Ariel on State Street

I photographed Ariel last week while I was running errands downtown. Her blazer instantly caught my eye because, well, I own the same exact one! Last fall H&M made what could have been labeled a “capsule collection” of 5 pieces using this brocade fabric. The pieces were obviously “inspired by” the Balmain suit. Although I am staunchly against replicas (and there is a difference), I think it’s ok for mass-market retailers to water down designs for the masses. After all, any woman who can afford a $40,000 Balmain suit isn’t going to say to herself, “well, now that H&M makes a knock-off, maybe I shouldn’t spend the extra $39,940” and purchase the H&M version instead. If anything, I saw so many premier fashion designers copying from each other’s past collections during the Spring 2012 RTW shows that no one in fashion can say with a straight face that the industry isn’t built upon recycling ideas. How do you think trends get started?