[ Bargain Basement: Chloe vs Forever 21 ]

One of the biggest downfalls of reading copious fashion magazines while on a shoe-string budget is that you're exposed to a million different wonderful things you can't possibly afford. I know there's a lot of hoopla about the knocking-off of designer duds, but I can't bring myself to feel too badly about it.  Not saying I'm into counterfeit, but I love me some trickle-down...

Fashion is a multi-billion dollar industry, and it's also apparently run by some pretty big cry-babies. Let's just knock this one off to imitation being the biggest form of flattery...

I'm a little obsessed with Chloé (the ads as well as the clothes), and I'm especially enamored of the Paraty bag

But with a four digit price tag, I thought it was a pipe dream...

until I stumbled across this gem:

 

Forever 21's gray Roxanne $36.80

 Did I mention gray is my favorite non-color? What time does the mall open again!?

Openopenopenopen...



[Editor's Note: the F21 bag walked into my work on a customer, so I asked her about it and she let me see. It's pretty well constructed and sturdy, and I want it even more now!]