Fashion Rip-Off: Did Nicole Richie Copy An Odylyne Dress?

So did she? In a recent news article on the Daily Mail, Nicole Richie’s fashion prowess was questioned when her Jazbaa dress from her Spring 2012 collection for Winter Kate closely resembles Odylyne’s Mini Barbet Dress. This was raised previously by an article on Radar Online which also claims they spotted the celebrity designer wearing the Odylyne dress last year.

Both available on online store Revolve Clothing, the two dresses seem to share one feature too many once placed side by side. While the Jazbaa is obviously a maxi dress with a hi-lo skirt, the Mini Barbet dress skims the line between short and long with its shorter tail.

The Mini Barbet Dress by Odylyne (left) and the Jazbaa Dress by Winter Kate (right)

Looking closer, they both have V-necklines while the Winter Kate dress has a crisscross lacing for closure. The two dresses also have button-cuff sleeves, even a braided belt.

A more detailed look on the Mini Barbet Dress by Odylyne (left) and the Jazbaa Dress by Winter Kate (right)

Material-wise, the Mini Barbet is made out of 100% rayon while the Jazbaa is 100% silk which probably explains why the Winter Kate dress is twice as expensive as the one by Odylyne. Both are good-looking dresses, of course. But that’s not the question, is it?

The Mini Barbet Dress by Odylyne (left) costs $286, nearly half the Jazbaa Dress by Winter Kate (right) which costs $475

In the question of being ripped off, one might say it’s neither since it’s the consumer that’s buying. Others argue that a lot of designs and not just dresses, have been copied over and over and slapped with a different brand. How about you? What do you think?