Knock it Off: Giuseppe Zanotti Vs. Everyone and their mother

photo cred: Piperlime and Newport News

Okay so these Sam Edelman Perrin sandals don’t totally “copy” the Giuseppe Zanotti shoes that I wrote about a few weeks ago, but these are pretty damned close. When are we going to stop making what boils down to the same shoe over and over? I can almost tolerate the straight up knock off that Steve Madden made, but this “inspired” look is taking it too far. I guess this one really gets under my skin because in my opinion the flower trend on clothes as well as shoes is one that I can’t wait to go away. It just makes people either look tacky or like someone threw up a garden all over them. Seriously when Newport News (second photo) is getting in on the trend this is when you know you probably shouldn't be wearing it!

Knock it Off: Steve Madden vs. Giuseppe Zanotti

photo cred: Zappos and Steve Madden

Don’t get me wrong I’m not into knockoffs, I wear the real deal or I don’t wear it at all. Actually I typically go to the latter because the real deal prices aren’t justifiable. Case in point Steve by Steven Madden’s BLOSOMMM sandal vs. Giuseppe Zanotti’s Rose Flat. Both shoes have adjustable straps and leather soles and at the end of the day are simply a pair of flat shiny sandals with no real foot support. Yes of course the rose on Steve Madden’s shoe is a little wonky, but seriously other than the thong straps on Zanotti’s being leather there isn’t any great fundamental difference. By the way the multicolored Steve Madden version (pictured) is hideous, but the all black is totally wearable. Now lets get down to business what really sets the shoes apart is the money one is $ 79.95 and the other is $550.00. Again I don’t think knocking off someone’s work is okay, but I also don’t think overcharging for your name, and the fact that a shoe is made in Italy is enough to warrant charging over 6 times more for a product.

P.S. Even Newport News is getting in on the action