Stealing Style...

[Les_Sucettes]

I couldn't care less if people steal my style as long as, if we are talking of a person close to you, they acknowledge they were "inspired" by it. I see absolutely no problem if a friend of mine compliments my shoes, my coat, my dress and then decide to buy a similar one. Is there such a thing as an original style nowdays? What passes as original style is totally filtered from the catwalks. The fashion savviest know how not to look like a fashion victim but they are still slaves of the image makers.

What i honestly find a bit weird, and that happened to me, is when a close friend of yours that never ever remarks on anything you wear, then suddenly one day shows up head to toe, and I mean head to toe literally, with the exact same things, not even something that resembles your clothes, but the exact same outfit you wore the week before. Bought at the same store, same colour, everything.

 

[fashionista-ta]

I couldn't care less if people steal my style as long as, if we are talking of a person close to you, they acknowledge they were "inspired" by it. I see absolutely no problem if a friend of mine compliments my shoes, my coat, my dress and then decide to buy a similar one. Is there such a thing as an original style nowdays? What passes as original style is totally filtered from the catwalks. The fashion savviest know how not to look like a fashion victim but they are still slaves of the image makers.

What i honestly find a bit weird, and that happened to me, is when a close friend of yours that never ever remarks on anything you wear, then suddenly one day shows up head to toe, and I mean head to toe literally, with the exact same things, not even something that resembles your clothes, but the exact same outfit you wore the week before. Bought at the same store, same colour, everything.

Definitely a bit weird ... If I did that it would qualify as a psychiatric event, you should definitely call the men in white coats. The only time I had someone somewhat imitate me that I recall atm (this was makeup similar to mine, when she didn't wear any before), it was clear she was highly threatened by me and gunning for me (this was at work). She was a case, for sure ...

Vega Magnus, they must be stopped!!!

 

[Lolaa]

I don't really mind because more or less people dress similarly, especially now with the internet and the blogs. Style changes are more immidiate than, say, 10 years ago.

However, you can really tell when someone is wearing something and owns it and when someone doesn't. It's all about confidence and feeling comfortable.

 

[matryoshkadoll]

Copycats...

I don't know how you could be upset... It's not like you have a copyright on your style. No one is ever original, regardless of how much they say they are. Unless you go to school dressed in cling-wrap and foil... Everyone takes elements of what they deem stylish and makes it a part of their own. Or in other words, style is just copying what happens to be trendy at the moment. So instead of being so pressed about your friend 'stealing' your style, be glad that you're a 'trendsetter' who's doing her part in rubbing off on the fashionably inept.

I don't dispute the fact that people borrow elements of what they deem stylish and factor it into their own wardrobe. It is one thing to be inspired, but another thing entirely to completely copy someone's style of clothing or even personality.

I've had people mimic my personality, steal my ideas and clothing style and try to claim it as their own. It gets annoying, especially if you are not a celebrity and don't get immediate recognition for your originality like they do.

 

[MulletProof]

^ Finally! that's what the thread's about, not influencing others or adapting trends and seeing items you own on other people, that's completely missing the point. There is one thing as influencing style, and there's another very different one that is stealing style, which is what pisses people off, and rightly so, and it is not so simple to ignore, you have to experience it in order to realise that it isn't just one annoying copycat whose act must roll off eventually, it's people projecting a lot of personal issues and dragging others along, they might do it verbally sometimes, but in some, selected cases (such the topic of this thread) they do it through clothes. I feel like it's more frequent among women, since they're slightly more territorial and perceptive of where others' biggest sensibilities rely?

By that last line I'm going back to the couple of times I experienced this, mostly my last experience at work, the woman was just out of her 20s and was in what appeared to be a violent marriage, probably depressed (she'd go through highs and lows and always hinted at how at 32 her life was over and how she wished she had my age again- I was 21 at the time).. without getting too much into details, she first started by noticing that I quite evidently cared for fashion, and how involved I was into the whole thing, and took it from there.. I think that if I had shown signs of been heavily into writing or painting or who knows, she would've reacted in the same invasive way, that's why I mention sensibility (not that it gets very hard with on-your-face elements like clothes are), for her that was just a way to project her issues with age and her situation in life (unplanned children, awful marriage), and what better way to be noticed than that same territory where that person is putting all of her/his attention on?

I didn't care for her issues of course, still can't, I confronted her a couple of times, talked to her about therapy but honestly I'm no Mother Theresa, sometimes you just want to be left alone and don't be involved in anything, just get the work done, but they still make you a part of the game, so you're not just in for the spectacle of seeing someone dressed as yourself but seeing yourself play the 'angry clown' role. There's enough reason to be pissed as hell for me. Style doesn't have to be this mathematically non-reproducible creation to be a genuinely personal expression and feel very involved in it.

 

[Fewormany]

Style doesn't have to be this mathematically non-reproducible creation to be a genuinely personal expression and feel very involved in it.

To me this sums it up perfectly, thanks.

It just feels wrong when someone tries to make someting that you consider to be 'you' their own.

 

[Zarina]

I really don't understand how this style stealing is possible? Unless you wear only brand new clothes all the time how would anybody be able to get exactly the same items?
If I look at my wardrobe it isn't unusual that my outfits contain items from several decades including vintage. It would be impossible to copy.

 

[MulletProof]

I thought we had established that it wasn't about exclusive/designer/handmade/impossible to find items but.. imitating style, same combination, same styling, regular basis, the entire equation, not just buying the same purse.

I guess you just have to experience it in order to believe it but it's certainly not impossible.. lots of posts made in this thread couldn't be more graphic examples of what's been tried to explain in the last two pages (perplexing why it suddenly got so confusing ).

 

[Zarina]

^As you see a few posts earlier there is been written about "complete copying".

I don't think styling should be mixed up with the process of designing a piece of clothes, writing a piece of music or painting a picture. After all styling is just putting together ready-made items. Yes, it can be done in thousands ways, but if you are already in a certain style and have some of the cornerstones belonging to that style, it is very easy to look very similar.

I bet that those who are accused for "stealing style" would say they are very different. In general people think their style is much more unique than it really is. I am not even sure if it is desirable to be unique, because it might not look good then. There are certain "rules" for what is going well together and what is fitting which bodyshape, so if you follow these "rules", there will be many others looking like you.

Maybe if you are living in a village where everybody is wearing a tracksuit, you might look unique if you wear some designer items, but hey we are living in a globalized world.

 

[Desi]

true but most of these examples involve individuals who are relatively close to the person who style they are "stealing". Like if I hang out with a group of my guy friends from the county they would be rocking lots of polo and nikes but i wear doc oxfords, trousers, sweaters and oversized coats for an example. We look worlds apart even if my style isn't totally unique to me.

If one starts dressing like me I would be taken aback. Amused but at the same time he is jocking my style. If I confronted him about it like "yo mane what's up with you putting pants on a shiz?" And afterwards if my bro continued to dress like me even when I start wearing my Geller the way I do; denim, fur vest, colored leather jackets, monocle (not really) we would be in an awkward situation and a confrontation would occur.

This is pretty much what is happening in this thread. Being around someone enough that style cues rub off which is fine. But when they have some kind of epiphany and totally imitate you down to the way you carry yourself... Total Doug episode without the 91210 TV show to blame the style stealing on.

 

[matryoshkadoll]

I bet that those who are accused for "stealing style" would say they are very different. In general people think their style is much more unique than it really is. I am not even sure if it is desirable to be unique, because it might not look good then. There are certain "rules" for what is going well together and what is fitting which bodyshape, so if you follow these "rules", there will be many others looking like you.

It is true that quite a number of people usually look to the media to develop their style and would normally end up having a similar style to someone else who does the same. Everyone was wearing florals and lace this spring because it was widely available. However, we are not discussing simply picking up on trends. There are a large enough amount of people who take the time and energy to cultivate their own unique style and only incorporate a portion of the current trends to keep up with the times, if you will.

This is different from showing up to your first day of classes with the same top as someone else.

I suppose, women mostly, see (visible) similarities between themselves as a threat. Each female wants to be unique and stick out from the crowd, which would make her more appealing to men. If another women has somewhat the same qualities she possesses, then she is no longer a rarity. Clothing, hairstyles are more obvious and easy to spot, which is why there is an immediate sense of hostility towards the other person.

 

[greengrassia]

Maybe if you are living in a village where everybody is wearing a tracksuit, you might look unique if you wear some designer items, but hey we are living in a globalized world.[/QUOTE]

i don't think looking "unique" is only about wearing certain clothes. style as a whole has a lot do with personal attitude, the way u carry ur clothes. someone can look totally unique in a pair of converse, which is probably the most common shoes out there.

for example, no one carries birkin bag as jane birkin herself. she looks totally unique with her signature bag, which is not unattainable to others at all.

i think the discussion gets a bit divided here cause as individuals, we really do have different outlook on style, and it shows, obviously B)

 

[Zarina]

It is true that quite a number of people usually look to the media to develop their style and would normally end up having a similar style to someone else who does the same. Everyone was wearing florals and lace this spring because it was widely available. However, we are not discussing simply picking up on trends. There are a large enough amount of people who take the time and energy to cultivate their own unique style and only incorporate a portion of the current trends to keep up with the times, if you will.

This is different from showing up to your first day of classes with the same top as someone else.

I suppose, women mostly, see (visible) similarities between themselves as a threat. Each female wants to be unique and stick out from the crowd, which would make her more appealing to men. If another women has somewhat the same qualities she possesses, then she is no longer a rarity. Clothing, hairstyles are more obvious and easy to spot, which is why there is an immediate sense of hostility towards the other person.

I think most people only incorporate a portion of the trends in their excisting wardrobe - obviously it would be difficult to exchange everything every season. However, I would still not call that unique.

You are probably right about women wanting to stick out from the crowd. I just think it is quite impossible nowadays to use the clothes to stick out since almost everything is available everywhere. Maybe you are the only one with those sculptural Rick Owens booties in your village, but worldwide where will be many having the same or similar ones.

 

[Zarina]

i don't think looking "unique" is only about wearing certain clothes. style as a whole has a lot do with personal attitude, the way u carry ur clothes. someone can look totally unique in a pair of converse, which is probably the most common shoes out there.

for example, no one carries birkin bag as jane birkin herself. she looks totally unique with her signature bag, which is not unattainable to others at all.

i think the discussion gets a bit divided here cause as individuals, we really do have different outlook on style, and it shows, obviously B)

Exactly. Therefore I don't see the problem.

 

[greengrassia]

Exactly. Therefore I don't see the problem.

i don't think "style" can be really stolen, cause to me it's more about clothes. but i also don't see the need to take words too literal neither. it's not a puzzle word game we are playing here. i can understand how people can get irritated if someone in their promixy copy the way they dress, no matter we call that "style" or "the way to put clothes together". they get irritated, i get it. and someone doesn't, i get it too. again, we are just different individuals.

 

[greengrassia]

I think most people only incorporate a portion of the trends in their excisting wardrobe - obviously it would be difficult to exchange everything every season. However, I would still not call that unique.

You are probably right about women wanting to stick out from the crowd. I just think it is quite impossible nowadays to use the clothes to stick out since almost everything is available everywhere. Maybe you are the only one with those sculptural Rick Owens booties in your village, but worldwide where will be many having the same or similar ones.

again, i don't think simply wearing Rick Owens booties will make anyone look "unique". it's the way that person wears it. i think nowadays someone can stick out simply by the way he/she dresses. yes, actually i think there's a bigger oppotunity to do so in a globalized, information-sharing world. where there are so many clones and trend followers, it's just easier to be "unique" (clothes in combination with personal aura). like "when everyone else looks the same, i can finally look different". kidding.i might sound really strange here, but at this point i just believe when there are more followers, there will be more independent souls to counter-balance the scene as well. for instance, just when the luxery houses and high street brands take over mainstream market, at the same time there will be more independent, niche brands emerging to cater to smaller clientenle. just like where there is oppression, there will bound to be rebellion. but of course please don't take each of my words too literal, i don't mean clothes as a form of oppression. i just believe that's how social equation system works.

 

[Spotlight]

I say, take what you like and ditch the rest. Inspiration has always involved some kind of theft. I think if we take all the things that resonate within us and put it together, it become authentic again. I would just encourage for someone to never to become a clone of who they admire.

 

[Jazzeh]

I couldn't care less if people steal my style as long as, if we are talking of a person close to you, they acknowledge they were "inspired" by it. I see absolutely no problem if a friend of mine compliments my shoes, my coat, my dress and then decide to buy a similar one. Is there such a thing as an original style nowdays? What passes as original style is totally filtered from the catwalks. The fashion savviest know how not to look like a fashion victim but they are still slaves of the image makers.

What i honestly find a bit weird, and that happened to me, is when a close friend of yours that never ever remarks on anything you wear, then suddenly one day shows up head to toe, and I mean head to toe literally, with the exact same things, not even something that resembles your clothes, but the exact same outfit you wore the week before. Bought at the same store, same colour, everything.

this happened to me. with my cousin. she still copies me. NO BUENO

 

[softgrey]

people got problems.........

 

[kokobombon]

A while ago I met this girl who behind my back criticized what I wore saying I was always "overdressed", this came from a girl who was traveling the continent and pretty much wore sweats all the time. But then she started to copy my style, from my stocking´s pattern to the style of my hats! I didn´t mind that she was copying me but what was the point in criticizing me in the first place?!