it’s a fashion lover’s worst nightmare: the shopping doppelganger. the closet copycat. that girl – that infuriating girl – who buys everything you buy. we had one once, a friend found oft-embezzling our favorite finds, scheming and scheduling their wears. her wares. as our latest pieces became sequentially misappropriated (little else can ruin that new dress rush) so-went our patience: both with her and with having to lie about where we’d bought stuff. and, not before long, so-went our friendship, the stress of pillaged individuality (and lack thereof) evidently too much for either of us to bear.
we couldn’t help but be reminded of our stylistic single white female after stumbling on the fashion detector: soon to be released software that will allow random strangers to shoplift the style right off your back. the technology allows major retailers and malls to log inventory into a central identification database. any consumer can then have their browsers and phones scan photos (on websites, on facebook, even snaps of passers-by) for store, stock and price information. style stalking at its finest.
brasandranties tends to offer up this information rather willingly (not so much lately, since our lightbulbs burnt out and we’re too lazy and/or underwhelmed for canadian tire) as do the copious style diaries on the daily, but we must admit there’s something absurdly creepy about involuntarily providing it. not to mention twit-piccing the girl beside you because you like her ring. purchasing a top from h&m should not render us a mobile h&m billboard, a walking advertorial for their summer promo prices. and yet this seems to be the inevitable evolution of zuckerburg’s vision – his pot of gold at the end of this information rainbow we’ve all (mindlessly) shared. offered up on a silver platter. big brother is alive and well, and he wants to know where you got those shoes.
Anonymous says:
get over yourself
Anonymous says:
While your posts are typically funny and sometimes even insightful, this post is a major yawn–these are the concerns of grade 5's, not grown women!
Anonymous says:
I could not agree more. This post had the right meaning behind it, but then you turn it into this " I am so great and everyone copies me".
The last time a friend pulled this crap with me was gr. 6, and it was too immature for me then. My closet to this day is open to my friends, because they are my soulmates, not my competition.
Allie says:
I think you guys are missing the point here – the post is about a new technology, not B&R whining about copycats. She found a story about an interesting new app that is relatable to all women, and shared a short anecdote from her past to reinforce the point and add a pinch of humour.
Why don't you look beyond the shallow, and talk about the real point of the post – the loss of our individuality and privacy through ever-evolving online applications and social media. Too many copycats is not a good thing. Assimilation discourages creativity. How far is too far?
Anonymous says:
Thanks Allie. We all get THE POINT of the article.
The approach just came off as catty.
Are you serious though about looking beyond the shallow???? fine there are good points but the breadth of this blog defines shallow. Maybe that's part of its charm???
Anonymous says:
we are all clones. we always have been. its only becoming more evident now with technology then previously.
i'm not saying being a clone is a good thing either. i'm just everyone is a biter. nothing is original anymore (as per Jim Jarmusch)
clones have given rise to the fake, deaf, dumb and blind. those who hold nothing sacred anymore and are left chasing for the latest 'HOT' item and dropping yesterday's styles like old news (like Haiti is old news, I'm just saying that's how everyone is treating Haiti, when news first broke out, everyone was concerned, well, where is the concern now? those people are still hurting down there…)
i've taken pictures of stuff, books and video games, in stores, for example, Walmart, they have a STRICT policy that you aren't allowed to photograph any of the products they sell. when asked why, the CSRs could only say 'its not allowed', so I wonder how this application will affect policies of companies like Walmart.
Anonymous says:
Who cares?
In all honesty, there's more important shit to worry about aside from B&R's "catty" story-telling and some copy cat fashion detector.
Anonymous says:
True dat Anonymous.
Anonymous says:
If you're so worried about more 'important shit,' (borrowing your tactful phrasing) shouldn't you be reading a different blog?
Anonymous says:
Are you reading a sexy fashionista's blogette expecting scientific insights into solving the BP oil spill?
We're at an inflection point w technology and the balance between its benefits and costs and raising the awareness about how certain entities are beginning to harness its power for profit at privacy's expense – and this subject is important in any forum and for all audiences and should continue. If you're not concerned about the potential implications of a corporation plastering your child's photo in a billboard campaign w/o your permission then good luck to you.
The point is the annoying copycat friend analogy pales in comparison to what could be right around the corner wrt personal privacy breaches – we've only just scratched the surface. I think B&R did a good job refining the point down to something most people can relate to, but what the future holds is unchartered territory, we don't know what will come of it all – so just take that analogy and multiply it by infinity.
But seriously, personally, I think we're all clones.
Anonymous says:
I also think we're all clones
Anonymous says:
I agree!
Anonymous says:
Me too!
Anonymous says:
Me three!
Anonymous says:
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz … who the eff cares about this crap.
we all buy the same shit, of course we'll all end up looking the same.
jacqwest says:
I'm always surprised and uncomfortable when people compliment your outfit followed by a "who is it?" or "where'd you get it". What is the polite way to decline answering? I hate the feeling that follows answering that question, offering up the opportunity for a total stranger to cast judgement on you based on where you bought something (that they initially were inspired to compliment you on). Imagine this mobile application?
Adding a whole other level to social posturing. She looks good, but my twitpic tells me she bought it at Forever 21…
Emma says:
I love telling people where I got stuff! I'm flattered when they ask. Who cares if they go and buy it? Yeesh, it's just clothes for goodness sake – don't let it solely define who you are. If you do then you've probably got no sense of humour.
Anonymous says:
If those Negative Nelly's didn't read her blog, i would guarantee a drastic drop in her readership!
But then again, it's always funny when I see the only defended responses are from her 3 friends.
Anonymous says:
Unfortunately, there is no polite way to decline answering other than lying, or else you'd look like a complete greedy biznatch whose insecure. I'm always happy to answer where I get my items from, because a)who the hell cares? b)do you really think they'll run out and buy it that day? c)it might look crummy on them and d)they may not wear it as good as you (attitude, body type, etc) do or it in the same style/look.
And if you must know Anonymous 9, I stick primarily to blogs about my career, which is law. And only read this when I feel like light reading. Because in the scheme of things, at the end of the day (or on your death bed), worrying about someone who dresses similiar to you (friend, enemy or stranger) isn't a big deal. God forbid we ever have the same haircut. Thanks for coming out. 🙂
Anonymous says:
Just to re-iterate, a lot of you were missing the point.
DUH.
Stop focusing on being catty women and look at the bigger picture.
PRIVACY is the bigger picture, this is essentially big brother disguised as a fashion detector.
Where will your pictures end up?
From the sounds of it, its possible your pictures will end up on someone else's Facebook profile or in the hands a marketing department who uses YOUR IMAGE for THEIR ADVERTISING.
Thumbs up to all the women who recognized the bigger picture here.
Anonymous says:
This is getting old.