Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Would You or Wouldn't You?

Before I pose my question, check out the shoes below.


Christian Louboutins normally sell in the range of $1000. These shoes are for sale between $159 & $179 on a website called Louboutin Mall. I was ready to bust out my credit card, but then I did some fact checking.

According to NY Magazine, while some of the photos may be authentic, the shoes you receive are fakes.

Remember when fake Louis Vuitton purses were all over the place? I'm pretty good at spotting them. (The orange leather trim & handles are usually a dead giveaway)

So, here's the question. Would you buy a knockoff that pretends to be the real deal? Is that so different from buying Cavalli and D&G inspired styles from F21 and the like?

Discuss.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

No fake shoes with the red bottoms. You deserve the real deal. Clothes inspired by big designers is different because the label at XXI doesn't say Marc Jacobs or Michael Kors. I was so mad to get a fake Fendi spy bag that had claims of authenticity on ebay.

suzannemarques said...

i bought a "gucci" purse online a few years ago. It was $350 I think? The website said the price was cheap because it was a style from a few seasons back. When I received it in the mail, I could tell once I opened up the box. Maybe you couldn't to the untrained eye, but once I knew, I couldn't sport it (during the day!) I remember taking it out a few times at night to dark clubs. ha. :)

Anonymous said...

brian awestin via facebook:

I bought some gucci shoes from a buddy of mine who's an ex-nfl player. the comfort and quality is so good I would never settle for fakes. I've had both pairs for over a year and have held up remarkably. knowing that, shelling out $400 for another pair dosent seem too bad. if worse comes to worse I can always sell one of my pairs and put the $ towards a new pair.

xoxo, Kari said...

I'm not into designer brands much but the few things I've had that were knockoffs fell apart somewhat quick. It's different than Forever 21 because you're still paying around $200 and up for the knockoffs where at Forever 21 you hardly pay over $40 and expect the stuff not to last that long :)

Anonymous said...

I would normally think, hey what the hell, who cares! but i'm not on TV like you...
example) when lauren filled in for dorothy lucey last week, her and jillian were very chatty about personal stuff on air, and just before they were going off air, lauren tells jillian.."they said she was wearing fake louboutins, i wonder if it's true..." and jillian replied, " yeah, they're called christian boo-bootins!" and they were laughing and being mean about it....total high school again! so rude, but i digress i guess, I think you should hold out for the real deal...save a little each month for your shoe fund =) In the end others might not know they're fake, but you would. It's like a fake diamond...never acceptable!

Slick Rick said...

Hola Suzanne:) Keep it "real" with any items that you would like to purchase. I'd rather save some $$ to buy the authentic stuff and not feel uncomfortable knowing that I have something fake on. For you, only the best will do!!!☺

Anonymous said...

It's psychological. You will not wear the fake as you would the real...and the confidence (or lack of) would show.

Erickson Family said...

Standing on the outside of the store window is like being at a Museum & just marvel over the beauty these wonderful designers have so effortlessly created. Okay maybe not effortlessly, possibly painstaking maybe that’s why the price is so high. When it comes to purse & glasses I will save my money go to the actual store my favorite Channel. Either Rodeo or South Coast. In this I know I am buying the real thing. Usually you cant cut the price or you will be risking cutting the quality or buying something just because it is half off. You can also tell if a Louis Vuitton because the strap actually changes color with your bodies natural oil. Also the stitching & monograms look fake if it is. Louboutins are so cute but not pragmatic in my lifestyle. My shoes they are pounding on the pavement running after kids all day & at night I want to slip into some cozy slippers! Suzanne you keep working it out you fierce little fashioners!!

chateaudelu said...

I swear I read somewhere that knock-offs are somehow associated with terrorism? Anybody?

suzannemarques said...

hahaha! i love all of these comments!
boo-boo-touins! omg my new fave word.
it is so much better wearing the real thing, i agree folks. now i just need more $$$...

Alya said...

Inspired designs from F21 and H&M, etc are much different from the imitated ones. Because usually, they're not exact replicas, they're just similar in style. Also, they don't carry the designer brand's logo.

I never buy replicas or fakes. Never ever!

Anonymous said...

NO! Are you buying luxury for the craft involved in making the product or are you buying the label so other people think you have the money and lifestyle which is associated with it. I think you are buying the real deal because quality is remembered long after the price tag is forgotten. To buy a fake and try to pass it off as the real thing is bullocks! Why bother?

Tammy R said...

Remember that one episode of "Sex and the City," when Carrie had a knockoff bag, and she couldn't bring herself to carry it? Lol.

I don' think I can ever bring myself to purchase knockoffs, simply because if I purchase brand name products, it would be because I enjoy high-quality things. So, I think it depends on why one would purchase brand name things: Is it because they purchase them for the brand names, or is it because they want quality?

With that said, I definitely do not equate brand names with quality necessarily. If I can't afford brand names, then I would buy non-brand names that are of high quality as well, instead of knockoffs. Knockoffs are generally expensive for what you get, since they don't last.

Erin Deamos said...

So here's what I think regarding knock offs vs. the real deal. If you are buying a timeless/classic item, such as black pumps I say go for the real deal, spend the money and you won't regret it. BUT if you are buying a trendy style shoe that will probably be out of style next season then I say go for the knock off. I have black pumps that are Christian Louboutins and I INVESTED in them 2 years ago. I am telling you those pumps are fabulous, and they go with practically everything from jeans to mini dresses. You can have them resoled as needed, and of course I take great care of them so I will get my moneys worth. I say there is nothing wrong with splurging BIG on a quality timeless item whether it's black pumps, black blazer, LBD (little black dress), etc.

Unknown said...

Hi Suz

Since you probably have extra cash laying around, at least more then me.
You try buying from this site first, tell us all about it and then we'll follow. Because the shoes look amazing.

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