FAQs and a Survival Sewing Storytime!

I can't think of any thing witty or moving to say, so let's address a few things

1) where was I?

2) where will I be?

3) the future of the knockoff?

4) ads?

Let's start at the very beginning (a very good place to start....i love the sound of music):

1) Where was I? I was at home, totally stressed out, bogged down by all this homework and other looming commitments. I guess I just have to accept the fact that I'm not as good at multitasking as I think I am and I really need to sort out my homework and school priorities before I try to commit to something like a blog. This brings us to:

2) Where will I be? I've given this a lot of thought and I realized that I need to find a creative outlet that I need to stay committed to for a while. It's going to be hard finding the time and inspiration to do this, but I love to challenge myself. Let's do this bitch.

3) The future of the knockoff? Well, I guess it'll stay alive. I need to work out a schedule, but for now, posts will be sort of spontaneous and unscheduled. I really want to make something out of this, and my desire to work in fashion marketing only fuels this more.

4) ads?! you may have noticed some ads on the side of my page. they shouldn't interfere with your ability to read the blog, but in case they do, send me a line (knockoffblog@gmail.com) and we can work on making you a little eyepatch for your computer screen.

so, my major problem is that I have writer's block. I think I'll try to do a few hauls, but hopefully, by the summer, I'll have a little more inspiration. I'm going to New York to crash with a cuz, so hopefully, I'll find some focus and direction for this blog. It's not ever going to be a street style blog because I feel uncomfortable asking people if I can take their pictures and I'm really bad at discreetly taking pictures. Maybe it'll be a haul blog (even though those are kind of annoying) or one of those take an old piece of clothing and make it something really cute blogs. HAHA, no. This reminds me of a story, which sounds perfect for today's post.

I have very defined hips, which is why anything with that sort of ruched elastic hem looks pretty awful on me.

Unfortunately, I hadn't realized this before I purchased a sheer, white Forever 21 blouse that fitted me perfectly and then stopped at the hips, where it awkwardly stuck.

I decided to use some survival sewing instincts and use the few sewing tools I had to remove the elastic hem and create a blouse that fit me well.

This is where the story becomes sort of amusing.

Step 1) Look around frantically for a seam ripper and realize that this is not Life Skills class and there is no "handy-dandy" closet full of seam rippers.

Step 2) Find the nextbest alternative: for me, it was my geometry compass.

Step 3) Admire how well you adapt to your environment

Step 4) Rip out the seams that look like they may have something to do with the problem

Step 5) Try to create an opening in the elastic hem

Step 6) Pull the elastic out and cut it.

Step 7) Play with it.

Step 8) Explain it to your mom when she finds a roll of elastic, a compass and a pair of scissors in a pile.

Step 9) Cut all loose seams and admire your excellent sewing.

Step 10) ^that's not me, but rock your blouse with boots and skinnies and call it a day :)

Frugal Formal Fashion

Are my post titles getting a little too cheesy? I'll review my SAT Vocab list and see if I can't come up with something a bit more urbane or cosmopolitan. Anywho, with the Grammy's just yesterday, everyone's talking about Who Wore It Best and compiling their cynical Best and Worst dressed lists.

My favorite thing of all about these large scale events is the thought of hundreds of designers that sit on their couches, waiting to sketch a replica of a red carpet look our oufit. The most famous example of this replication is her royal highness('s sister), Pippa Middleton, whose dress was widely copied and sold for lower prices.

Pippa's dress was reported to cost £20000.

But thanks to the many people who quickly draw up sketches to send for immediate production, dresses like this £170 from London fashion retailer Debenhams were able to be made, featuring the same cowl neck, floor length skirt and small train to the hem.

Several brands and companies have slowly begun to understand the idea of a "special night" without spending too much.

Fashion rental company Rent the Runway emphasizes the singular "night", recognizing that some dresses you wear once and then they enter the shallow depths of your closet, never to be seen again. It also understands the counterargument to this idea with the whole "what-if-it-doesn't-fit-da-da-da-da-da-da" thing. RTR offers a backup size and size recommendations in case something doesn't fit. RTR also offers accessories to match and quick delivery as well. It's a very practical idea and the collection of dresses is massive, and contains several types for all occasions.

In a time where a single dress costs more than a luxury sedan, it's refreshing to know that there are other options out there, like designer copies and quick and helpful dress rentals. What's your best way to get cheap formal fashion? Comment below!

~~~emma

knockoffblog@gmail.com

Access to Accessories

As a style blogger, it's a bit embarrassing to say that none of the clothes I own have come from my local thrift store. For starters, living in a fairly wealthy suburb limits the number of vintage and consignment stores in my area. Also, I would probably feel bad if I got something nice for a really low price when I could probably afford it, just fine. The thrift store has become a powerful staple in today's fashion, but how can you accommodate vintage or thrift items into your outfit without becoming solely dependent on them?

The answer is simple: Accessories.

Actually, accessories are the perfect thing to spend five dollars on, which is why I so despise brands like Bulgari, that pass off accessories as an investment worth your entire month's rent. Cheap accessories are so accessible that sometimes it's almost ridiculous what ten dollars and forty five minutes can buy at Forever 21.

Forever 21 is probably my favorite accessory hub, full of eclectic and somewhat fantastical pieces that are sometimes very elegant and beautiful and are sometimes so tacky that you simply have to try it on. Perhaps my best find at F21 is a beautiful owl necklace with multicolor stripes and a gold chain. Even though I was wearing a plain black sweater and dark wash denim jeans, the $3.80 piece spruced up my outfit as much (if not more) than a $45,000 (no joke: http://us.bulgari.com/productDetail.jsp?prod=CL855975) Bulgari necklace ever could.

Another great find for cheap accessories: Icing. Tacky Claire's much cooler older sister, Icing has always been a personal favorite of mine, even though I haven't been there in a while. Much trendier and more desirable than Claire's, Icing has fairly inexpensive accessories, but the right outfit can give it a very chic and expensive look. But boo: Icing does not have an online store, so you can't "window" shop :(

Free accessories, you ask? Your mom's closet, I answer. I've always been a fan of accessory swaps, and since I have roughly the same sizes and tastes as my mom, it's not uncommon to see us switching clothes, accessories, that sweater that she has yet to give back and those silver bangles I stole for her.

Pics anyone?

1) got it off a local gypsy vendor in india. foreign countries=cheap jewelry. if you ever visit a rural country, buy some jewelry, you'll see a great variety of beads and colors.

2) Also from India, I love the swirly designs and I even have a pair of matching earrings!

3) Forgive me for the awful picture (I'm campaigning for a new camera!), but you'll have to respect me after hearing that I got these Asian inspired bangles for like 5 bucks. Super wearable and can easily switch from day to night.

4) My cheap faves all together! :) Also, a yellow beaded African bracelet, gifted to me by a friend.

Have you scored any cheap accessories? Scarves? Belts? Wallets? Hip flasks? Lettus know by posting in the comments with a link to your blog!

~emma

knockoffblog@gmail.com

The World of Fashion Blogging

I'll admit, I'm one of those people who finds a project, gets hyped up about it, comes up with a bunch of amazing ideas, realizes she's too busy, puts it on "hiatus", resurrects it one rainy day, laughs at how immature she was/is and deletes it. In case that wasn't specific enough, this is the case of my past blogs, which were unfocused, pretty stupid and uninspiring. I've matured since then, but even now, I fear that this will become style blog of adolescent's past and the knockoff will slowly slide down the tunnel of epic neglection (which is a word, blogger.com, so stop giving me the red squiggly). So basically: I'm SOOPER sorry that I was a no-show yesterday. Moving on...

I've always been a huge fan of fashion blogs. They inspire me to exercise my style and personality to their full potentials and they always make me feel better. Even though my best friend wrinkled her nose at Susie Lau's fabulous transparent coat and then expected me to do the same, I will not sacrifice fashion for anything, be it my reputation, my money (well...) or the way my mother adoringly looks at me (well...). It is beautiful. It is art. It's life.

Here are some of my favorite blogs and the stats, deets, tweets, twots, whatever...(haha, I know there's no such thing as a twot, I'm not 40, I'm 14)

5) The Sartorialist

Who doesn't love a good street style blog? Now, I know Scott Schuman's The Sartorialist ranks high on most lists, and although I find it very stylish and enjoyable, it's also pretty intimidating. His pictures are absolutely incredible, and I was immediately prompted to Google the type of camera he used. After a little research, I found out the Canon EOS 5D costs a few GRAND (like thousand). The thing I really love about some blogs is that they're relatable, funny and casual. The Sartorialist is a bit too sophisticated for my tastes and in terms of connecting with his reader base, Schuman does poorly. With his second compilation of photos coming out soon, he's a great example of a fashion blogger who made it big, but personally, I don't connect.

4) m loves m

I recently discovered this blog and there are a few minor issues with it, but it's actually pretty cute. The wedding and home section gives it a sort of home-y (not homie) and natural, rustic feel. The blogger's lookbook section is filled with cute affordable looks, but there are a lot of (AGH!) 'courtesy of's which I hate because not everyone receives the same courtesy. I guess you have to pay the rent. the frequent giveaways aren't bad either m loves m is super cute and it's a contender for refinery29's best new blog. So vote bitches!

3) the style rookie

Tavi Gevinson, former 13 year old, changed up her style a little bit. Her blog has become more of an Indie rant blog than it is a fashion blog, but I still love the artwork and photos she puts up. Tavi has always been an inspiration to me, probably since we're both young bloggers, and I love everything she does. Her style is so unique and appealing, no matter how rapidly she and her style mature. She is so hipster fabulous! Me gusta!

2) The Working Girl Esq

Preetma Singh is an editor at Vogue and her blog documents her career change after she quit law to join the criminal world of fashion. She really has very classy and sophisticated taste, a bit toned down from some of my other favorites. Her writing style is very easy to assimilate, even though she's so high up in the fashion world. My favorite thing about Preetma is that she re-wears! I often get mad at bloggers who never repeat the same items in their closet (besides solids and layers), but Preetma has rocked a pair of Proenza mandals several times, and quite fabulously.

1) Style Bubble

Probably my favorite blog in the entire world, you'll hear me mention the Style Bubble or its creator Susie Bubble several times. Her style is very quirky and eclectic but it's a bit amusing to watch sometimes. I suppose it's a bit funny that I adore Style Bubble so much considering that Susie is everything I'm not (rich, a fashion insider, British), but nevertheless, her comedic composition and her subtle modesty make for a great passage of time. People often stare at me in public when I open up her pictures on my phone in public, but I smile and nod, knowing she's more famous than they'll ever be.

So there's where I get my inspiration from. Hopefully I can make it as big as one of them. Sorry again about my little one-day vay-cay, it won't happen again unless I warn you it will, in which case it will.

-emma

NEW! Need: room decoration tips? prom dress consultation? bad advice about boys? a link to that designer I mentioned the other day? email me: knockoffblog@gmail.com

Alexis Bittar

What do we mean when we say "make a statement"? Is it a desperate plea for attention? Or a unique way to express our style? To SoHo designer Alexis Bittar, "making a statement" is a part of work. With his GORGEOUS jewelry and unique statement, the designer has been featured at Nordstrom and Saks.

Unfortunately, SoHo rent is expensive, so Mr. Bittar charges a few hundred dollars for his fabulous earrings and necklaces.

So, today's mission is to find similar chic and wild statement pieces without the wild prices.

I started with Stephen&Co, a jewelry maker with pieces in the $6-20 range, which is fairly affordable for the average consumer. The knockoff is loving these supercute teardrop beads with a bib chain.

If you're willing to go a bit higher in terms of price, the next step up is probably Spring Street Design Group who makes edgy and adorable (an odd combination) jewelry.

Is this panda ring not adorable but like super hipster? Remember, these are Nordstrom exclusive, so I would suggest the website (nordstrom.com) which also has a handy little "Is this item available near you" checker that has saved me a few miles many times.

Last but not least, let's venture to hipster heaven: Urban Outfitters. Again, you'd definitely be moving up pricewise (from Stephen&Co.), but these 25th Floor Urban Outfitters Exclusive urban-bohemian hipster pieces are totally worth it. The rustic Native American influences are really catchy and easy to embellish a solid tee or blouse with. We're loving these thunder rock earrings.

So even though I have a major style crush on Alexis Bittar....meh, I could do better.

for

the monosyllabic title of today's post is not a mistake. i didn't accidentally forget to type "pete's sake" or "my mother who has loved and supported me forever". for is that little word that takes target to topshop, sears to saks, h&m to henri bendel. For is that beautiful little world that makes all the difference...but it's the one little word you want to leave off when people ask you what brand your coat is. We're talking about the simple formula: high end designer for low end department store. Sometimes they'll get a cute little name (cough, Simply Vera) and although Simply Vera was Simply Awful, the designer, with diverse and fabulous clientele for her famous couture wedding gowns, made a middle aged suburban woman feel great: she was wearing Vera Wang. Designers do this to appeal to various consumer bases. Even though it's hard to believe...not everyone can afford Lanvin...that's why the Lanvin for H&M collection was such a hit.

This post comes after Jason Wu's much anticipated collection for Target, which features bold colors, a kind of weird but cute cat and his signature sharp tailoring and feminine appeal.

But it's not the only discount/designer collab we'll be seeing.

H&M, famous for its many designer collaborations is hot of the tails with its Versace project, which I was seriously disappointed by. Instead of keeping its elegant style, Versace decided to "appeal to the masses" and create some really tacky stuff (although I did find a few pieces I liked). But they're at it again with an OMG! Marni for H&M collection. I perused the lookbook and it has my hard-to-obtain seal of approval. It features the bold prints Marni is known for, as well as the very sexy menswear inspired pieces we all love. Also, I am luvving Consuelo's pants.

At least we have that to look forward to as we say Arrivederci to Versace.

It's a beautiful word, for is. Sometimes it gives that the extra confidence we need and sometimes we dispose of it. But that three letter word is always there for us. Whenever, wherever we need it.

~emma

what to blog?

I've always loved style blogs. Whether I'm reading Tavi's teenage rants (thestylerookie.com), admiring Susie's bubbly (LOL!) personality (stylebubble.typepad.com), or wondering why such gorgeous J. Crew pants would ever repel a man (manrepeller.com), it's a great way to pass time and admire clothes you could only dream of having. Yes, let's face it. I doubt any of us have a closet that rivals Susie Lau's closet. In fact, the H&M sweater ($19.99) that I'm wearing now is the same one that I wore last Monday...so I couldn't be one of those style bloggers who photographs the crazy ensembles they put together. Unfortunately, I don't have connections with industry professionals, so I can't be one of those style bloggers who talks to Estee Lauder...also she died in 2004. I can't be one of those super cool hipsters who finds vintage pieces from thrift stores, because my mom would give me the ever classic "I'm going to say 'OK' but on the inside I'm judging you because you don't need to stop at the Salvation Army when we can just buy you something at the mall" and shit: I can't drive. So I'm going to be the American consumer. The non-hipster, non-connected, non-hoarder blogger who admires from afar and desperately hopes for a knockoff.

this is the knockoff.

~emma (that's not my name, but it's my favorite book)