While both of these logo-ridden bags are ridiculously ugly, they managed not only to commit crimes against good taste...but to waste four years of the court's time in a heated copyright dispute. Louis Vuitton has maintained that the Dooney & Burke "It" bag infringed on LV's Takashi Murakami-designed Monograme Multicolore...however the court wasn't buying.
"[Louis Vuitton] offered no proof that the similarities in the marks is likely to confuse ordinary consumers, whether it is at the point of initial interest, point-of-sale, or post-sale," wrote U.S. District Court Judge Shira Scheindlin in a recent decision. "Even the testimony of Louis Vuitton's director of intellectual property suggests Louis Vuitton's infringement claim is not necessarily premised on a likelihood of confusion between its products and those of [the] defendant, but rather Louis Vuitton's distaste at being associated with the It Bags."
While LV naturally plans to appeal the decision, the judge actually came to the correct conclusion. Why? Common sense will tell you that a woman buying Dooney & Burke is most likely not (nor ever will be) a Louis Vuitton customer, so the Dooney bag would not have cost LV many lost sales. And most importantly, protecting a design from a competitor's version simply because of a close resemblance is anti-competitive.
In actual fact, the Dooney & Burke version probably helped LV by (unfortunately) spreading awareness of the Murakami design. (via WWD)
- Lesley Scott
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a new $18,000 wonder from Louis Vuitton
a chic giraffe bag from Dooney & Bourke
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Brazilian brand Smartbag is well-named if this model is anything to judge by. Featuring snazzy details like ruching & an oversize buckles, and thoughtful touches - a roomy interior, multiple inner pockets - it could easily become your go-to bag this season.
Available at AccessoriesStudio.com.
- Lesley Scott
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FASHION:
Second City Style loves black, but it's so expected and grey can get drab. Why not dress like the jewel you are in shades of amethyst and emerald?
Bag Snob dishes on The Louis Vuitton Joke Bag!
Take a break from your stilettos, but don't skimp on style with Coquette's picks for the most stylish flat boots.
Music, fashion and bling! Fashion Rocks 2007 had it all. My Fashion Life examines the red carpet hits and those unfortunate misses.
Stiletto Jungle asks: Would you "Cosabella Thong" for the cure?
Papierblog looks at the dearth of models of color during fashion week and looks at racism in the industry.
Must have! Top 5 reasons Stylebites loves Nina Garcia's Little Black Book of Style
Omiru finds out: is black appropriate for a wedding (guest).
A fashion'y halloween idea from FabSugar: Uma's black bobbed, white shirted Mia Wallace from Pulp Fiction.
Bag Bliss discovers the Marc Jacobs Denim Jazz Handbag at a steal of a deal.
Kristopher digs boss Givenchy shoes that are a little bit country club, and a little bit rock n' roll.
Check out Stylehive's slideshow of our favorite one-of-a-kind handmade spats, scarflets, gloves and more for fall!
The Jewelry Welog loves the new video she spotted on Metal Chik about vintage jewelry.
BEAUTY:
Beauty Snob continues a love affair with T3- The Science of Fabulous!
The clever Beauty.com Fragrance Finder makes finding a new scent easy & fun, says Fashiontribes.
From dramatically lined eyes to fall's red lip, StyleBakery.com shows us how to achieve the look of the season in their Fall Beauty Trend Report.
Ask We Love Beauty's Ben Bennett: What are baked powders?
eBeautyDaily gives 50 beauty related uses for a tub of good old Vaseline.
LIFESTYLE:
ATTN: WebSnob Readers. Thursday, October 25th we're filming a reality show at our Punk Vs. Rockabilly Halloween Party. We're giving all WebSnobbers tickets at $10 bucks to come and rock with Fashion Indie and PMBuzz.com. Click Here for tickets.
- Lesley Scott
RELATED WEBSNOB POSTS:
WebSnob for the week of October 5, 2007
WebSnob for the week of September 28, 2007
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Jackie O shows how to travel in style (photo: BrownsFashion.com)
A cruise is a great excuse to show off your flair on the road. Some fun, flirty frocks, a new bathsuit (or three), a coverup that heads straight from the pool or beach to cocktails, some colorful accessories, and off you go. The reward for overpacking is that you leave lots of room to bring home some fun new fashion finds.
Some great items for a cruise capsule wardrobe:
For more hints & ideas on packing light but stylishly for the road, CLICK HERE for our other recent post on packing lightly but with maximum travel chic.
- Lesley Scott
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FASHION:
SHOES, BAGS & ACCESSORIES:
BEAUTY:
LIFESTYLE:
- Lesley Scott
fashiontribes.
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Emerald, clover, grass...almost nothing is better than the color green at conjuring up cool & refreshing images of nature. So why not bring a little of this luscious hue into your wardrobe, home & and beauty regime? Since this is a season where color is a major style story, take advantage of the fashionably green riches that are on the market - in dresses, shoes, accessories, home decor, beauty products, and even soothing wallpaper for your computer screen.
Groovy green fashion, accessories & accoutrements to try:
- Sarah cotton dress in Parrot Green - JCrew.com
- Splash Gisha wedges - LoveMyShoes.com
- recycled candy wrapper purse - Ecoist.com
- malachite bracelet with a conflict-free rough diamond (proceeds go to
the Diamond Empowerment Fund to benefit underprivileged communities in
Africa) - SimmonsJewelryCo.com
- Lesley Scott
fashiontribes.
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Sienna Miller tells it like it is.
The fact that Sienna Miller was photographed walking her doggies in this groovy Humane Society hoodie emblazoned with Club Sandwiches Not Seals - which contributes to the fight against the Canadian seal hunt - pretty much ensures her status on the top of the Fashion It-Girl foodchain in our book.
Why not take a fashion tip from Ms. Miller & support businesses that help rather than harm our fab four-legged friends with these clothes, accessories & accoutrements that make it easy & chic to support animal rights causes:
- Help save the baby seals & abolish the cruel Canadian seal hunt forever with a Humane Society hoodie from HSUS.com.
- Let an adorable baby chick on this I am Not a Nugget messenger bag remind people that chickens are more than the sum of their parts. At PetaCatalog.org.
- Don a pin made from pig-latin, reclaimed magazines & catalogs, and mounted on scraps of plastic destined for the landfill. SnootyJewelry.com
- Avoid supporting animal research altogether by giving a miss to animal- and animal-derived ingredients with this handy guide available from Amazon.com.
- Wear your cause on your sleeve (so to speak) by "adopting" a primate & donating to the Animal Protection Institute - where more than 400 nonhuman promates have been rescued from abusive situations in labs, zoos & bad owners, and finally have a second chance at a more natural life.
- Lesley Scott
fashiontribes.
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Bag Borrow or Steal just kicked off their first-ever Summer Outlet Sale, featuring designer handbags and jewelry from Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Fendi, Prada, Coach, & Kenneth Jay Lane - with 20% off new, never-carried bags & 40% on previously borrowed handbags and jewelry. Until June 11, only existing & new members can shop the sale; from June 12 on, everyone else can join in the fun.
Bag Borrow or Steal Sale:
- May 29-June 11: private sale for existing & new members only
- Tuesday, June 12 - Monday, July 2: open to the public
To join, go to BagBorrowOrSteal.com.
- Lesley Scott
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Donatella Versace, inimitable empress of luxury (photo: Matthias Vriens)
Glam Shopping Beat by Lesley Scott:
The Versace name is synonymous with over-the-top glitz and glam of
the kitschy-yet-fabulous sort. And the current face of the brand,
Donatella Versace, knows how to live large (or, at least, be
photographed extensively in the act). In the upcoming July issue of Details, she shares her top 10
tips for looking good, wearing cologne, shaving, the perfect summer
getaway luggage, and which celebs have the best style.
- the always stylish Kanye West
- goin' my way? a Versace-designed Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster
- facial hair done right, courtesy of the Killers
- Versace luggage
- The Dreamer cologne by Versace
Enjoy the Style Wisdom of Donatella Versace:
The three biggest fashion mistakes are cheap suits, shoes, and shirts. Spend your money on something good. (suits: Paul Smith)- Some men look great unshaven; others just look like they forgot to shave. Beards and mustaches work if they're distinctive - think earthy & rock 'n roll like the Kings of Leon or The Killers. (photo: James Dimmock via ew.com)
- "I just designed the livery for a Lamborghini and I’m told this machine is a real object of male desire. But true luxury is about the best of everything. Don’t cut back on the little things—great coffee, a good novel, a wonderful aftershave." (Lamborghini photo: driversdrive.com)
- "For luggage, I use big Versace suitcases. I always overpack, but my advice to men is to pack a capsule wardrobe: a few suits, a pair of casual trousers, and then tops and accessories for changes—ties, belts, watches, shoes." (suitcase: Versace.com)
- "In my opinion, men who have greatstyle include Lou Reed (downtown–New York chic), Jude Law (London chic), Alain Delon (French chic), Marcello Mastroianni (Italian chic), Rupert Everett (English-public-school chic), and Kanye West (modern, cool chic)." (photo: vipglamour.net)
- "When buying a gift for your wife, do your research. Find out what she wants by subtle interrogation, or ask her friends."
As you get older, go for an elegant and understated look. "But [older men] have the advantage that they can do the rugged thing—think of Sam Shepard in denim. I find older men more attractive than boys. I need a man who can teach me a thing or two." (photo: IMDB.com)
"I don’t like jeans—I love them. I like slim-cut jeans, and at the moment I like them dark and clean, like tailored trousers." (Theory slim jeans available at NeimanMarcus.com)- Scent is very important. Strong fragrances suit some men, while citrus types suit others. "I like my men to smell fresh and woody, but also like a man." (Versace The Dreamer cologne - Sephora.com)
- "When it comes to dress, there are more rules in America than in Europe. Dress is more of a social indicator—except in L.A., where you don’t know if the guy in the T-shirt and combat trousers in the hotel lobby is the busboy or a studio executive. That’s pretty refreshing."
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"[Louis Vuitton] offered no proof that the similarities in the marks is likely to confuse ordinary consumers, whether it is at the point of initial interest, point-of-sale, or post-sale," wrote U.S. District Court Judge Shira Scheindlin in a recent decision. "Even the testimony of Louis Vuitton's director of intellectual property suggests Louis Vuitton's infringement claim is not necessarily premised on a likelihood of confusion between its products and those of [the] defendant, but rather Louis Vuitton's distaste at being associated with the It Bags." 
While LV naturally plans to appeal the decision, the judge actually came to the correct conclusion. Why? Common sense will tell you that a woman buying Dooney & Burke is most likely not (nor ever will be) a Louis Vuitton customer, so the Dooney bag would not have cost LV many lost sales. And most importantly, protecting a design from a competitor's version simply because of a close resemblance is anti-competitive. 
a new $18,000 wonder from Louis Vuitton
a chic giraffe bag from Dooney & Bourke
