Copycats May Soon Be Jailbirds

Copying. It's something we all have been annoyed by and accused of at one time or another, even way back in grade school. Some say the greatest compliment is imitation, and I tend to agree. On the other hand-- how can you determine whether that person stole your idea in the first place? How do you know you didn't unknowingly steal the idea from someone else? No one can trace the root of an original idea, especially in terms of style. (Check out this great article in the UK Telegraph on the subject.)
Still, the who started it fashion battles have been going on forever. Back in the grunge days, it was Courtney Love vs. Kat Bjelland on who invented the "kinderwhore" look. Just this past fall, Kate Moss started a ruckus at a wedding accusing Sienna Miller of hijacking her boho aesthetic. But, did they both steal it from Mary Kate Olsen? And did she steal it from Stevie Nicks? Who probably stole it from someone else?
Can you really say who started it, when all fashion (and music and art and everything creative) is just bits and pieces of other things? Well kids, it's up to Congress now.
It's a battle of high end designers vs. the folks who knock off styles at prices we the masses can swing.
Want to guess whose side I'm on?
If I were the high end designers, I'd be proud to know the world was following my lead and fewer people were out there dressing like shit thanks to my inspiration-- whether they do it in my $10,000 piece or the $19.99 version at Forever 21. Take that elitist attitude and shove it up your rich asses.

(Photo: Mick Murray)