"Something Isn't Right!"

If you have ever seen the animated movie of the Madeline picture books that were oh-so popular when I was younger, you will remember Miss Clavel (the stern but kind-hearted nun) waking up in the middle of the night and saying the title phrase because she could sense something was wrong.

I am not a nun, I don't teach little girls in two straight lines who wear straw hats, and I am not French, but when I read Cheap and Chic Living's link to a Jezebel article on Forever 21's blatant copycat designs, I could have been that nun, storming down the hallway to assess the situation....

A little over-dramatic, but the situation calls for it! ;)

Now, I know that F21 knock-offs aren't big news- heck, I thought it was funny that they got sued by Louboutin for using his copyrighted red soles on their heels. I mean, really, who would be fooled by a cheap pair of shoes when the quality and style of that designer is so iconic?
But what about smaller, less well-known designers? Would anyone even notice if their designs get ripped off?

Apparently, yes, because if you look at this photo, you'll see that the top row of shirts (F21 design) are virtually the same at the lower row of Trovata shirts (they even stole the mismatched buttons on the middle shirt!). The similarity is blatant and inexcusable not only because they are stealing designs, but as they have come under fire repeatedly for labor issues, (read the article for a summary), you can bet whoever sewed the copied apparel is not being paid a fair wage.



This takes the proverbial wind out of my sails because F21 has always been a sort of quick-fix type of place to me that sells super trendy pieces I don't want to sink money into and a great place for costumes. It's just not as fun when you know that the piece of clothing you buy could have been an idea stolen from a cool, niche designer. Where's the fun in discovering something new that is actually not new, but rather, is kinda old...and kinda stolen?

Does the F21 "rip-off stigma" affect whether or not you shop there?

Just to lighten the mood since it's Monday, let me add:
"We love our bread, we love our butter, but most of all, we love each other."
Barf if you must, but do you remember this?!

Ain't Nothing Wrong With A Lil' Sparkle...

Inspired by the recent posts of some fashionable bloggers, Emily and the gals from Style, She Wrote, I got to thinking about extending my love of all that is sparkly to the realm of nail polish. And then today, wandering aimlessly through Forever 21 (that super exclusive boutique, remember?) in the overwhelmed way that usually befalls those who dare enter, I saw glittery nail polish! The third time in 3 days? It was fate-- I bought it. And other colors, too, because you can't leave with just one thing from that store ;)

Anyway, mi amiga Jackie came over for dinner and we had a nailpolish soiree. The results are delightfully silly:

All three colors!


I couldn't decide at first, so I tried out each one...


Jackie's Happy Nails!


The duo I ultimately chose (F21 sparkles layered over Revlon's "Steel Her Heart")


The Result

I love how sparkly my nails are; too much for every day on the fingers, in my mind anyway, so I will keep it mostly for Christmas and maybe New Year's if I let it venture beyond my toes again...

Are you nuts about the trend or is it just plain nuts? Any new polish colors you love to wear or that you are dying to get?

Favorite New Thing!

Like everyone else, I get into a rut with my work outfits. I try to mix things up, but when your work is always freezing and you are on your feet 8 hrs a day, your combos dwindle to something like: pants + flats + sweater/blazer or skirt/dress + flats + tights/leggings + sweater/blazer.....Day after day after day...Not that exciting. Lately, I have been throwing in some different, inexpensive accessories to get my daily dose of inspirational pizazz. This week, I got a scarf at this ultra-exclusive boutique you might know as Forever 21 (hehe). I am a fan of prints, but animal motifs are a little unnerving in large doses, so this scarf is the perfect amount of fierce for me. Paired with black skinny pants and drapey cardi and some gray pearls, this scarf kicked the outfit's intensity up a notch while remaining cozy.
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The color is a bit more vibrant in person, which is fun, and the price tag ($8.80) was waaaaay too good to resist :) What do you do to prevent the "Office Outfit Rut"?