dupli-CAUGHT: Alice+Olivia for Payless vrs Marc by Marc Jacobs

Alice + Olivia for Payless Fall 2009

I usually love designer collaborations because it's a great opportunity to support real design talent at a price point I can afford. It still credits the designer therefore is different from a knock-off item that copies a design without giving any credit where credit is due.

Unfortunately this time around while perusing the Payless Fall 2009 I was sorely disappointed to discover that Stacey Bendet for Alice + Olivia, took the easy way out by copying the very recognizable and very wanted Marc by Marc Jacobs Bump Toe Buckle Boots from Fall 2008 (that have sold out on shopbop! Barney's and more). This bothers me because this designer that was paid a sizable royalty to design a capsule collection but she did not design much.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2008

There are slight adjustments, the Alice + Olivia are shinier black leather while the Marc by Marc's are a softer matte black. The Alice + Olivia has a with a black lacquer platform wedge bottom the Marc by Marc's have a rounded heel that slightly cones. But the inspiration is clear, the to shape and even the number of buckles to the tab on the back of the boot are identical. I suppose the Alice + Olivia version come around a full year after the Marc versions were in stores and the originals are almost impossible to get a hold of, but there are other options to get the buckle boot look for less. Like these Palladium's I recently ordered on Solestruck.com, I can't wait to get them! They have a slightly more rugged feel, but I have a feeling the contrast with spring dresses will be great! They are out of this style right now but here's another similar option.