From runway shows to various celebrities, the classic leather jacket has been popping up everywhere. There are many ways to wear this look tough—you can sweeten it up with a frilly skirt or add a funkier twist by incorporating patterns and colors.

Here are three different ways you can sport this look, using the Plastic Island’s Black Moto Jacket from www.chickdowntown.com ($180.00):

Outfit 1: Skirt- $17.80, www.forever21.com
Top- $97.00, www.boutiquetoyou.com
Socks- $12.00, www.urbanoutfitters.com
Boots- $795.00, www.kirnazabete.com

Outfit 2: Jeans- $80.00, www.topshop.com
Top- $19.90, www.forever21.com
Shades- $275.00, www.bloomingdales.com
Shoes- $79.95, www.stevemadden.com
Bag- $50.99, www.macys.com

Outfit 3: Dress- $52.99, www.modcloth.com
Tights- $14.99, www.urbanoutfitters.com
Flats- $375.00, www.bluefly.com
Ring- $123.00, www.maxandchloe.com
Clutch- $235.40, www.endless.com

Houndstooth was a pattern seen throughout Alexander McQueen’s collection for the fall. It’s a classic and bold print amongst the many eye-catching ones that have made their way onto the must-wear list for this upcoming season.

Here are five different ways you too can make a statement with houndstooth over the next few months:

1. Forever 21, $2.80, www.Forever21.com
2. Express, $16.50, www.Express.com
3. Silence & Noise, $48.00, www.UrbanOutfitters.com
4. MARC by Marc Jacobs, $460, www.Net-a-Porter.com
5. oh DEER!, $65.00, www.Endless.com

Forever has beauty on their mind…with the lawsuits almost behind them, they have decided to venture into the realm of home and beauty, with their first cosmetic line to launch in Sept.

More than 1,500 line up to get into the chain’s first store in Japan.

Vs.

One would think that after over 50 lawsuits during the last 3.5 years would deter Forever 21 from pushing the limits of copyright laws. With good lawyers on their side, co-founders  Do Won Chang and Jin Sook Chang, who also act as the corporation’s chief executive and head buyer, have been able to push almost all suits under the rug,  going about their merry, cheap-o knockoff business. 

With Trovata trouble currently looming, it seems as if the Changs already have enough strings to pull in order to escape the CDFA. But a recent deposition, one in which Anthropologie claims that Forever 21 infringed on 9 of it’s copyrighted items, isn’t going to be so easy to get out of. A Southern District of New York Judge has proof that Jin Sook Chang is linked to the buying of at least 8 of these infringed items. 

Although photos, videos and transcriptions of the lawsuit have yet to be released, it should be very interesting to see just how similar these items are. But as much as I detest the bargain version’s spot-on copies, I’m rather impressed at how many slaps on the wrist the Changs were able to walk away with. But if you ask me, by letting copyright cases slide so easily, the CDFA is just begging for designers to break the rules. 

Thanks WWD! 

Forever 21 is coming out with a plus size line (not news), but while marketing the Faith 21 collection they made the mistake of using a photo of Miss Kim.

She got offended and responded on her blog: “I feel that this clipping from Us Magazine is a bit misleading, so I wanted to comment on it.”

“I am a huge fan of Forever 21 and I’m very happy they have expanded their line to include a plus-size range, but I am not in that size category and this article makes it sound like I am! I am a curvy girl and I love my curves, but curvy and plus-sized are two very different things. I work really hard to maintain my curves while staying slim and healthy, so to be classed as a “fuller-figured woman” of extra large proportions is a little offensive. For the record, I am a size 2, not 2XL.”

The funny part: Kimmy truly believes she’s a size 2…

Any fully conscious person knows that Forever 21 is the knock-off capital of the world. Consumers toss a few dollars for poor-quality clothing that just so happens to look, from far away, like designer pieces. Although the repro-depot has gotten into its fair share of copyright infringements tiffs, a recent battle with Trovata could be the lawsuit needed to finally pass the CDFA’s Design Piracy and Prohibition Act.

Take a look at the image above. While there are obvious differences in quality and color, the naked eye registers that these pieces are basically the same. Come May, a jury will decide if Forever 21 (top row) is guilty of copyright infringement of Trovata’s (bottom row) button placements, fabric patterns, decorative stitching and other details. Should the Design Piracy and Prohibition Act pass, designers can expect a decrease in competition and consumers can start singing the blues, as they will be unable to buy penny saving knock-off items.

With Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” lawsuit barely in hindsight, it will be interesting to see what the CDFA deems as “original” in the fashion world. Designers borrow inspiration on a daily basis…does this make them criminals? Are designers only at fault if they borrow too much? Who determines what is borrowed and what is original? While the outcome of this lawsuit could potentially  make the fashion industry more unique, with it will come more rules and thusly, more restrictions on fashion. Dun dun dun.

Thanks NY Mag!

Forever 21 has come out with a pair of Fringe Open Toe Boots ($35) that are nearly identical to the Alexander Wang’s Alexis Boot. Check out the comparison after the jump.

LINKAGE: The Look For Less: Alexander Wang Fringe Platforms

So if you took Mary-Kate from four years ago and designed an entire collection around it and then added a couple of trucker hats, you’d have DSquared2 Fall 2009 collection. Leggings, leopard and Starbucks cups make this collection seem dated in the worst kind of way. While it is a collection that imitates many existing trends, it just doesn’t offer much in the way of something new and exciting, which means its the type of collection that you’d probably find at Forever 21 and H&M right this second.

Taylor Momsen showed up in her $12.99 outfit from Forever 21 at the Two Lovers premier. Her manicure probably cost more than the awfully boring outfit. Momsen didn’t even call her hair stylist to help her prepare for the event…she simply rolled out of bed and rubbed bacon grease in her hair. If this is Momsen’s attempt at a recession ready outfit, she epically failed. And how. 

Thanks Jezebel! 

With crumbling labels and sales that seem more like full price than closeout deals, the shopping world looks bleak. But if there is anything to rely on, fast fashion stores are better than ever, helping out the underdog and protecting our pocketbooks. Stores like H&M and Mango reported growth in 2008 and already have noticed their sale increase helping the economy! H&M is committed to opening 225 stores worldwide (adding 7000 jobs) while Mango intends to open 150 stores. Although these successes are major competition for stores like Forever 21,  Zara and Uniqlo, maybe they will be inspiration for other stores to get their acts together. If all else fails, you can expect some mad good sales! 

For more, check out WWD!

The store is crazy enough in the quite suburbs of Buffalo, New York. Throw a Forever 21 in the space that used to occupy Tower Records in the heart of Times Square and you’ve got yourself a berserk zoo of tourists and foreigners craving clothes under $30. Most New Yorkers avoid the savagery that is Times Square, but if you ever find yourself in the store, expect everything to be picked over, mismatched and in sizes too large or too small to fit the human body. 

Thanks NY Mag!

Stella McCartney S/S 2009.

Ed Ruscha's "The End" circa 1991.

Recently speaking of collaborations, here is one that I wait for in immense anticipation. No, we’re not talking Jill Sander for Forever 21 or anything like that, we’re talking about the collaboration of fashion designer Stella McCartney and pop artist Ed Ruscha (well known for the 20th Century Fox logo). Grab your calendars, because October 23rd at 10PM marks the date and time that Iconoclasts airs their documentary “Stella McCartney + Ed Ruscha” on the Sundance Channel.

Lucky for me, I was able to take a look at the documentary before the premier, and let me tell you, it is was completely worth watching! Unlike many documentaries, the subjects Stella and Ed actually tell their own creation stories, explain their relationship and pitch ideas to one another for an upcoming collaboration line. I really appreciated the behind the scenes footage of Stella at fittings and Ed explaining inspiration for paintings. And by the looks and sounds of the the McCartney/Ruscha collaboration line, I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for it! 

My only criticism is that the documentary ended with Ruscha accept McCartney’s pitches for the collaboration. What! We don’t get a sneak peek of the line? Just throw the dog a bone already would you!

Visit Iconoclasts for photos, videos and more about the collaboration! Thanks for the photo Style!

Forever 21 apparently thinks they are way cooler than they actually are. They are reportedly suing pop-punk band Forever The Sickest Kids for “stealing their name from Forever 21.” In what way do they at all sound the same? Does Forever 21 have nothing better to do than bother some aspiring musicians? I hate you Forever 21, and just because no one likes your store doesn’t mean you should start suing everyone.

How much money do you think these kids are actually going to be able to pay you? They can’t even afford haircuts.

Thank you Absolute Punk for informing me of such blasphemy

WWD has reported that Forever 21 wants to take over the world, at least that is what I got from this article.

“Forever 21 is pursuing a larger footprint. The fast-growing Los Angeles-based apparel retailer plans to build larger stores and within four years expects to be in position to be a mall anchor as it evolves from a teen-focused business into one devoted to a youth-lifestyle retail concept.”

If anyone doesn’t know what an anchor store is (cuz none of my colleagues seemed to), they are the big stores that anchor the mall. For example, Nordstrom’s, Macy’s, Saks… now imagine Forever 21 being one of them. This means that there will be 5 floors worth of cheap designer knockoffs.  Ah, what is the world coming to?