Lanvin vs. Prada

Was catching up on my Paris Fashion Week Spring 2011 RTW shows, when the above Lanvin dress (on the left) caught my eye. The whole look of it just felt eerily familiar. And of course it did, since I’ve already seen it back in 2009 during Prada’s Fall 2009 RTW show (on the right)! Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

All-over vertical embellishments? Check. Thick strips of fringe at the bottom of the skirt? Check. Belted waist? Check. And sure, Miuccia used leather to make her dresses, while Alber opted for a more delicate fabric. But so what? Lanvin’s finished product could be Prada dress’ not-so-distant cousin.

And no, I am not necessarily saying that this is a clear-cut case of creative plagiarism, but I do believe that the Prada design is not any typical ol’ LBD, it’s got enough distinguishing characteristics, so that I would never confuse that particular dress with another designer’s. Even after seeing the Bebe knock-off version, I remembered where I saw this dress first – Prada Fall 2009. And yet another factor is that Alber’s aesthetic for Lanvin has always had a very particular feminine air to it, not at all “tough gladiator chick”.

So what are your thoughts on this? Do you think someone at Lanvin was lacking original ideas, or is this dress not at all like the ones from Prada? Is immitation a sincerest form of flattery?

Take the poll below.

Lanvin vs. Prada

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Photo Credits: www.style.com

You might also like these posts:

H&M Knitwear Fall 2009
Finally an H&M male model that doesn't look like a Geico caveman! As promised to my male...
H&M Garden Collection Available NOW!
To all those that have been emailing me - H&M's GARDEN COLLECTION IS NOW AVAILABLE in To...
Wishlist: Lanvin x H&M UNICEF Tote
If ever there was an item that did good while looking oh-so-good - this Lanvin x H&M UNI...
Versace x H&M Sneak Peek!
We should say SPASIBO to Vogue Russia for showcasing the upcoming Versace x H&M collab i...

Shopping: Forever 21 Miu Miu Lookalikes

Leave it to Forever 21 to plagiarize offer an affordable substitute to Miu Miu’s highly coveted (yet, highly unaffordable by many) Mary Jane platforms.  I’m pretty sure these will be gone before you can say “knock-off”, but for the quick and thrifty ones, these Posy Platforms are probably the answer to their fashion prayers. Will you be getting a pair of these for yourself? Let me know in the comments.

Photo Credits: Forever 21

You might also like these posts:

Friday Faux Pas: Ed Hardy
As with Crocs, my hate for Ed Hardy runs deep like the ocean and is never-ending like...Samantha...
Jill Stuart SS2010 Ads
How awesome are these Jill Stuart SS2010 ads!? I seriously need to start kicking butt at the gym...
Don't Miss - This Week in Toronto!
LG Fashion Week is almost here, and it seems that Toronto is buzzing with excitement! But until next...
What I Wore: It's So Easy Being Green
Everyone, meet my favorite outfit ever! A little Club Monaco and Old Navy, with a sprinkle of Prada....