https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:23:08 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1429852 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 04:51:05 +0000 Suz 1429852@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm. It just occurred to me that Zara does a lot of manufacturing in Turkey. Clearly the line between "inspired by " and "outright fake" is thin.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Gaylene</b>, I love that Leslie Chang book!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1429843 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 04:29:22 +0000 Jaime 1429843@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hope you have the chance to do a separate post on these questions approprio. Yes,the case where there is an unlabeled second or overrun stock from the very same place that makes the luxury branded item is very interesting. Obviously the designer does not get paid, but these pieces can, at least for the sake of argument, be ones that were rejected for business reasons. And are your culottes any less fabulous because the label is missing? (To the last I say absolutely not!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1429394 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 15:54:43 +0000 approprio 1429394@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had a few more belated thoughts about this which I wanted to add, since I knocked out yesterday's comment a bit&nbsp;hastily&nbsp;and it came out all wrong :P</p> <p>One of the reasons I'm quite blasé about designer knock-offs is that I've been copying designer clothing for as long as I've been sewing, which is over 30 years now.&nbsp;There's so much copying in fashion that it's hard to draw the line. For me, that line is the moment a brand is stamped on something and it declares what it is and where it's from. Putting a fake stamp on something is obviously wrong because it's lying. Anything else from homage to reproduction, even plagiarism is hard for me to argue against because it happens in applied visual&nbsp;arts all the time.&nbsp;</p> <p>The authenticity argument has a flip side, exemplified by the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-back-in-black-2">possibly-Comme culottes I bought last week</a>. Are they still&nbsp;Comme if they don't have a label?&nbsp;And speaking of Istanbul, among the fake handbag shops in the Grand Bazaar, there's an atelier selling leather clothing from the same runs they make for houses such as Hermes, Balenciaga and&nbsp;Acne, minus labels and trimming details, at a fraction of the retail price. Are they any less "real" than the branded items? </p> <p>ETA - thanks Shevia&nbsp;for an interesting and thought provoking thread!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1429238 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 07:23:15 +0000 rachylou 1429238@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If I did ghetto fab more often... If the fake was so good I couldn't tell, I suppose the point would be moot. Or maybe the question is, would I buy on the black market? The answer is no. And the truth is, it's not because of integrity. It's because I don't know how people get hooked up with black markets and then because I wouldn't want to get caught in a sting operation. I have that sort of luck. Other people walk around the farmers market with giant dogs. I come within 5 feet of the one across the street with my tiny dog I trip over because I can't see her and bam! Someone is in my face telling me about no dogs. I'm not good at illegal. It's just like not one of the choices I get to make in my life, lol. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1429151 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 03:35:24 +0000 Jaime 1429151@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sorry it took me so long to get back!<br />A lot of really insightful comments, thank you all.<br />I will start with <b>Diana </b>(with<b> Denise</b>), because I think she hit the nail of what is bothering me. I know just what you mean about the rockstars - they were a very identifiable look that suddenly appeared on everything from our beloved Okalas and up and back down again. My pseu-Koris are like that. When I bought them I thought they were more inspired by as in the quilted bag or <b>Angie</b>'s Trouve vs. Miu Miu sneaker example. But when I checked them at home I realized they are pretty much a straight out copy (<b>Vicki</b> I am not sure I don't get as much pleasure from researching clothing as I do from wearing them). Granted the generic pointy toed bootie is not original, but the addition of the cut out is. Nontheless I have made my peace. If I were <b>Angie</b> (meaning a&nbsp;fashion professional)&nbsp;though, I don't know that I would wear them.<br />As <b>Echo</b> says, and I agree strongly with this. It is kind of ridiculous for a designer to claim ownership of any design element. There is truly nothing new under the sun, and that was said long before their was mass production. I&nbsp;fully agree with&nbsp;<b>Suz, Gaylene, Lisa, Thistle</b>, <b>Joy, Deb</b>&nbsp;and <b>Sterling</b> that a clear fake, with fake logoing is not of interest. I think many of us have a visceral reaction against the idea we are buying a name rather than a thing - although, and here I am speaking only for myself, I do get undeniable pleasure from uncovering certain designers in second hand travels, and the label, if authentic is added value to me.&nbsp;</p> <p>Which leads me to&nbsp;<span><b>approprio</b> - Yes! I recently read that certain stratas of American preppydom are dismayed with Lilly Pulitzer's Target collection. I like your attitude toward luxury and exclusivity, which is really stemming from some of the same impulses that leads people to wear obvious fakes.&nbsp;And me taking pleasure from finding "authentic" designer pieces. Hope you expand on this in a post one day!&nbsp;(</span>By the way, the booties I mention are of Turkish descent.)<br /><b>Suz</b> this is&nbsp;related to your relation to the designer as artist. Now there could be a fake book I supposed - one illegally copied and distributed, but the enjoyment would be the contents. It is wrong to rob from the author of course, but it is somehow very different than fake fashion.&nbsp;With fashion, some people, including myself, get enjoyment out of owning an authentic whatever - even if the contents are identical to the fake. Books are of course not the same as art - I am thinking about <b>Gaylene</b>'s point about a print (legitimate) vs. a fake here. Interesting.<br /><b>Karie</b> - spreading out one's fakes&nbsp;does sound obscene now that you mention it :-)!<br /><b>gradfashionista</b> - The tricky one for me is the case with my booties - highly recognizable to a few, not recognizable to most, the distinct design element is a nice touch, but not the main point for me.<br /><b>kkards</b> How about My Fair Lady/Pygmalion vs. the original Greek myth?&nbsp;That George Bernard Shaw - not an original bone in his body :-)!&nbsp;<br /><b>kirstjen</b> I also find this bemusing and&nbsp;amusing. The haute birkie thing is an excellent example. Back to Echo's point.<br /><b>Jackiec</b> I loved your story! And the ubiquitous Burberry plaid is a great example. If you liked the look of it, would you wear a scarf in that pattern? No logo but very recognizable among some groups (but not many other&nbsp;people, and younger me is among them).</p> <p><b>Rachy</b>, but if you did do ghetto fab? Are you ruling that out?</p> <p>That was fun thank you again!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428940 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 22:30:45 +0000 CocoLion 1428940@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes to inspired-by pieces. Probably no to unbranded copies. No to branded copies. The inspired by pieces have to be different enough. I think Diana said it well, I share her perspective. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428789 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:22:51 +0000 Gaylene 1428789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jackiec, your story of being a kid running aruound with a fake Prada backpack reminded me of a passage in Leslie Chang's book "Factory Girls" </p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Factory-Girls-Village-Changing-China/dp/0385520182" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.ca/Factory-G.....0385520182</a></p> <p>One of the girls working on the line producing Chanel bags for the Chanel house grabbed a bag that was headed for the "seconds" area and took it back to her home village as a gift for her mother. Her mother had no interest in, and not much knowledge of, fashion and wasn't that impressed with the bag. When her daughter returned for another visit a few months later, she found her mother had had a change of heart about the bag. She had found it very useful for carrying eggs back from the chicken coop. Somehow, I can't get that image out of my mind whenever I see a Chanel bag. </p> <p>The book, although published in 2008, is a fascinating glimpse into the lives of those who manufacture our high-fashion playthings. Highly recommended. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428784 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:02:45 +0000 Diana 1428784@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For me, #1 (inspired by) is a definite yes, and #3 (a true forgery) is a definite no.&nbsp; #2 is a lot tougher.&nbsp; I personally don't feel comfortable wearing something that is a pretty close copy of a designer original.&nbsp; I'm thinking things like the "fake" rockstuds that were really popular a couple of years ago.&nbsp; To my mind, some of those were a little too close to the original, as they shared the same shape, colors, studs, etc.&nbsp; Something more generic (like quilting) or discrete design elements that are copied (but not the entire item) would be perfectly fine.&nbsp; </p> <p>I don't think #2 is unethical at all though, and I fully admit I probably have worn this type of item, possibly inadvertently.&nbsp; And it's hypocritical, but yes, if it's something like Rockstuds which are SO ubiquitous I am a lot less likely to want a copy, because it's somehow both too close to a really recognizable item but also still obviously not the real thing to anyone in the know.&nbsp; I guess part of it is that if the copy is too close it begs the question of whether it is just a very close copy or a counterfeit, and I don't want anyone to think that I wear, or support the buying of, counterfeit goods.&nbsp; </p> <p>ETA: I don't know how much of this is tied into the fact that I probably wouldn't want to wear a real designer item that is so popular and highly recognizable to the point of ubiquity either.&nbsp; Comfort issues aside, I probably wouldn't wear real rockstuds either.&nbsp;&nbsp; Part of my style persona is wearing things that are unique and uncommon.&nbsp; (YLF lemming items aside!&nbsp; But then again I never see anyone wearing them IRL.)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428780 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:56:31 +0000 Vicki 1428780@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Excellent post, Shevia, and it's yes to inspiration and no to fakery, which just doesn't feel right and never will. </p> <p>Your inspired pieces are wonderful and I hope you keep the heels of the booties, in Case 2, just as they were imagined and I'm heaping even more kudos on you for your stellar research on them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428771 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:46:23 +0000 jackiec 1428771@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great topic! My initial response, like others, is yes, yes, no. However, it used to be yes, yes, yes, and purely due to ignorance. Growing up I had absolutely no awareness of designers and brands. Strange, given my mom collected stacks and stacks of Vogues, taught sewing, and later moved into fashion design. "Designer" was something that was clearly beyond our reach; therefore, never even considered. My dad was a pilot, and in my later high school years he started doing the "Beijing run." He used to bring back all sorts of knock-offs for us. I had a Prada bag, a Gucci bag, and lots and lots of North Face outerwear. The funny thing is that I couldn't care less about the bags. Yes, I needed the Prada b/c it was a big black crossbody, and the Gucci was a black "dress up" purse that I used on special occasions. We loved the North Face stuff because we were super outdoorsy, and skiied all the time. We couldn't afford real North Face stuff, so loved the fakes (although the quality was absolutely despicable). This was back in the day when I only had one pair of black dress shoes, one pair of casual shoes, and one bag. And everything was black, because it was the most useful. Thinking back, I'm sure people laughed at us since our stuff was so obviously fake. But we were completely oblivious and not even doing it for the brands. I had my black bags which were dirt cheap, and they happened to have logos on them. &nbsp;Anyways, just a funny little story about how one family supported the China knock-off trade but kind-of-not-really-on-purpose. Heck, our town was full of pilots, and all the families were doing the same thing.&nbsp;</p> <p>Here's another funny one highlighting my complete ignorance. I used to do a little snicker inside whenever I'd see yet another woman sporting a beige plaid scarf. I always thought, get some personality, lady? What is so popular about these beige plaid scarves? It was years before I realized it was Burberry </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428768 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:42:15 +0000 Anonymous 1428768@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Case 1: &nbsp;I would definitely wear the Chanel-inspired bag (and be proud to do so). &nbsp;</p> <p>Case 2: &nbsp;I would still wear one brand inspired by another brand. &nbsp;</p> <p>Case 3: &nbsp;No, because it is a true fake as kkards pointed out in her post. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428766 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:37:08 +0000 kkards 1428766@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>my all time favorite movie is west side story, which is of course, inspired by romeo and juliet...which is my way of saying, inspired by happens in all art forms. and i'm good with it. <br />now for me the question is---where is the line between inspired by and copying. true fakes, ie the stuff street vendors sell, that's obvious, but there's a lot of stuff thats sort of in between, and i'm not sure exactly were the line is. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428755 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:19:15 +0000 approprio 1428755@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with Kirstjen, high fashion is full of knock-offs. It always seems a bit rich to me that these huge, powerful fashion houses are protected by anti-counterfieting laws while they're copying classic street style and traditional textiles all the time. The Saint Laurent shoes below are almost indistinguishable from the original&nbsp;George Cox brothel creepers (a personal fave, I am biased!) and Hedi Slimane is not the only one.</p> <p>On the other hand, the markets in Istanbul are full of counterfeit handbags of surprisingly good quality. Browse Etsy and you can find no end of respectable copies from suppliers in China. I'll admit to having considered them not because I need Celine arm candy, but out of the sheer subversive perversity of carrying a fake handbag.</p> <p>I've had some heated discussions in the past about the legitimacy of high street designer collaborations and the cheapening of&nbsp;couture by&nbsp;mass production. Arguments conflate ideals about quality and&nbsp;craftsmanship, which are perfectly&nbsp;valid (see other threads on quality today)&nbsp;with notions of luxury, exclusivity and authenticity, which I find&nbsp;faintly spurious.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428750 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:04:12 +0000 gradfashionista 1428750@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>To answer Shevia's questions, I think it's a Maybe, No in theory but Probably in practise,&nbsp;and No for me. I am fairly ignorant about fashion houses'&nbsp;signature looks, so if I recognize the look, I assume that others do, too. I would rather use my money on purchasing the original or something entirely different than buying something that resembles a Chanel bag or Burberry plaid. I like originals and acknowledging the original design. That said, there's so much spillover in influences that I suspect I've often worn copies without realizing it.&nbsp;<br />Kirstjen, Urban Outfitters ran into problems for knocking off First Nations cultural wear. I think that only happens with First Nations, though, because designers have no problems with mandarin collars, kimonos, clogs, etc. Great observation, I couldn't see myself purchasing couture Birks.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428743 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 16:56:11 +0000 Karie 1428743@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When I'm walking down the street in NYC and some guy comes up and spreads out his fake Fendi's, that's a no-no (it even sounds obscene, doesn't it?). Any "inspired by" look is OK with me, and it doesn't matter if it's high, middle, or low end. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428737 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 16:45:03 +0000 Kirstjen 1428737@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not a logo person, so buying a fake anything would be no-go for me.&nbsp; What I think is interesting is when high fashion knocks of low fashion.&nbsp; The shoes that Angie shows above were inspired by Mui Mui, but Mui Mui appears to have been inspired by Vans.&nbsp; And all the high end knock offs of Birkenstocks last year was just funny to me.&nbsp; Couture is regularly inspired by American Indian, Maori, African, etc.&nbsp;Why do we not say that couture is knocking off these originals? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428717 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 16:06:51 +0000 Thistle 1428717@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My response:<br />Yes.<br />Yes.<br />No.</p> <p>I don't support true forgeries, as, well they are just that. A fraud.</p> <p>However, inspired by each other? I am absolutely fine with that. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428713 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 16:02:52 +0000 Angie 1428713@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great topic, Jaime.</p> <p>Items that are inspired by other very&nbsp;well known designs are great. Inspirational in fact, and I'd absolutely wear those pieces.&nbsp;Like when we say: "that is Chanel-esque....or Alexander McQueen-ish". But they aren't being sold as the real thing, and look "just different enough".&nbsp;</p> <p>These Trouve sneaks were inspired by Mui Mui. Totally fab:&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428561 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 06:39:40 +0000 rachylou 1428561@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't do ghetto fab enough for logos... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428551 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 05:39:11 +0000 deb 1428551@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No fake Rolex watches for me. But, Inspired by I will do any day. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428534 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 04:59:17 +0000 Anonymous 1428534@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As Gaylene said. &nbsp;And in my own words: &nbsp;Canal Street fakes, NO. Who are you trying to fool/impress? &nbsp;Inspirations - sure, if you can assess the inspiration and see the designer's own take on it. &nbsp;But really, we can't all hold off on quilted bags waiting for our own Chanel, can we? &nbsp; As long as it's not claiming to be someone else's design, all is fair in love and fashion. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428509 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 04:27:44 +0000 Gaylene 1428509@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As long as the knock-off version wouldn't be confused with the original version, then I think it's fine. For example, I see a designer offering a shoe with an orange sole as giving a nod to Louboutin, but not trying to replicate the original.</p> <p>Same goes for the fast fashion knockoffs that replicate, but do in such a way that a closer look at the item makes it clear the item is a knockoff because of the fabric, seaming, decorative elements, or whatever. As long as the replication is tasteful to my eye, in and of itself, I'd happily wear it if I loved the designer but couldn't afford the real thing. </p> <p>What I wouldn't wear is a pretend designer item designed to trick an observer into thinking I was wearing the original. It's that kind of fake that seems ridiculous to me because it puts the name, or brand, above the actual item. To my mind, it's like buying a faked piece of art and trying to pretend it's an original. A poster, or a photographic reproduction, might be fine, but an intentional fakery, even if it is skillfully done seems weird. Why not buy an original work from an artist with that kind of skill? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428498 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 04:16:18 +0000 Anonymous 1428498@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, yes, no. I don't mind "inspired by" which I suppose is a nice way of saying knock off, but would not want to buy a fake with the designer's logo on it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428491 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 04:06:21 +0000 Meredith 1428491@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am about to go to bed, but just wanted to than you, Shevia, because I know there will be some very interesting reading waiting for me in the morning! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428490 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 04:03:52 +0000 Suz 1428490@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a fantastic question!!&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm going to give you an off the cuff answer just before bed, and come back to this in the morning.&nbsp;</p> <p>My initial reaction is:&nbsp;</p> <p>Yes.<br />Yes.&nbsp;<br />No.&nbsp;</p> <p>In trying to parse out why, I am faced with my own contradictions. But the best I can come up with is that if you knowingly buy a fake then you dishonour the "club" that you (seemingly) want to belong to. You show that the label or the image is more important than the design itself. Which may in fact be true (fashion is very strange). But I'm a purist: to the extent that it's art or at least a serious craft, then I would like to see the work and effort respected.&nbsp;</p> <p>So why do I think that 1 and 2 are fine? Well...because I think it's all about the design. You are saying, in both cases, I really like this design. I guess if you buy a fake without knowing it's a fake, simply because you love the way it looks (maybe you know nothing about fashion) -- then that is a different thing.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428486 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 03:59:28 +0000 Echo 1428486@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>High end designers "borrow" ideas from one another all the time, and no one blinks twice if Vuitton shows shoes that are strikingly similar to Miu Miu (or vice versa). People tend to get a little more edgy about it and their distaste for it when a mid-range designer borrows the same style. And people get downright upset about it when a low range brand/store does the same. It is kind of funny to me.</p> <p>I don't believe in actual fakes, and I'd never buy one. It is illegal to put some other designer's name on something they didn't make, and I completely support that. It is legal to copy almost anything up to that point, so I see no need to cross the line and put the illegal tag on it.</p> <p>As for designer-inspired, they are hard to avoid. Indeed, unless a person is familiar with every runway show, many times they won't even realize where a look is borrowed from. And it makes sense in part because if high-end designers are showing light florals and short hemlines, why would other brands or discount stores carry dark clothing and maxi-skirts. Trends are set by the runway shows, so all stores and designers will follow suit to some extent.</p> <p>I am not a fan of Louboutin trademarking red soles. Design elements should not be limited to one designer. Louboutin popularized and attached status to the red soles, but he wasn't the first to do it, and to prohibit other makers from producing, say, an all red shoe is ridiculous. Chanel doesn't own quilting, and BV doesn't own woven leather. All styles go in and out of fashion because there are only so many ways to clothe the human form or to make bags to carry things in, and all brands should be able to experiment with those elements, IMO.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/knock-offs-vs-fakes-vs-inspired-by#post-1428473 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 03:44:51 +0000 Jaime 1428473@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Inge's post this morning reminded me of something I have been thinking about on and off for a while. Where do you draw the line between fakes and inspiration?&nbsp;<br /><b>Case 1</b>&nbsp;In today's post Brenna carries a Rebecca Minkoff bag that is quite clearly "inspired by" a Chanel bag. But it is not a copy - it does not carry a Chanel logo obviously, and Rebecca Minkoff is a well known and respected bag designer in her own right. Would you have an issue carrying it (I wouldn't)?<br /><b>Case 2</b> I have seen shoes that are very clearly inspired by some particularly iconic or high end other shoes. I own and wear a pair of booties that are almost identical to <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.barneys.com/product/503274153,default,pd.html">Alexander Wang's Kori booties</a>. They are by another brand altogether, with different branding,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I did not realize how exact the copy is until I got them home and researched them. But they have the distinctive cut out heel and anyone familiar with AW would associate the look with him (which includes no one in my normal circles). Would you wear these? (I do. They are super comfortable and exactly right for me, although I have occasionally considered having the heel replaced to make them more generic. But haven't yet.)<br /><b>Case 3</b> An actual fake. This topic has come up and I think most people wouldn't&nbsp;wear obvious fakes. But some time ago I came across a fake Chanel bag. It was a good fake, and of an unusual style. I considered removing all the logoing and wearing it (it didn't shout Chanel apart from the logos), but in the end let it go. Would you wear such a creature?&nbsp;<br />Will be glad to read your thoughts if you got this far!</p>