Catalog Police: Free People, January 2015

Happy Friday! In honor of the much-earned weekend, Catalog Police is back with a vengeance. In this feature, I critique the ridiculous pictures, poses and prices in mail-order catalogs.

This week, we’re covering Free People — a retailer I’ve discussed several times. However, the latest Free People catalog showed remarkable improvement. Gone were the head-scratching sequined halter tops and ovary-printed pants.

On the other hand, half of Free People’s latest offerings are blatant copies of other designers’ work. Let’s take a closer look.

At $228, these no-label sneakers are  just as expensive as Air Jordans.
Is there a mission to the moon later?

These futuristic, $228 sneakers are a not-so-subtle homage to Chanel’s “boxing” line of high-tops, trainers and sneaker boots. PSA: Just because Chanel did it does not mean it’s good.

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Call Betty Ford — I think we have a denim problem.

Behold! A Canadian Tuxedo — on shrooms. This can only be described as a denim BATHROBE, which is incidentally inspired by ripping off Junya Watanabe’s legendary voluminous denim designs.

A $450 suede straitjacket
A $450 straitjacket

I’ll admit it — this is a nice jacket. But that’s because it’s a total ripoff  of Margiela’s leather fencing jackets. (Unbutton the Margiela, and you get the same look — and it’s the EXACT same price in consignment.)

But let’s get into the weirder items…

These sweats cost $150.
These sweats cost $150.

Pajamas + iron-on decals = the most expensive sweats I’ve ever seen.

It can't be Free People without whiff of dirty hippie.
A kaleidoscope of crochet and Britney-esque florals.

It wouldn’t be a Free People catalog without a whiff of dirty hippie and a hint of grandma’s doilies. (I can practically smell the mothballs.)

What do you think? Did Free People shamelessly copy other designers? Or do you dig their hippie schtick?