High Fashion Copycat

Not much irritates me more in the fashion world than the blatant hypocrisy that occurs when high-end designers criticize fast fashion retailers for ripping them off. Heck, there are even blogs like Fashionista that have whole columns dedicated to making sure those poor designers have their voices heard.

The hypocrisy factors in when you pay attention to just how often those same designers perpetrate the very fashion crimes they so publicly villainize. Donna Karan is a member of the CFDA, who are working hard to get the Design Piracy Prohibition Act passed by congress. But here you can see her campaigning for the other side. If it wasn't for the backgrounds in the pictures, it's quiet possible that you couldn't tell which looks were from the DKNY SS 2010 collection and which were from Rachel Comey's SS 2009 collection. Here they are:






(Click for the larger image, and a better view of the prints.)

The flower print is the obvious rip-off here, but I also like how Donna stole the side ruched effect for her dress that Rachel did on a shirt and a dress in her collection. All together, a rather shameful affair.