Sure, there are knock-offs all the time, but I'm not talking about the "Frauda" handbags for $20 you can get in downtown LA. I'm talking about the copy of a design from a higher-end designer to the masses.

In shoes, I have not seen any shoe design more knocked off than the peep-toe wedge "Newton" from KORS by Michael Kors, which I lovelovelove. The KORS shoe is $189, and at first, I thought the Steve Madden knock-off "Cristan" for $90 was a decent copy, especially since they also come in leopard-print. Then along come the mass designers making copies for as low as $30. Wow.

However, I have seen the knock-offs and they are not pretty. Until XOXO and Two Lips get their stuff together, go for the original.