some punchier colors. Red or blue? Something still neutral and wearable.

Even though the Paddington is my favorite designer bag, it's not for the lock. In fact, it's quite despite it's more silly features and is largely about those side belts.

I'd say give us a little less "quality" metal and give us a feature that will actually help speed up the toting of this purse, because most of us just "fling the lock over", and we could use at least one easier step.

... On the other hand, it kind of tickles me that the bags may seem fake to some when they are the true ones (however I've never seen a matchy-matchy fake, sigh).

Now I must go remind "Choccy" I love her. ("Mama didn't mean it!")

Perhaps a good blogger should cover more than she can cover, to really cover as much as she can - or can't? Anyway, I'm bringing back (after I've just come back) weekly bagopshere posts. But I'm trying to expand into bag-related posts from non-bag blogs, too. Tough! I also would love to discover new bag blogs (I've receieved some recently and I'm late on adding your wonderful links). Anyway, if you have a post you'd like to suggest - comment us!

• Apparently this Fendi bag ate the wrong part of a turkey this Thanksgiving (and the meal didn't agree with it) - or, well, what would purses eat anyway? Anyhoo! I don't enjoy animal cruelty symbols for my heartwarming meets feast (and mashed potatoes) holiday, but I do enjoy giggling at this fab but overcooked purse! --InMyBag


• Plum plaid/croc framed satchel by River Island -- you see this is a handbag I would never find to post, especially since it's from the UK! But gosh, I kind of fancy it! --TheBagLady


• The Addict's Mantra: The Logo is Not Who You Are --TheRunwayScoop


• The dream find = Vintage Dior Bag for ... $8 --- leads to the TOUGHEST question of all = is it or is it not---real? (I hope it is, and oh! It makes me want the perfect vintage Dior-at any price!) -- Help a girl out over at StyleBytes. (The post is older, but the bag was featured recently in an ensemble.)


• And finally... Of course one must feature a post with one of the fabbest bags in the world, but only in a bagosphere recap when - alas - it is the rare pipe dream of a 30cm Blue Jean Hermés Birkin that is not my own, nor for sale. Whose is it? Megs. I can only dream on my little blogger's pay, but I'm happy to stay the blogger anyway (and hope to grow, at least)! For the rest of those like I, let us ogle these really well-taken photographs! --ThePurseBlog
  

At least when it comes to eating them.

No, we must worry more about the cows. Back to life!

Britney lost the law suit defending against LVMH, but what we care about second to that bit of news is finding this music video, natch!

Britney Spears - Do Somethin'

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=lb-oyK3t7tI[/youtube]

I've added the vid to our No Knockoffs playlist on our YouTube account: Lipped Media, as well, so check it out.

And of course you should check out the news story, if you don't already know all the details.

I've thought up a feature for the blog of posting videos of blogistas inspecting authentic and fake bags to educate fellow shoppers.

The first video is not by me, but you will see me do some (thanks in part to me just joining Bag Borrow or Steal, so even though my budget restricts me from buying many bags even at the COACH level, I might be renting some occasionally!), although I have limited access to counterfeit purses to vid. This really is a practice all designer lovers should try to follow, if you can take a vid that is - post it on YouTube - just like those bad products videos that caused such a stir!

Today's video features a fake Prada, a replica of a gorgeous Prada indeed. I hope you learn something, although it's hard not being able to touch it (it always is), but I figure that seeing it in video-dimension will add something to the education process! (Let me know if you agree, and contact me if you make a video like this!)

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=BH406dfPhWY[/youtube]

There will be more to come, and if you'd like to see similar videos or send me one of yours, check out my new YouTube account: LippedMedia (I still need to flesh my page out [and of course make some vids!] - any tips on using YouTube? - I'm a little behind in the whole thing!). Also, we could connect as friends on there! (I didn't know YouTube was social - geez I AM behind!)

Anyway, the real point to these posts are to help you shop smarter on places like eBay; so best of luck!

I need to tell you the back story that brought on the awe for this bag .....

Sunny in autumn, newly a Floridian, I tried a familiar hair salon company's new hometown franchise. I had wanted red for Fall, orangey, yet natural. What in MA had been friendly, professional, but amazingly inexpensive, here there was a big language barrier, only "one" shade of "red" hair color (????), assumptions, blindness, stubbornness, greed, and well ... one disastrous hair coloring and a plain cut later (surprisingly, she got the bangs right) and I went browsing the mall ... apparently for a pick-me-up.

An obviously designer-inspired handbag lured me inside for a little guilty pleasure browsing. The bag, metallic, tacky --- wayyy too Chloé Bay. But another. Clearly the constructor took liberal cues from what had to have been a far more talented eye. Another designer copy - probably. But not already knowing, and thus knowing, no well sorry hoping, it wouldn't be an obvious leech --- I just had to purchase this awesome-looking bag (with the "unique" closure). I needed a little giftee for my pain. (For an almost painless price, $70 is steep for pleather.) But it was red! I had to start collecting red things to match my new crayon-hued tresses. Oy.

Not being able to work as much on the computer, setting up my apartment, being on my own with all these expenses -- (No flashlight or cooking oil of my own..... all the building blocks piling on the hundreds of dollars in actual necessary spending) -- means I have to wait and save for Coach bags at a discount, forget some pipe dream IT designer name. While I still didn't know the true creator, I could buy innocently.... enough.

Then last night I came across it. MY bag. In a sea foam green -- there were hints at a name, so further investigation brought me to the true design.

A Ferragamo Marissa Bag aka Capra Vernice Satchel. (Find at Neiman Marcus.com)

Oy. $1,1900. Barely any being sold. Nary a color choice. So for now I love, commit a fashion crime red-shouldered (cause I love that big, deep bag, I tell you!) while I wait for a red version to drop below retail authentically. Don't you understand? It must be red!

Iiiii'm siiiiick! I come home from vacation for this to set in on me. I never get sick, and this is sick like I've never been (not the worst though, but certainly different). What a good day to start this feature up again, because I'm not sure how much original brain power I have in me. Oiiii.

Pictured is the "Get Your Own Bag" message canvas tote. It's simple, filled with attitude and I also see loads of irony in it. A shapeless cartooned tote bag conveying envy and pride over a bag---what bag?---even the mini bag pictured is not "cute". I believe it must be made with rightful intention, making fun of bag lovers. Still, it's notable. Find purchase info (for the uncensored version too) at The Purse Blog.

Introduce yourselves to Eco-Bag, an online shop for bags designed by indies that are all recycled materials. The once soda bottle, once seat belt buckle, and once ... boat sail? Yep, all hand made and all environmentally friendly. Shop via In My Bag.

Love that luxury trash bag style of the Coco Cabas, but for a well, still more expensive than trash pricetag? The Chapman Large Slouch Hobo by Charles David is a brandy copycat of Chanel's bag. For less the money, but it's not like you like the Chanel aside from its logo anyway! Via Se�ora Cartera (Mrs. Handbag).

Model Lily Cole designed a line of bags for Monsoon Accessories, EBelle5 featured a rainbow striped small purse.

Ooh, an umbrella case! What a nice change of pace. In cute rainbowed stars, the umbrella with case from Top Shop costs 12 pounds, and is only available in stores in the UK. Boo hoo, this sick girl is crying! Via The Bag Lady.

And finally, this doesn't have to do with bags, but when I saw this billboard last week, I thought it would be perfect about for Counterfeit Chic to write. It's Coke's new billboards for Coca Cola Zero, like, "tastes so much like Coke, we should sue ourselves". Funny?

Visit these great blogs, and we'll see you around.

The Dior Gaucho bag just keeps getting better. When it first came out, ehh not so good. But with style re-inventions there have been improvements, like interesting texture and different straps.

Now they have the classic in a shimmering gold metallic washed calfskin. My BFF's mother picked that out as her dream bag, and I say "good choice!"

But here's how the conversation went with my BFF, introduced here for the first time (who otherwise will be known as the Evil Fashionisto! dun dun dunnn).

Ella: "And that's an It Bag!"

TEF: "A **it bag?"

Ella, ignoring: "I found the price! It's about the same as my dream quilted Bay; $1760."

TEF: "**** ****."

Ella: "It's less expensive than the Gaucho she liked last trip to Neimans. Over $2,000."

TEF: "****. Ma, you should get a fake."

Ma: "I don't want a fake."

TEF "No, don't they have inspireds?"

Ella: "Yeah, I can find one for you, without metallic leather though, probably on ASOS."

TEF: "What's that, pesos? It's for pesos? That's a perfect price!"

Ella, laughing: "That's priceless. Ooh, get it?!"

The girls on The View today dissed Louis Vuitton's Tribute Patchwork bag, and rightly so. But then Rosie O'Donnell said she would "craft" an equal bag at home for $10. The girls even said they would give out the "knockoffs" to the audience. What do you think about this?

I'm sorry, but there is genuine fur on the bag, monogram, and logoed hardware - I don't think Ro can come close.