My Latest Score: The Marysia Venice One-Piece.
In preparation for our trip in February, I picked up this Marysia one-piece swimsuit. Once I saw it, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and how elegant and unusual it was. So, it will be traveling with me. I love that it coordinates with a precious black Kate Spade Kids swimsuit a family member sent mini when she was born — chic in black! Now she just needs these, and I need these (haha).
You’re Sooooo Popular: The Boos Block.
The most popular items on Le Blog this week:
+My favorite cutting board of all time.
+The newest trainer cup I’m trying out with mini.
+Super fly (? is fly a thing anymore?) winter boots.
+A gorgeous and affordable sundress.
+Adorable toy for a little one.
+My favorite leggings to wear when I want to pretend I’m going to the gym but will never actually get there, on sale.
+Tied in first place for my favorite running shoes. (More favorite articles of clothing here.)
#Turbothot: Knockoffs.
One of my smart magpies messaged me with a lookalike version of the coat I was obsessing over a week or two ago, and added that she wasn’t sure what my perspective on knockoffs/dupes was, but that it might be a good way to “scratch the itch.”
As with much else in my life, I don’t have a purist perspective on the topic. I’ve certainly purchased less-expensive variations on high fashion pieces I’ve coveted — as an example, I recently bought a Zara sweater that was very similar to the Ganni mohair sweater I’d been dying over. In general, I tend to be more lenient when something “borrows from” a style versus replicates it; I’ve never been interested in knockoff handbags with faux Gucci patterns, for example. I’m not sure why I draw these lines, though. I suppose it feels reasonable to purchase something that seems like a riff on something higher end — a derivative inspired by something out there — but feels a little more artificial? strange? duplicitous? to buy something that actually pretends to be the original article.
My sister has stronger perspectives on this: being a designer herself, she could inform us eloquently about the various ethical and legal implications of lookalike styles.
But then: isn’t everything derivative anyway? As with any art form, how can you police the origination of an idea? And how does ambient style contribute to all of this, anyway? Would purists on this topic spurn something in a particular color because it was originally popularized by a specific brand? (I’m thinking Tiffany blue, for example — which I believe is trademarked or copyrighted or whatever the appropriate legalese is.) Things get knotty once you attempt to draw markers around what level of “copycatting” is ethical and appropriate.
I’m wishy washy on this one. Lookalike styles enable everyone to access the higher end styles to which we aspire — at their best, they democratize an art form that can be available to only those with very deep pockets. On the flipside, copycatters employing questionable labor practices have been known to churn out poorly-made knockoffs (I’m thinking Choies and SheInside), and that feels like the worst kind of IP theft.
Where do you stand?
#Shopaholic: Fancy Pasta.
+Small-time splurge, but Mr. Magpie and I have been buying Rigarosa and Afeltra dried pasta for the past few years, and it completely changes the experience of eating boxed pasta at home. It is SO good. It tastes like an entirely different class of pasta! Consider upgrading your next easy weeknight meal with some of this magic. (As I’m typing this, I’m eating a bowl of buttered noodles — have an upset stomach and it was all I wanted. Heaven.)
+Post-Christmas is the best time to buy ornaments. I am considering buying a couple of these as gifts for next year while they’re marked down from $15 to $5!
+I recently had my makeup done, and the artist raved about this concealer. She did a wonderful job, so I might take it out for a spin…(As you know, I’ve not yet found the ideal concealer!)
+Love the pearled clasp on this beauty.
+I would love to give these eye masks a whirl — they’ve won all kinds of awards!
+Digging the sporty chic vibe of this dress (on sale!).
+These adorable slides are marked WAY DOWN.
+A cute way to bring wine to a housewarming party!
+There are some epic Ganni pieces on ridiculous sale here right now. This would be a lovely dress for a Baptism/Easter situation (never too early to buy ahead!), the print on this dress is so chic and sweet and would look amazing with black tights and booties during these cold winter months, and my bestie wore this to a few holiday parties and KILLED IT.
I hate thinking about large companies that have knocked off smaller, independent designers. I’m with you 100% on the issue of straight copycats (so wrong!), and while I would not love to purchase something that was “inspired by” something off of the runway, I’m sure I’ve done it before. I do think that avoiding Zara and other fast-fashion retailers will curb the chances of this happening, though.
I started to wean myself off of fast fashion after reading the smart book Overdressed a few years back, and have slowly built my wardrobe into a collection of largely ethically-made pieces. I’ve slipped up a few times (hello, two gingham dresses from Zara that I purchased last summer) but I still feel that if the cost per wear is good, the purchase is worth it.
I could talk for hours about this, so I appreciate you posting about it!
P.S. Ganni on sale … yesss! Bookmarked a bunch of pieces for consideration. Love it!
I know — my sister (the founder of Dagny London, a company all about ethical fashion!) would have my head on a chopping block if she knew that I do purchase items from Zara and H+M. It’s tough to weigh the pros and cons if you want to look fashion-forward but not bankrupt yourself, but you also recognize that some of these fast-fashion chains employ highly distressing labor practices and are not aligned with the sustainability standards many smaller labels adhere to. Thanks for writing in — you’ve nudged me to think a bit more critically about this…
Cute swimsuit!
Narhee | Made in Mauve