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designer clothes

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H&M’s latest spring offering, a collection called The New Mix, features pieces that have an uncanny resemblance to industry-favorite looks from Balenciaga, Celine and Kenzo.

As the fast-fashion retailer sales continue to decline, with a brief reprieve in April as the once-thriving clothing retailer struggles to hold on to customers, it seems to have found an answer in high-end designs once again.

One white jersey bustier, retailing for $19.95, looks strangely similar to Balenciaga’s white crop top from the spring 2013 collection – which Kristen Stewart turned heads wearing at last year’s On The Road premiere.

The thermoformed crossover top, made of laser cut-outs, retails at Balenciaga for $1,535.

At Celine, Pheobe Philo sent out a spring 2013 collection, in store now, of stylish, but slovenly elegant pieces in a mostly black and white offering.

One particular dress, the textured Sable dress, was an instant hit with buyers and fashion editors, and H&M seems to have taken note.

The brand’s $24.95 jersey tank top with mesh at the front “for a deep V-neck effect”, is a mirror-image of the Celine dress, which retails for $3,250 in crepe, or $2,900 in silk satin.

H&M's white jersey bustier looks strangely similar to Balenciaga's white crop top from the spring 2013 collection

H&M’s white jersey bustier looks strangely similar to Balenciaga’s white crop top from the spring 2013 collection

And taking Kenzo’s $255 sell-out Tiger motif to similar heights is a gray sweater from H&M featuring a comparable multi-colored, growling tiger – and customers don’t seem troubled that the company appears to be trading in knockoffs.

One commenter on live journal, Fashin, said she believes democratization of high-fashion is a good thing.

“Designer clothes cost tens of thousands of dollars, why pay when you can get the same thing for $40?” she wrote.

“People like you and I and the rest of the middle class world want to look stylish but don’t want to go broke doing it. I get that copying is wrong, though, but it’s almost justified given the outrageous prices designers put on their clothes.”

H&M has never made a secret of its relentless to chase trends and cater to an ever-widening, insistently competitive fast-fashion market.

While the retailer’s fashion-designer collaborations and celebrity collections get a lot of media attention, Beyonce’s H&M swimwear campaign being one recent example, its prices- 60% cheaper than Zara’s but more expensive that Forever 21, have left H&M struggling to position itself.

While customers often bypass 90% of the store’s offerings, stocked heavily with basics such as T-shirts and trousers, many call the remainder – such as look-a-like Balenciaga tops for less than $20, “an incredible buy”.

One woman, referring to the retailer’s frequent turnover of styles that mimic high-end designs, tweeted: “I like how it’s accessible.”

But another commenter, who cherishes the exclusivity of owning a designer piece before it is turned into a reproduced bargain for the mass-market, explained to fellow forum members: “You like the fact that you can get your hands on similar pieces from the runway at a good price.

“However, now that you can afford it, so can everyone else and that makes the pieces less special.”

While a Twitter user, under the name Anon Model, was slightly more blunt: “H&M is the king of knock off stores. Just saw a Celine bag knock off, Balenciaga top… Have they no shame?!

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Lindsay Lohan has reportedly turned to selling off her extensive wardrobe of designer clothes as a way of raising funds.

The Liz And Dick star has apparently been sending her little sister Ali Lohan to hawk her wares at a Los Angeles shop that specializes in second hand threads.

According to Radar, Lindsay Lohan has been sending the 18-year-old to the popular Wasteland store loaded down with clothes, shoes and accessories.

An eyewitness told the website Ali Lohan, who apparently had a significantly larger bust than previously, turned up to the shop with bags stuffed full of items.

She then tried to broker a deal with the manager of the establishment, but was disappointed after being offered far less than she anticipated.

Ali Lohan reportedly shouted: “Thirty dollars for these? They cost $700! This is ridiculous!”

The wannabe singer then tried haggle the price upwards for the items, which included a pair of round-toe Chanel pumps and a Balenciaga purse.

Lindsay Lohan has reportedly turned to selling off her extensive wardrobe of designer clothes as a way of raising funds

Lindsay Lohan has reportedly turned to selling off her extensive wardrobe of designer clothes as a way of raising funds

Ali Lohan even tried to change her bartering tactics, arguing that because her infamous sister had worn them on red carpets and at photo shoots they are worth extra.

She said: “These have to be worth more, Lindsay was photographed wearing them, that has to add value.”

Apparently not however, as the manager refused to move the price and she left with significantly less cash than hoped for.

Lindsay Lohan may have to sell off even more of her possessions in future, as reviews of her performance in TV film Liz And Dick have been awful, with Entertainment Weekly branding it a “drab, damp little TV-movie”.

Her performance was also lambasted, with the magazine’s Ken Tucker saying: “No effort seems to have gone into Lohan’s preparation other than to have her eyes tinted.”

Meanwhile Lindsay Lohan will soon find out if she will be charged over her alleged assault of Tiffany Mitchell during a November 29 nightclub brawl.

A source told Radar: “The Assistant DA handling the case will decide next week whether or not to formally charge Lindsay.

“They’re currently going over all of the evidence and met with Tiffany and her attorney, Gloria Allred earlier this week for three hours.

“The meeting was very productive and provided the prosecutors and cops with further insight into what allegedly happened that night.

“The NYPD thinks that there is more than enough evidence to charge Lindsay with a crime and a lot of the cops think that if she isn’t charged, it will just embolden her to misbehave even more! There definitely is a sense among the investigators that Lindsay has absolutely no respect for the law, and that the only place for someone like Lindsay is behind bars.”

Lindsay Lohan was arrested after allegedly punching Tiffany Mitchell in the face after an argument at the Avenue night club.

Several eyewitnesses came forward claiming the actress had been drinking heavily and doing cocaine before the brawl

She is also set to be formally charge at court on December 12 on three misdemeanor charges of lying to cops, reckless driving and obstructing or resisting a police officer in the performance of his duty.

Lindsay Lohan is not however expected to attend the proceedings unless ordered by the judge.