Whether it's changing that Coach C to a G or making a Payless version of a pair of Steve Madden pumps, people are always making knockoffs. And sometimes I'm completely satisfied with my less-than-authentic purchases. Other times, though, I think you get what you pay for.
For me, I suppose there are three stages of knockoff enlightenment:
1. You don't know you're wearing a knockoff. Once, in high school, I noticed my friend and I were wearing what looked like the same brand of dress sandals.
"Nice shoes," I said. "Payless?"
"No," she replied. "Steve Madden."
I felt like such an idiot. I guess some people wouldn't care, but I was born with an extra neurotic chromosome, so it really bummed me out to think that I'd been strutting my stuff in knockoffs I didn't even know were knockoffs. Ignorance is bliss.
2. Your feet (or whatever) know you're wearing a knockoff.Okay, sorry, again with the Payless—a couple of months ago I bought two pairs of BOGO flats. They were American Eagle brand, which isn't so much a knockoff as a bargain Payless feeder, but nevertheless I believe the following story applies to most cheap apparel:
I mean, these flats were
cute. I went home and emailed pictures to my mom, recommended AE shoes for
her to buy (she can pull it off), and said, to anyone who would listen, "Why would anyone pay more for this?"
I was so proud.
Then, um, I wore them, and their cheapness became apparent. I started getting blisters about three sidewalk squares from my apartment, which made the
job interview I was on the way to uncharacteristically painful, in addition to the next several weeks. It made me understand why people are willing to invest in a solid pair of shoes (or five).
3. You know you're wearing a knockoff—and you own it.Those Coach G-purses are pretty obvious, but it's pretty easy to tell when even authentic-looking knockoffs are fake. Here's a tip: When your early-20s friend, out of college and totally broke, shows up for dinner with one of those I-could-keep-a-family-of-four-in-here purses,
and its a designer brand, it's probably fake. Otherwise, she deserves a lecture on why that $200+ price tag didn't go towards, I don't know, rent.
But I mean, who cares? I think it's less embarrassing to be walking around with a fake purse you know is fake than to have dropped a lot of money on a blatant non-essential. Once you make it big, you can buy all the Gucci you want, but for now, let's rock the Goocci.
How do you feel about knockoffs? What's your stage of knockoff enlightment? (Or, did I miss one?)Image Source
Comments (101)
Sometimes knockoffs are worth it, I would NEVER recommend American Eagle shoes, I had some bad experiences with my church shoes and I have learned that with shoes name brand is better. I don't see why you would want a $200+ purse? I got a huge bag at Gabriel Brothers, a wonderful store with cheap designer and name brand stuff, for $10 bucks, it looks like its more expensive, and I get comments on it all the time.
I just think spend money wisely, make investment purchases, and save the rest
Its one thing to buy a cute purse for $10 at Target, its another to buy a "Coach" purse for $10, you are essentially stealing from the company, its like downloading a song for free from an artist, you get to enjoy the brand without paying for it. If you can't afford to buy a brand name than don't try to fake it, its tacky and wrong.
I STRONGLY disagree with knock offs. If you can't afford it then don't buy it or even tempt yourself by looking at it. Whether or not something is worth what it costs isn't up to you. It's up to the writers/designers/owners. You only get to decide whether or not you want to buy it. What's embarrassing isn't that someone is willing to sink money into something authentic. What's embarrassing is that someone is willing to go out, buy a fake, and tote it around while justifying it by saying how it's not fair that the real one costs three times or five times as much.
No offense. My own opinion.
If I own any knock offs then I don't know about it.
I don't really care what brand I'm wearing or using, as long as the quality is good. Knock-off or not.
LMFAO @ Goocci X]
but uhhm. "...and their cheapness became apartment." are you sure you don't mean apparent? lawl.
Um, Steve Madden knocks off a lot of stuff, too. The company uses higher-quality materials than most knock-off companies, but it's not like all of their designs are original.
I don't like buying knock-offs, and I don't really like being a walking advertisement for a company either. I end up buying a lot of fairly good-quality but plain basics, and update with cheaper trendy pieces. I've gotten past the point of worrying about whether people think I have a lot of money to throw around.
Personally, there are some things that are so hideous, one would not even want to purchase a knock-off version...such as Coach purses. They've been a "fashion trend" for years now, but it's really time to retire that ridiculously ugly logo/design/whatever you call it. Also, just because some trendy, insanely expensive brand decides to make something does not mean everyone else that produces a similar item is a knock-off.
Take Uggs for example. "Uggs" often spark a certain connotation in people: those generic-looking sheepskin boots, right? Well sheepskin boots have existed far longer than the Ugg brand has. So now, any company that sells sheepskin boots are considered Ugg-knockoffs?
Okay, maybe the last part about the Uggs was just me going off on a tangent. But some people honestly do not think when they buy brand names. Many just waste loads of money investing in a fashion trend that will only make them look ridiculous.
@spentandsickk@xanga - agree. i'd never carry a coach bag or wear those horrid uggs.
I get no brand rather than knock-offs
Meh. I'm against knock-offs. Why not wait until you earn enough money to buy the real thing? It's a better feeling to know that you worked hard to earn that beautiful purse or whatever than walk around with a fake one... especially if someone that recognizes a real from a fake sees you with a fake. @_@
I can ALWAYS tell a Fake Coach bag knock-off, even the ones that look really CLOSE. I personally would rather have the real bag but can understand not everyone can AFFORD to drop $398 or even over $100 for the real one. But the one thing I can't STAND is when someone has an UGLY fake. Like the patchwork "G" coach bags that are in the most AWFUL of color-schemes. I mean, why bother then?
I don't like to be a walking advertisement :\ I'll buy things that feels comfortable to wear and made of durable material.
I like Payless because if I needed a pair of shoes I won't wear more than once or twice a year (like for weddings or halloween), then it's a good buy.
For me it doesn't matter, if they're really girly shoes they will hurt my feet no matter what. Stupid non girly type feet. They make me mad!
I have American Eagle flats. They're very comfortable and are holding up well after nearly 6 months. Maybe they improved the quality?
@Sun_Starflower@xanga - Nobody around here really can't,though, unless they have had the luxury to be able to afford it. It's a common thing in a working/middle class neighborhood to have knockoffs and nobody's ashamed.
Knock-offs are tacky & so annoying! I've never knowingly bought knock-offs but I won't by Louis, Gucci or Coach because there are so many knock-offs that look real so what's the point of buying the real thing?!
I stick to indie/underground brands that carry high quality items that don't have the copycat made in china fakes.
wow, superficial much? It's a bag. It holds stuff. if you want to drop a few extra dollars to buy a better looking one, no problem. But if it makes you feel that much better about yourself because you brought the brand name one, well that's a high price to pay for your piece of mind.
I don't care one way or the other; it's up to other people whether they care to/can buy knock-offs or the real thing. As for me personally, I buy whatever I can afford and what looks fashionable to me. If it turns out to be a knock-off, it wasn't my intention to be tacky or annoying or to pretend to be something I'm not.
Yea payless is only good for sandals, boots and fake chunks. Their flats are horrible because the lining on the inside of it is so thin so you feel every freaking thread. It becomes painful after a while. I know a lot of knock off purses look pretty real until they start falling apart. Unless you a Coach or Gucci expert I doubt you can tell the difference.
Haha, I own and currently wear two pairs of sneakers: an authentic Vans brand, and a knockoff brand I bought at the Toxic at the mall for ten bucks. The Vans pair is obviously well-made--I've own them for about two years now, and they are still in good shape. I've had the knockoff pair for almost a year, and man, they're about ready to tear in half.
But I didn't buy them for longevity. I'm an active person who takes a lot of hikes, and I didn't want to wear my nice Vans when I take a five mile walk through dry brush, dirt, and rocks. So I think knockoffs have their place, even if they don't match the quality of the real brand.
I don't mind buying knockoffs. I would rather buy that than pay like 12,000 dollars on the real thing!
I honestly. Don't give a rip. About brand names.
I can't afford brand names anyways. Payless is good for some shoes. I had my boots from there for a long time before it was totally worn. For designer bags though, I wouldn't buy the knockoff of it though. I would just not buy it. Go get a cheap, nice looking bag. It's not embarrassing.
Why are people here so uptight about people not the "real thing". If you like it, and the price is within your budget, go for it. Doesn't flippin' matter if it's a knock off, or the real thing. Ugh, I hate it when people act all high and mighty that their Gucci bag is worth 1300 bucks, so what? Want me to kiss your bag every time you walk by?
I don't really ever look at labels. I just buy what looks good.