The 'Outfit Look-Alikes' Thread

[JustABoy]

^ There's one really simple reason and then there's one slightly less simple reason.

1) Fashion designs are not copyright-protected in the way you suggest. See this story on the introduction of bill to fix that in the US--and note that the bill never passed, so designs are still not copyright-protected like that. Brands don't sue because they would lose and waste their money.

2) Most of the designs posted here are so banal and common that, if you searched, you could probably find many similar designs from the past several decades. I've seen people post images of 2 black t-shirts here. The t-shirts did look similar to one another--but they also looked similar to every other black t-shirt I've seen. One look came out in 2014, and another came out in 2015, but the second isn't a copy of the first. They're both just unoriginal designs. To give a less banal but still unoriginal example, see post 496, which to me look like two black racerback-ish dresses + with added sleeves that are reminiscent of boleros. Nothing about either look is new. They're certainly not black t-shirts, but is either look new? Novel? No. Kind of weird? Yes. But not new, and certainly not subject to copyright protection.

 

[Scotty]

He's got more tbh..

SS10 Couture / Balmain SS10




fashionmag | voguerunway

SS12 Couture / McQueen FW07 (?)


fashionmag | style

 

[Chanelcouture09]

^ There's one really simple reason and then there's one slightly less simple reason.

1) Fashion designs are not copyright-protected in the way you suggest. See this story on the introduction of bill to fix that in the US--and note that the bill never passed, so designs are still not copyright-protected like that. Brands don't sue because they would lose and waste their money.

2) Most of the designs posted here are so banal and common that, if you searched, you could probably find many similar designs from the past several decades. I've seen people post images of 2 black t-shirts here. The t-shirts did look similar to one another--but they also looked similar to every other black t-shirt I've seen. One look came out in 2014, and another came out in 2015, but the second isn't a copy of the first. They're both just unoriginal designs. To give a less banal but still unoriginal example, see post 496, which to me look like two black racerback-ish dresses + with added sleeves that are reminiscent of boleros. Nothing about either look is new. They're certainly not black t-shirts, but is either look new? Novel? No. Kind of weird? Yes. But not new, and certainly not subject to copyright protection.

An article in relation to a case regarding See by Chloé vs Topshop back in 2007.

Topshop has destroyed hundreds of dresses after an exclusive French fashion house claimed they were near-identical copies of one of its far more expensive items.

The high street chain has pulled all of its stocks - almost 2,000 dresses - of the £35 yellow mini dungaree dress from the rails after Chloé alleged it was unfairly similar to the £185 number in its See collection.
Topshop, part of Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia group, settled the claim without admitting the Seventies-style dress was a rip-off of the Chloé design but paid the company £12,000 in compensation and legal costs.
The dress can still be viewed on Topshop’s website but all sizes were listed as “out of stock”.
Topshop had sold 774 of them before Chloé stepped in.
It is the first time Topshop, which has achieved massive commercial success and critical acclaim in recent years, has faced legal action by Chloé over alleged copycat clothes.
But the chic French fashion house, part of the Richemont luxury goods group, has previously taken on another high street chain and recently forced an internet retailer to stop selling a copy of one of its handbags, which can cost more than £1,000.

Chloé, a label worn by Hollywood stars such as Natalie Portman and Kirsten Dunst, has now adopted a “zero-tolerance” attitude to what it regards as cheap copies being made of its sought-after and expensive clothes, and is currently making claims against a series of other well-known shops.
Its lawyers are known to scour fashion magazines - which often advise readers on how to get exclusive designs on the cheap - for evidence of copycat clothes as well as snooping around high-street stores.
They believe the cheap copies risk losing Chloé money but also offend its wealthy customers, who do not want to see hundreds of women wearing the same styles for which they have paid huge amounts.
Gary Assim, a partner in Chloé’s legal firm Shoosmiths, told the Daily Telegraph that action had to be taken.
He said: “This was almost identical, which, given Chloé’s determination to prevent copycat designs, could not be ignored.
“Chloé is also currently taking action against a number of other high street and internet retailers especially with regard to protecting its new Bay handbag design and the Paddington, with its characteristic padlock.”
Topshop yesterday would not comment on the Chloé case except to say “the story is over”.
But Sir Philip told a newspaper: “We paid them £12,000 without any admission over whether it was or it wasn’t [a copy].
“We felt it was easier to do that and get on with the rest of our lives.”
A recent widening of intellectual property rights law has helped fashion houses take on rivals over claims of copycat clothes.
Labels once had to prove an entire item was novel or distinctive for them to prove a rival had infringed their design rights.
But after a change in European regulation five years ago, designers only now need show that one feature - such as a buckle or a neckline - is novel or distinctive, or that the combination of unremarkable parts makes the whole item novel.
This makes it far easier for fashion designers to claim their work has been copied.

*Telegraph

 

[Chanelcouture09]

Zuhair is a glorified counterfeiter. The only difference is the fact he brands them with his own name instead of passing them off as a copy under the houses name, like say, Louis Vuitton.

 

[orchidee]

It just baffles me that actual celebrities like J.Lo wear his clothes. They can afford the original versions that he knocks off. And they're famous enough that big brands will want to dress them for the red carpet.

 

[D A N A]

^ I know for a fact that Zuhair Murad makes his couture pieces for free for red carpet events for A list celebrities, maybe thats why they wear his designs? Possibly they are not aware of him knocking of other designers?

 

[D A N A]

Thank you very much
I still think what Zuhair Murad is doing is so clear that there has to be something that the Federation can do about it its one thing to design a black t-shirt its another to create a gown that is 99.9% identical to another previously made with the exact same details.

^ There's one really simple reason and then there's one slightly less simple reason.

1) Fashion designs are not copyright-protected in the way you suggest. See this story on the introduction of bill to fix that in the US--and note that the bill never passed, so designs are still not copyright-protected like that. Brands don't sue because they would lose and waste their money.

2) Most of the designs posted here are so banal and common that, if you searched, you could probably find many similar designs from the past several decades. I've seen people post images of 2 black t-shirts here. The t-shirts did look similar to one another--but they also looked similar to every other black t-shirt I've seen. One look came out in 2014, and another came out in 2015, but the second isn't a copy of the first. They're both just unoriginal designs. To give a less banal but still unoriginal example, see post 496, which to me look like two black racerback-ish dresses + with added sleeves that are reminiscent of boleros. Nothing about either look is new. They're certainly not black t-shirts, but is either look new? Novel? No. Kind of weird? Yes. But not new, and certainly not subject to copyright protection.

 

[dodencebt]

^ I know for a fact that Zuhair Murad makes his couture pieces for free for red carpet events for A list celebrities, maybe thats why they wear his designs? Possibly they are not aware of him knocking of other designers?

Actually all of the designers give out samples and make free custom clothes for certain celebrities hoping they would wear them. The star doesn't pay for the clothes; very often she gets paid to wear something or at least is loaned the dress for free.

 

[D A N A]

Actually all of the designers give out samples and make free custom clothes for certain celebrities hoping they would wear them. The star doesn't pay for the clothes; very often she gets paid to wear something or at least is loaned the dress for free.

Yes, I agree. There are so many unknown Middle Eastern designers we know of that pay a lot of money for Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Paris Hilton to wear their designs. Even though the quality and taste factor sometimes are in question they still wear them. I am assuming they get paid a lot of money!
Sorry if I am getting off topic.

 

[Consultant]

Saint Laurent Copies Forever21

Speaking of intellectual property, copyright and fashion designs, nothing gets as close as this. High-street brands like Forever 21 are accustomed to finding themselves associated with copying, but high fashion is not immune from getting its ideas from the high street. See this story here

FOREVER 21 (RIGHT) SAINT LAURENT, Net-a-porter.com (LEFT)

The U.S does have little protection for fashion design, but in Europe the protections are stronger. Makes sense, because historically most of the design houses were birthed and established this side of the globe. But what strikes me is what is happening internally at these luxury fashion houses that have recently been accused of copying?

 

[rebel]

Vinyl Outfit By Christian Dior In 1969/ Maison Margiela p*ssy-bow silk-chiffon blouse

getty/net-a-porter

 

[dodencebt]

^ Great find! Always interesting to see Galliano reinterpret history.

 

[Lola701]

Yes! NYFW has started!

Jason Wu Spring 2016/ Valentino spring 2013...

...YSL spring 2007...

...YSL spring 2011

zimbio/livingly

 

[Nymphaea]

^Oh man, really bad! Especially the Valentino ones.

 

[StoneSkipper]

Oof, the Valentino ones are inexcusable

 

[marcBarna]

Lacoste S/S 2016 vs. Ralph Lauren S/S 2015



nowfashion.com | vogue.com

 

[Aizanara]

Worst thing is that Maartje is wearing both dresses

 

[artemovartem]

Givenchy S/S 2016 - Givenchy HC S/S 2007

vogue | tumblr/par-riccardo-tisci

 

[Nymphaea]

^

 

[mistress_f]

well they're not lookalikes. they're all exact replicas, a sort of self celebration :






vogue.com/nowfashion.com