The Great Fashion Debate: Would you knowingly buy a knock-off?
May 20th, 2009 | By Irie Diva | Category: Style Talk
But is it worth it? So I’m on twitter (why aren’t you yet?) and Louis Vuitton updates :
We are pre-launching the new Totally Monogram online. The tote is uber-chic and fits a working girl’s essentials. http://bit.ly/kjj4d
Hey, I’m a working girl! So of course I click the link… the bag of course retails for US$1000. Hmmm…in Jamaica thats about JA$89000. That is more than my flat monthly salary…..so yes, I could buy it, but I’d have to not eat, not buy gas, not pay the rent, the light, the water, the cable, the internet, the phone (dang I have too many expenses!) not get my hair did or buy any new materials to make any new pretty things for my wardrobe….well I guess its only for one month, I’ll survive right? Some of these girls around here do it and starve themselves for that month….but is it worth it?
I’m sure the bag would prolly last me a lifetime (it better!) but yeah…is it worth it? I look at my co-worker fishing in her bag for something. Its a cute bag. It says Louis Vuitton.
Did you pay US$1000 for yours too?
Do I look like the CEO to you? untill I can afford it, my bag looks just as hot
Do you agree? I mean, it was a cute bag. But there are sooooo many other cute bags out there, why on earth would I buy a known fake? She would have paid about US$70 for hers, by Jamaican standards, thats still quite expensive for a handbag unless its genuine leather. My handbags cause about US$45 but, next year they WILL look tattered and I’ll need to upgrade. Which means I should stop being a cheapo and buy good quality stuff but I can get that with brands that are cheaper and still amazing quality, why should I buy a fake?
I threw the question out there on facebook and twitter and this was the response that embodied how I felt about the whole situation best:
Nope. I’m not into name brand, but I wouldn’t buy a fake. If u are buying a look alike, it means that ur obviously buying it for the name, not the quality…and IMO, people who buy fakes are perpetrators. Spend ur money or settle for something u can afford
Like her, I’m not a big on names, and I would never knowingly buy a fake brand. I would however buy somethin gthat looks similiar, especially in shoes. I, like many, bought the Steve Madden knock offs of the Dior gladiators that Carrie wore in Sex and the City
And I’ve done so with quite a few other shoe designs that I’ve loved but just really couldn’t afford. So it brings the debate in a new direction, would you buy brands that knock off the design only, not the name and the design?
more responses:
I think the first priority is the quality of the product…then your budget and then find what suits the criteria.. Buying a Brand for the sake of the Band is foolishness. Because of thinking like that makes a man buy a
Christian Louboutin Polo shirt irregardless of the fact its known for its quality shoesHell no! No knock-off around here. If I want a certain brand then I want the genuine thing. If I can’t afford it then I get another brand. Furthermore, I don’t shop for brand, I shop for quality
If I’m wearing a knock-off, you’d never know by simply looking at it. Matter of fact, 90% of the time you can’t tell the difference. I buy on price and style anyway so brandnames me nothing to me
Honestly, I’m not big on brands…and one of the reasons is b/c I don’t like names all over the things, the other reason is I can’t afford them, and I’m not about to be wack and imitate what I can’t afford…BUT I got a D&B few weeks ago – LOVE IT
isn’t imitation the sincerest form of flattery? if no one’s knocking off your shizz, you need to come again!!
I would buy a knockoff if it looks good. I don’t follow fashion all that much and so don’t want to waste money on name brand.
no ma’am, I dare not buy knockoffs. Its disrespectful to the artist & brand. If u appreciate the work, support the product-period.
YESSSSSSSSS!!!!! is not like am gonna buy the real one. Whats the difference??
Yes! I am cheap and naughty!
A bag is a bag a shoe is a shoe…who gives a f*ck abt the desighner…..kiss teeet…..send em on!!!!…until i can afford teh real sh*t
What say you?
Popularity: 18% [?]
What is worse, out here you can’t even be sure you’re getting the real deal or some cheap knock off… I always have to think twice before buying any jeans costing more than X amount of money, imagine buying a $15000 pair of jeans that only cost $30USD.
Can’t be serious.
I buy what I want, is me work fi di money, after all. If I see a knock off I like, I will buy it. I don’t really care what anyone else thinks about it. Am I buying it for the name? No. If I don’t like the look, I not buying it. So am I a perpetrator? I have been called crass and tasteless before, so probably, yeah. I don’t mek dat boddah me tho.
Straight up – something like an LV monogram bag – I’m not buying a knockoff. Until I can afford the original then I’ll just do without. I’m especially sensitive to handbag knockoffs too. Short answer – No. I wouldn’t knowingly buy a knockoff. But it’s also unlikely that I’d buy anything that had the logo stamped all over it like that.
A word to the wise- brands like Louis V, Prada, Gucci and Dior have their own stores. The only rely on stores they rely on to carry their brands are Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Ave and Neiman Marcus. No store in Jamaica has the license to carry or sell these brands. Do the math.
Don’t be like those wanna-be’s parading around with aviator glasses and fake bags on their arms! Furthermore, isn’t the LV monogram kinda done now? I’ve seen better, more fabulous LV bags!
lolololol….woooow…people u cant afford the damn thing so just live with what u get. if u nuh wan buy it den dont, dont go around bashing ppl who buy it..its their money mek dem spend it…..and for those who thing their buying the “real shit” ur not. big up to those who buying the fake and the real.
i agree with Mad Bull May…buy what you want…
and for those who have to save and buy the real thing good luck to you cause you will never reach there…lmao…:)
ok i maybe offtrack a little but n e way would u by an hyundai genesis cause it looks like a mercedes … and since u really want a mercedes BUT can’t afford it … wouldn’t the genesis have to do lol… i’ve seen people do that and even went as far as changing the sign…. lmao but at the end of the day buy what u can afford and do so knowingly….. if u r going to buy a fake brand to make people think u can afford it then u r a sucker but if u ago buy it coz u want to u comfy with it and u not trying to impress n e one then do wat u must
Buying a Fake is never kool. You look like a Wanabe, If you cant afford the real LV, buy a Guess bag or some other no-name. It always cracks me up to see a chick rocking a fake ass Louis bag and fake ass Gucci sunglasses on the bus… Bitch Please, so your rocking a US$2000 bag and US$300 sunglasses whilst standing in an over-crowded bus and trying to convince us all that your BALLIN, WHO are you trying to fool hahhhahahahha…. My girl go and buy something more appropriate for your broke ass lifestyle, like a bag from Learner Shop and stop Frontin…….. Side note:: those particular Louis bags look tacky, real or fake…
There is NO way I’d knowingly buy anything that’s a knock-off or a fake.
I’m sorry.
I prefer to do without, really.
- W.A
As long as it looks good and it won’t bitch slap my pocket… no problem
Then again I wasn’t to big on the super expensive brands to begin with… like why the raaas me a guh walk into a diesel store and pay $120 for a pair a jeans when Ecko is couple stores down with roughly the same or even better looking jeans for 50-80% less… mussi raas mad
Ill be real, Id buy a fake LV if it looks like the real thing, have you guys been to those stores in Fort Lauderdale with those awesome looking fake LV and Coach bags?!!! Love them I wont be spending thousands on a bag when I can get it for 20 40 and 70. Lol you guys are hilarious.
NO I WOULD NOT KNOWINGLY BUY A FAKE!!! We should take notes from “look for less”!! You can achieve the same look, feel and style with items that are much less expensive and are not brand names!! Better to wait until u can afford the real shit to rock the real shit…until then there are GREAT ALTERNATIVES!! I agree with Keepingitreal too – its pointless to rock a US$2000 bag and US$300 sunglasses and still have to stand in an over-crowded bus, trying to convince us all that your BALLIN, so i’ll join d chorus – Bitch please!!
Yes cuz, I agree with you most name brand stuff is over priced. You see I know a purse especially an expensive one is a huuuuge status symbol for women, just like a car or watch is for men. What has happened is the brand has established itself and people who like to feel important purchase this super expensive stuff. Its all just savvy marketing. And besides there are other ways to feel important, personally I shop for value. If I can find something that will last longer than the cheapo, then in the long run I’ll come out ahead. Finally priority is priority, you have to eat, commute and live so all them girls who starve themselves fi buy boot and clothes an purse need a reality check.