Bewitched

Cone-heel sandal by Chloe
Chloe copy

Images: net-a-porter.com; witchery.com.au

If like me you are greeted daily by about 50 million emails, almost none of which are from your friends, it is likely that like me you received an email from a certain Aussie chain store advertising their new Spring/Summer collection. Or should I say, their assembly of last season's designer creations loosely re-interpreted--ie, hardly changed at all (I'm looking at you, blatant Chloe cone-heel sandal knock-offs).

Clearly, blatant designer copies are a pet-peeve of mine, and it's not that I can't appreciate that chain-store items result from a trickle-down effect based on haute fashion trends-- a la Meryl Streep's spiel regarding THAT cerulean blue sweater in "The Devil wears Prada". I understand that these stores which cater to the masses need to provide designer "inspired" clothing in line with fashion trends dictated by the houses. What I don't think I will ever be able to make peace with, or buy myself, is an outright knock-off item. What also bothers me is that the chain-stores are able to make a mint trading off of the intellectual and creative property of others (and of course, the above offender isn't the only one). Besides, aren't there laws against that type of thing?

As the chain and high-street stores become increasingly infiltrated with these inferior imposter items I become increasingly turned-off shopping there. I know it may seem that I am turning up my nose at affordable fashion, but really that isn't so. In fact I own many items of non-copied high-street clothing. I simply believe that the majority of the population (myself included) which cannot afford designer items deserves better than to end up increasingly clad in cheap imitations.