Knock It Off!

by Elise Carter (Subscribe to Elise Carter's posts)
Posted Oct 25th 2006 at 11:33AM

As the buyer for a women's clothing boutique, I constantly find myself trying to be creative with designer looks for less. You know, you want the $2100 look of the Chloé Silverado bag but with more of a $150 price tag. Would you rather spend mega bucks for the real deal, or save your cash but end up with a fake? It's a tricky subject, but Radar Online posted an interesting article last month about the consummate consumer desire to get more for less.

The bureaucratic regulations governing copyright laws in America are old, confusing, and (most of all!) boring, but to sum up, as long as you don't slap a Pucci tag on your Pucci look-a-like scarf, you're in the clear. So what does this mean for consumers?

There has been some backlash from the privileged few who can afford to buy designer originals, and to tell you the truth, I can see their point. If I had the cash flow to buy my very own pair of Jimmy Choo pumps any time I felt the urge, I might be annoyed that the girl behind the counter at Starbucks was sporting a knockoff pair of her own, but at a fraction of the price. I can see how luxury items gain their appeal by being just that - a rare treat, meant for only a few lucky consumers.

On the other hand, why should the rich and/or famous have all the fun? Isn't imitation the highest form of flattery? If Balenciaga makes a great looking bag, why shouldn't we all be able to afford some manifestation of it?

What do you think? Are knockoffs devaluing designer brands, or do they simply make luxury items more accessible to the everyday shopper?

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Filed under: Accessories, Fashion, Best of the Season
Tags: accessories, Balenciaga, Chloe bag, designer bags, DesignerBags, Jimmy Choo, knockoffs, luxury brands, Pucci

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READER COMMENTS

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Andrea, 10-25-2006, 2:37PM

Well, to tell you the truth, I have a real Louis Vuitton purse, but choose to no longer carry it due to the fact that everyone & their child is carrying the knock-offs, it's to the point you just assume that they are all fakes, so I believe it does devalue the real thing

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Vickie, 10-25-2006, 3:00PM

I often find myself stuck on the same question, but I will later regret buying the knock-off and buy the same item in the real version. So I kinda supported criminals and spent more money for buying the fakes.

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Megan, 10-25-2006, 3:04PM

I think that everyone sporting imposture bags make themselves look cheap. I would gladly buy the real thing before I purchase a fake any day.

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Larisa, 10-25-2006, 7:13PM

While I understand what you all are saying, I also understand how it feels to want to be able to buy something and can't afford it. So for those who cannot afford the real deal have an option of buying a knockoff. Every woman deserves a little happiness. Not to sound insulting but, I'm sure you feel like a queen when you buy the real thing....but you're not. I have real and fake bags and could care less if you or anyone else carried real or fake. Why should I? I buy for me not to impress anyone else about what I can afford. Money comes and goes and lately it seems to go more often than it comes. It's all about choice and affordability.

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Nicole, 10-25-2006, 5:43PM

I own 2 "real" bags and 2 "knock offs" and the 2 "real" bags have had pieces fall off and stitching come apart, so I don't believe you get what you pay for anymore with these bags. I don't believe you have to pay $1200 for an item for it to be good quality.

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