Am I going crazy? Or are these very similar (same?) dresses?

lyn*

For your consideration - obviously; the colour is different, but the length, material, and the washing instructions are the same.

1/2 - blue; Anthropologie's Vinca Minor Dress ($178)
3/4 - red; Forever 21 Love's Contrast Lace A-Line Dress ($34)

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10 years ago

Shopping

29 replies

Latest reply was from Archer

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Interesting indeed! I guess you'd have to touch them both to know for sure. How about doing a little research for us? But only if there are free deliveries and returns, of course!

10 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Unfortunately, the Anthro dress was a 2010 model

10 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Considering Forever 21 copies everything I wouldn't be surprised.

10 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

That is hilarious, thanks for sharing!

10 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Angie I'm sure would know more about this but I have a friend in the industry and she said that many clothes are purchased and then have the various stores slap their labels on them so there are times when you can be buying the same thing at different price points. Of course seeing the dresses in person is where you are able to discern any difference.

10 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

@ Deborah - that's what my dad says too (my aunt works in the industry in HK); so I wonder if it's a case of that - the Anthro dress went down to $39.99 at one point.

10 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Yeah, it could be that F21 ripped off the Anthro dress, or that they are the same dress from the same factory with different labels. My wedding dress was around $250 from Macy's (Adrianna Papell brand) but I found something that looked almost identical in the Ruche wedding collection for almost twice the price. It was the same fabric composition, color, measurements, everything. I think I actually asked about it here and the only thing we could find that was different besides the price was like one seam. Since Ruche doesn't disclose the brand names on their site, I never did find out if it was the exact same dress.

10 years ago

dizzys

Active Member

This is fascinating.

10 years ago

Anonymous

I read a news article recently about Forever 21 currently dealing with over 50 cases of copyright infringement, so it's not surprising to see another similar design. I'm not really familiar with Anthropologie's range, but I know the quality of Forever 21 can range from horrendous to pretty good for the price - it can be a case of getting what you pay for.

I think it's a gorgeous dress by the way!

10 years ago

Irene

Veteran

Forever 21 has a tendency to copy. I like many of their stuff anyways. I've seen that dress IRL and it looked okeysh.

Do they fit your small frame though? I went to try on several dresses there a couple of weeks ago and the SMALL was too big on me. And I believe I'm larger than you!

10 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I bought a Michael Kors skirt a few years ago and saw the exact skirt at Winners with a different label. I checked and it was the same fabric too. I read about the manufacturers making an item and then selling it to a variety of designers. It doesn't feel quite right as a consumer.

10 years ago

kkards

Veteran

many fast fashion stores are not actually designing; but copying, and they are selling at much lower retails, because they use less expensive fabrics, and cut out many of the subtle sewing details that effect fit and/or how a garment lays.

10 years ago

Archer

Veteran

I have done the same by ordering a very cheap jacket from Korea just because it was the exact colour I wanted for one particular event. It was EXACTLY the same as one I have bought from Zara, including the lining. THe only difference was in how it had been sized. The Zara one was not expensive but I think it was around $100 AUD. The Korean one on ebay was about $7.00 - no kidding.

10 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

@ Stephabee - The Anthropologie world has given this dress fairly good ratings, and it doesn't really adhere to the F21 model - it actually is 39" long! HAHA.

@ Irene - I'm not actually that small I usually take a small or a medium at F21.

@ Dianthus - doesn't that make you feel icky inside?

@ Archer - I will have to look harder at my Zara stuff!!

10 years ago

Jules

Veteran

I once saw the exact same shirts, only in different patterns, for sale at the same time at both Reitmans and Cleo, 2-3 stores apart in the mall. Of course, it was cheaper at Reitmans, making it hard for me to consider the one I liked better at Cleo.

10 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

BAH. None at my Forever 21.

10 years ago

T-Rex

Veteran

If the Anthro dess is a 2010 model, then it could be a case of copycatting *or* F21 may have purchased the leftover stock of the original dress. No way to tell from the photos, unfortunately.

10 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Is satisfying my curiosity worth $34? :p

10 years ago

Keix

Veteran

I've tried on that Anthropologie dress, although my memory is fuzzy. The quality seemed decent; I was tempted but didn't have anywhere to wear it. It was made by Weston Wear, which is an outside brand that isn't Anthro-exclusive. It ran small--I fit best in the S rather than the XS, and I was a solid 0/2 dress size at the time.

I think it's worth satisfying your curiosity! I'm tempted once more, at that price point.

10 years ago

rosee

Veteran

I bought 2 chocolate peasant skirts years ago in different sizes about one year apart -- one was from Laura and was about $90, the other bought a year later was from Ricki's and about $40. I gave the first skirt to my aunt and got it back from her to compare the skirts and better look at the labels. Identical skirt in different sizes. And get this -- the tags (on the lower side seam of the skirt) were identical and showed that the fabric content and the factory number were the same, only the name on the label at the back waist was different. Factories often sell products to different companies who then "mark" the brand with their own label. The producer is the same, the retailer is different.

10 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I just found this

http://wendybrandes.com/blog/2.....e-amusing/

10 years ago

rosee

Veteran

Good read Annagybe.

It's interesting that Anthropologie is suing F21 for ripping off their designs when for years they themselves (and Urban Outfitters) have been ripping off independent designers (often those who sell on Etsy). I don't want to run off on a tangent with this thread, but if you google it, the info will come.

10 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

@ KL - Thanks! I'm definitely not a 0/2 :p

@ Rosee - isn't that interesting? I've looked at some Laura stuff, and man it's way too big for me - totally outsized there; I've found that with some Ricki's stuff too (wonder if this is happening?)

@ Anna - Whoa, cool link! I found a "Cartier" necklace there the other day and my friend and I had a good laugh about it.

10 years ago

Hil

(website)

Veteran

Case in point... I once commented on a new skirt a friend was wearing and she said it was some cheap little thing from Mr Price (which is apparently similar to Forever 21 as per Angie).

I happened to be at the shopping mall that afternoon and I saw the exact skirt at Truworths (which Angie said is similar to Banana Republic).

I was curious as to why my friend would say it was a Mr Price skirt if it wasn't so I wandered over to Mr P across the walkway out of curiosity and there it was - three times cheaper!!!

10 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Mr. Price wins agaiN!!!

I think the name of that store is so adorbs!

10 years ago

T-Rex

Veteran

I think it's $34 worth of cute.

10 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I am going to concur with the others. it is one of two things:

#1. Same vendor, made it in a different color, and sold it to F21. In this case, if the fabrications are similar, it is a steal.

#2. F21 knew it was a rip off and used it anyway. I think changing the color is all you need to make it "your own". Not a lawyer, but I remember something like this from my law class back in the day. Even if they had a claim, probably not worth Anthro's time as their dress was sold 3 years ago. In this case, you are probably getting what you pay for.

Anna's link is very interesting!

10 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

It's worse, because I saw two dresses very similar to those in Target yesterday.

10 years ago

Archer

Veteran

The plot thickens...........think T-Rex has nailed a suspect and F21also suspect.......Mmmmm Is this just another case of, never leaving a retail stone unturned?

10 years ago

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