(Inspired by gepetto) How do you feel about desinger knockoffs?

[preshi]

So as not to hijack beautys thread...


The way I see it.... I cant afford to pay $500.00 for a Prada purse... if I see one on Venice for $20.00 guess which one I am going to buy. Having said that I am friends with a famous designers son....who himself is a designer... I can't afford his clothes either but if I see something similar or even a knock off like ABS does with the Oscar gowns and such... I am going to snap it up. If he wanted me to be able to afford his clothes, which don't cost all that much to actually make (name recognition = higher prices), he would price them lower... but people who have more money who need to feel status because they paid $400 for a t shirt that says D&G on the label will buy them... I think ti's nice that just because I dont make 6 figures I can still look pretty good and in style.

Edited to add: While I realize my knock off won't last that long. I am positive it will last long enough to be in style...and when it goes out of style... I won't have an expensive purse to stick in the closet until the style comes around again.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

I would much rather spend less to buy the knockoff! How many people can really afford to buy the $500 purse. I mean average, working people anyway. If they say they can afford it, I'm a lways a bit skeptical.

 

[caitycaity]

personally, i wouldn't buy one, but i don't really care if other people do.

they're harder to buy here now. there was a huge crackdown here a couple months ago and the guy who used to sell them (mostly kate spade knockoffs, but they all had labels) sells other bags without the fake labels now.

 

[Blondie]

There's a mall in Virginia Beach that sells the knock-offs, and they were pretty good imposters, cause I couldn't tell the difference!

A girl I work with has a D&B knock-off, and I examined it up close (since I own 3 authentic ones myself.) The only difference is the feel of the leather (or pleather as I like to call it) the little dangly gold medallion that hangs was imprinted on both sides, the authentic one only has the duck design on one side--and on the inside there wasn't a tag with a serial number and the name Dooney & Bourke written on it.

Other than that, I couldn't tell.

If the opportunity presents itself to buy a fake Gucci for $200 less than the real deal, I'm buying one!

 

[Jenzebelle]

I buy clothes and purses for how long they last and how they look on me, not because of a label.

I wouldn't buy a designer knockoff, because to me it's not worth it and because so many designers have outlets around here- it's much easier for me to buy a real Gucci purse for $50 at the outlet than it is to buy a knockoff for the same price. Sure it's slightly outdated, but who cares?

I don't care if other people buy the knockoffs, though.

 

[gepetto]

And remember, designer merchandise is trademarked. It is illegal to sell or buy a designer piece if it is not real.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/050601_extra_harwin.html

It's copyright infringement and it is illegal. Will you also buy pirated software and video games at the flea market?

 

[preshi]

no i would not buy video games, software or movies froma flea market....

Anyways.... someone ought to come get me for possesion because right now I have a fake gucci on my desk and go get MIL because she bought it... LOL

 

[Disney845]

Maybe I am just a fashion snob but I would never buy a knockoff and try to play it off like the real thing. If other people want to do it, I do not look down upon them, I just wonder why they do it. First off the reason people buy knockoffs is because they look like the real thing, which means one thing to me. They want people to see it and think it is the real thing. You are obviously concerned with what people think about you and what you can afford to have. The problem is the only people you are going to be "amazing" with your "designer" clothing/accessories are the people who would not be able to recognize the real thing anyways. The people who can and do afford to own the real thing can probably tell that you have a knockoff, which would defeat you original purpose of trying to "fit-in" with the "wealthy crowd. If you really do not have the money to actually own the real thing then I think it is cheesy and sad that you want to look like you can afford what you obviously can not. I am a lover of all things Burberry, and just this last weekend I was in the Castleton Square mall and saw a kiosk of designer knockoffs. They had Prada, Kate Spade, Burberry...etc. The Burberry purses looked pretty good. Good enough that someone not farmiliar with the designer would probably have assumed they were the real thing. At $30-80 they were obviously much cheaper than their "real" counterparts, but I would never in a million years have considered buying one.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Well Geppetto, why wouldn't the manufacturer do more to protect themselves? How much are they really losing to the counterfeiter? Are they suing? I think a lot of it depends on the type of patent. Is the consumer or manufacturer to blame? Supply and demand.

 

[preshi]

Originally posted by Disney845
Maybe I am just a fashion snob but I would never buy a knockoff and try to play it off like the real thing. If other people want to do it, I do not look down upon them,

If you really do not have the money to actually own the real thing then I think it is cheesy and sad that you want to look like you can afford what you obviously can not.

HUH.... thanks for not looking down upon us.

First off the reason people buy knockoffs is because they look like the real thing, which means one thing to me. They want people to see it and think it is the real thing. You are obviously concerned with what people think about you and what you can afford to have. The problem is the only people you are going to be "amazing" with your "designer" clothing/accessories are the people who would not be able to recognize the real thing anyways. The people who can and do afford to own the real thing can probably tell that you have a knockoff, which would defeat you original purpose of trying to "fit-in" with the "wealthy crowd.

I am so not trying to fit in with the wealthy crowd... I want to look in style. Yes I care what other people think about me... who wants to hear behind thier back that they look like a slob??? I don't think anyone does. And I'd never want people to see me as a fashion "victim". My purse doesn't make me "amazing" they way I carry myself and behave is what makes me amazing... the purse is just a cute added bonus... fake or not.

 

[Steve H.]

Will you also buy pirated software and video games at the flea market?

Ummmm, errr, well, there was this one trip to Singapore -- but I'd rather not say anything about that!

 

[caitycaity]

"who wants to hear behind thier back that they look like a slob??? "

personally, i think that one can buy a purse that is not a designer knockoff and not look like a slob. i have a very nice purse from nine west that was only around $40. it's "in-fashion."

and if you are ocncerned about people talking about you behind your back, you may not want to go with the knockoff b/c whenever we go out one of my friends always spots the fakes and comments on them to us.

steve do you buy fake designer purses? LOL

 

[Beauty]

Well I will admit that I'm a purse snob...I've said it before! I have paid full price for Dooneys and Coach bags...haven't had a Kate Spade yet and the key word is YET! We have a store here the sells these knock-offs and to me their prices are ridiculous....$50 or $60 dollars which I won't pay when I can go buy a nice leather purse for $100.

Now when it comes to music......KAZAA is my homepage.....do I care, not really. Jus being honest.....I haven't ever bought software or DVDs from a sale though.....but I KAZAA all the time.

Anyways.... someone ought to come get me for possesion because right now I have a fake gucci on my desk and go get MIL because she bought it... LOL

ROTFLOL!!!!!! Thats the best one I've heard all day Meagan!

Oh and if you buy a knockoff for $20 bucks it will last just as long as the $20 purse from Wal-Mart and you will get tons more compliments

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I'm an anti-label type...I refuse to spend more because of a name, and wouldn't pretend to either.

 

[Disney845]

Originally posted by preshi
HUH.... thanks for not looking down upon us.



I want to look in style. Yes I care what other people think about me... who wants to hear behind thier back that they look like a slob??? I don't think anyone does. And I'd never want people to see me as a fashion "victim".

So anyone who doesn't have a Gucci knockoff is a slob and fashion victim? That is an interesting outlook you have on life. I wasn't looking down on you before...I was saying that if you feel like it is necessary to own "fake" designer items that is up to you. You are not a bad person because of it. I just personally think that if you care so much about what other people are "saying behind your back" than you better be trying a little harder because I think you will get quite a few more comments like "who does she think she is, trying to pull off that obviously fake Prada purse?" than "oh-ma-god look at her wearing a "real" pair of Kenneth Cole boots."

 

[Steve H.]

Originally posted by caitycaity
steve do you buy fake designer purses? LOL

Of course not!!! No matter what others have said -- they're lying!

 

[Bumbles]

Nicely said Disney845

 

[preshi]

Originally posted by Disney845
So anyone who doesn't have a Gucci knockoff is a slob and fashion victim? That is an interesting outlook you have on life. I wasn't looking down on you before...I was saying that if you feel like it is necessary to own "fake" designer items that is up to you. You are not a bad person because of it. I just personally think that if you care so much about what other people are "saying behind your back" than you better be trying a little harder because I think you will get quite a few more comments like "who does she think she is, trying to pull off that obviously fake Prada purse?" than "oh-ma-god look at her wearing a "real" pair of Kenneth Cole boots."

This isn't what I mean at all..... I mean I like to look put together. I couldn't care less if my purse is fake Gucci or Esprit like most of my bags are...As long as I look put together thats all I care about... All I meant was "I" dont want to look like a slob.... I don't care if you do....and I couldn't care ess what kind of purse you have if you look put together great. Thats all.

Also I dont need to try hard... I don't get comments like the ones you mentioned. And if someone did comment at me that way I would laugh in their face. I am very candid about what is real and fake... I have no problem telling people that my purse is a fake... they dont like it, not my problem. Also I dont know where you live but even in Los Angeles I don't get comments like that... maybe us West Coasters are a little bit more laid back and less snotty than I thought.

Me with fake purse on.... (the brunette)
<IMG width="500" SRC="http://members.aol.com/preshi/myhomepage/sarahmegvegas.jpg">

 

[Blondie]

You're absolutely right Preshi, it's the package that counts!

Yeah...package! That's it! Nothing like a neatly wrapped package!

And what you get on the inside is a bonus!

 

[Jenzebelle]

I'm neither a fashion victim nor a slob. I pick items that are well made and timeless so I don't have to worry about whether or not my purse or sweater is going to be out of style next week.

And I prefer my real $50 Gucci purse and my $20 Liz Claiborne purse over anything else I have seen. they might not be as nice as the current knockoffs, but I know they will last .