As part of my job as a fashion IP lawyer, I must dissect and distinguish between counterfeits and copies. Stealing someone's brand is illegal. Copying a brand's designs, on the other hand, is not (yet). Being both a fashion lawyer and a fashion enthusiast, I have always been quite adverse to the idea of buying imitations of the real deal. I cringe with disgust every time I see a wannabe wearing cheaply made platforms with the bitch red sole. I think the reason why copycat fashion irks me is because these people are sacrificing style for superficiality. They only see the high end connotations behind the brands and do not appreciate the actual designs and craftsmanship. A pair of Loubs is not just a symbol of status. The shoe itself is a work of art and its sexy luxuriousness cannot be stripped by stripping off the red paint.
Okay, now I'm going to step off my soapbox and kind of contradict what I just said. For months, I salivated over these booties. They are absolutely edgy, classic and oh so comfy.
Camilla Skovgaard "Zaha" Booties
However, when they went on sale, I was distracted by wedding prep so I didn't get a chance to buy them. So imagine my delight when I saw these on the Steve Madden website:
Steven by Steve Madden "Linore" Booties
Yes, the Linore is a pretty blatant copy of the Zaha. But from what I've been hearing, the Linore is well-crafted, uses real leather and is super comfortable. Plus, CS is not a super recognizable or mainstream brand, so I don't feel as bad about "selling out" by purchasing the copycat. Not only is fashion fleeting, it's bendy too!
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