“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Do you agree? From the school yard to the office, kids and adults imitate each other’s style copying everything from hair cuts to complete outfits. I say, “So what, consider it a compliment,” but some people find it very irritating. I’ll admit, if I like a woman’s outfit or see a trendy look in a magazine I will totally copy it or find the look for less if it’s too pricy.
Earlier this Spring when I started my blog and had about 12 readers, I wrote a post about a mint colored Versace dress OUT of my budget I saw online. It inspired me to look for my own 70′s look! A few days later, I was shopping in the Mission district in San Francisco at a store called “Vintage by the Pound.”
Here is the Versace look:
My favorite details of this dress were the color, the collar and the sleeves.
SO, Here is the vintage Dress I found…
Uh, NOT so cute
The label described the dress as “70′s Brady Bunch” so I wanted to mimic a modern day Marcia Brady look. But I was feeling a lot more like a Jan & Cindy combo in polyester pj’s. I gave my seamstress a call.
If you like Vintage shopping, a GOOD seamstress is a MUST because clothes often need adjustments.
After I got the dress back, here is my best attempt at re-creating my Vintage number into the Versace Summer 2011 look
I used the yellow bag I found at TJ Maxx from my past Arm Candy post
I had no idea what shoes to wear with this dress so I borrowed my friend’s orangish/red pair.
I also have no idea where I would wear this dress. Maybe an end-of-summer date night. 
If people didn’t “copy” each other, there would be NO fashion trends. You can always put your own personal stylish twist into every trend. And even if my non-designer dresses will never look as perfect as the Versace models in the real thing, it’s fun trying. Plus, I only paid $14 plus $25 for alterations for my version. hehe 
I think most men and women have a person or celeb they look to for a little fashion inspiration. If you could have 1 person’s wardrobe, whose would you choose?
My answer is Blake Lively
Have a great Labor Day weekend!
xoDale
Wow love this honey! You look gorgeous!!!! Have a great night! Kori xoxo
http://www.blondeepisodes.com
http://www.koridonahue.com
The adjusted dress looks AMAZING!! I love how you try to modernize vintage pieces.
xo Sherrie
Closet Hound
WOW it looks so much better in the after!! I love it on you!
you’re gorgeous! <3
http://www.loretta-blog.blogspot.com
TOTAL dress transformation..kudos to you..I would have left it there..not having the vision..lol.
Totally stunning on you..love the orange shoes.
All about being inspired by something and than putting your own twist on things..no?
Personally love Kate Beckinsales style.
C
Fantastic color!!
Besos, desde España, Marcela
Great job turning the dress into something that works for you! Super cute! Do you have pink or navy shoes? Those would look nice with the mint too.
I love the end results..great fitting and it completely changed the look of the dress. You look gorgeous!
xx
Heel in Mint
Such an interesting post, and your take on the Versace dress is so chic!
I think humans are in general incapable of spontaneous inspiration, and probably everyone is both a copy cat and a trendsetter at the same time. I mean by simply buying and wearing current season stock at a chain store, you’re both copying the popular style of the season and contribute to popularizing it. It’s a bit sad sometimes that nothing in the world is truly original. But a less pure idea of originality is just as valid and relevant, like how designer looks are referenced on the street, and your own take on the Versace dress.
you look nice…
like a real model… 
edgy and fierce. 
Lookin’ good! It turned out very well. And the color looks great on you. If I wore it I would look like an after dinner mint…not so sexy. LOL.
actually i like your dress much better and you pulled off the look
I think it is more “inspired by” rather than “copied”. An out and out copy – nup, not good. But to be inspired by something, and create something as a result, well, if all designers and artists are honest, that is what everybody creates anyway. It may inspiration from a flower, a sunset, a butterfly or the way somebody puts an outfit together. But there is no such thing as truly original. Your outfit looks gorgeous, and yeah ok you were inspired by, but did not copy, the original in my opinion.
i like the progression from no-smile-face to very-smiley-face.
I like both dresses, & totally loving the color. I like mint/yellow also. I agree, copying is flattery, however it has to have a limit. A friend’s sister use to pretty copy everything I bought/did, it got to point where it began to piss me of alil, but I guess now its not that big of deal. & I would totally steal Kim K’s closet, only if I had her body. & since you said Blake, I am gonna say Blair Waldorf. I give a arm, leg, kidney whatever to have Blair’s clothes. & she’s not even real.
xo SARMIN
I LOVE what you did with the dress.. Looks really good on you and I love how you paired it with a yellow bag..
Copy cats are everywhere, and god knows how irritating they can be. I have no problem if someone likes an item I own, gives me a compliment and gets the same item. Here’s where it gets irritating when someone obviously copied you and acts like she did it first or you copied her!! I think those people suffer from insecurities!!
I think we inspire each other rather than copy, same applies to High end brands and High street brands.
MiMi xx
Make-up Overdose
this is amzing and cute<3 looking good on you!
I have seen better
I would choose Scott Disick’s wardrobe hands down
Wow you look great in those ‘after’ pics – like such a model!! What a steal that dress is!
I need to find a seamstress, I have a couple of things that need sorting but never get around to it…
I would love Blake’s wardrobe too (especially as her character in GG)
Sadie x
http://whatsadiedid.blogspot.com/
this looks stunning!! Great idea
wow what a difference a seamstress makes! dale, you pulled the look off very successfully. i’m sensing this color is a re-trend, (from the 1980′s), because you are the 2nd fashion blogger today, that wore a dress in that color. same color, completely different, but equally good styles.
http://honeybeelane.blogspot.com/
Imitation I don’t agree…Inspiration totally! It’s all about personalizing the style right??!!
Thanks for leaving me such sweet comments, hope to visit again soon!
xo-Julie
Peace. Love. LOL!
Haute Khuuture Blog
oh my god. i love this dress more than the versace one!
I love the dress! I’m so glad you were able to have it altered and fitted to your own size! It looks so much better after your seamstress worked her magic on it
And if I raid one person’s wardrobe, it would be the Korean Drama superstar, Kim Jeong-Eun
Cheers!
Wi
A Single Girl’s Musings
Amazing! I like your version better than the original dress!
thenotebookofstyle.blogspot.com
Exquisite colour on you. I don’t copy and I dont set trends. Trends never stay. They come and go like the wind. Have a sweet weekend;-)
i don’t think there’s anything wrong with copying a trend or an outfit that you like… and i agree, we all end up putting our own spin on them anyway.
if i can have one celebrity’s wardrobe, i’d want lauren conrad’s.
<3, Mimi
http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/
good Lord! I love it! it fits you perfectly! when I saw the first photo I was like, wait a minute this doesn’t look right. then scrolled down I was like shiznit! its like I’m going through barney’s online catalogs! hahaha! love it!
http://ieatyogurtforbreakfast.blogspot.com/
wow. you look stunning. i think i actually like yours better. you just look so beautiful. love love love this. great post, love. don’t forget to swing by and see this weeks Fash Fave and Fash Fail. xoxo
http://www.fashboulevard.blogspot.com
I like to “copy” but put my own spin on it, like you did!
It looks awesome!
xoxo Denise
http://allthingsnew-denise.blogspot.com/
Oh my gosh, what a great dress!! You look amazing in it
xo Karisa
http://abeautifulmess-karisa.blogspot.com
ahh i love how you recreated the look! it looks great
love from San Francisco,
Britt+Whit
Great dress. Mine is definitely Olivia Palermo.
Thanks for your comment on my blog. Wanna follow each other? I’ d be really happy
denizsaatcioglu.blogspot.com
THAT is a great story Dale! Your seamstress did a great job girl. What a transformation! I think the key word from all of this is ‘Inspiration’. Each one of us is inspired by someone or something (even designers were once inspired or admired someone/something…that’s how they got their start). It’s important to take that and add something of YOU to it. And that’s what makes it your own. You achieved it and didn’t have to pay an arm or leg for it! I love that yellow bag. I’m following and look forward to reading your future posts. Have a great weekend.
http://sassyuptownchic.blogspot.com/
SassyUptownChic xoxo Kim
Thank you for your lovely comment!! follow each other?? your blog is so great and you look amazing!!
have a beautiful weekend!!
I absolutely love that vintage dress!
Thank you for your lovely comment!
Kisses!
♥ Dressy Celeb ♥
This transformation is beautiful!. You really got the dress to work for you. Too often people are slaves to labels or fashion rules- fashion is supposed to be fun and limitless- I don’t believe in the no copying rule, if a look inspires me, will go for it and try to make it my own.
I would love SJP’s closet because it is so diverse- one day she’s in jeans and sneakers, the next totally glammed out in McQueen- I love how fearless she is.
New Follower,
Liv @ bklynlifestyle.blogspot.com
You look better than the model
I also love Blake Lively’s style. I also wouldn’t mind having Olivia Palermo’s wardrobe.
Wow the dress looks really nice.
I really like your blog.
xx J.
http://secretfashionlove.blogspot.com/
can’t name a celebrety because I don’t know very well what they wear but I think your dress is really cute!
Wow! You look amaaaazing!!!! And i agree with you, people should not be irritated when someone is copying their style – take it as a compliment!
hugs,
xx
Ask Erena
http://askerena.blogspot.com/
I love the color of the dress on you! And I think Blake Lively would be my choice too
You look amazing and wow! That vintage dress was totally transformed into a haute look just as fabulous as the Versace version! If I had to get inspiration from 1 style icon it would be Victoria Beckham. I love everything she wear!
That dress turned out nice!
http://initialed.blogspot.com
Nice dress
xoxo
Eugenia
http://eugenemarseille.blogspot.com/
I actually like yours better! Gorgeous!!!
I don’t know how I could answer because I my inspiration doesn’t come from 1 person only!
I really like minimalistic style with colors like grey,brown and white
nice post!!
http://www.quinestre.com
wow!! this is such a great post!!
you look amazing!! love it!
I have a new special post on my blog…I would love if you pass by!
have a nice day!
xx
fashionbit
I think it’s a great dress! You could wear it for a night out, definitely, or layer it. I think it’s a beautiful color and you can totally pull it off.
Thank you so much for your comment! You have a beautiful blog.
Courtney
I Can Be Many Things
Versace dress is just wooow but yours is gorgeous too!
hugs and kisses by Mani.
WOW, the finished product looks great! I think everyone copies something, I mean unless you are designing and making your own pieces day by day and not basing it off of something you liked or saw. I only get irritated when I purchase something and see someone with it on, so I usually try to buy one of a kind pieces or shop places most people in my town don’t!
You look so chic in this dress! I love it!
http://www.pastelsandpirouettes.com
iT’S PERFECT! i love the post!
http://cashmereflowers.blogspot.com/
Great job on the look!! <3
Hosting Giveaway
http://theshoebunny.blogspot.com/2011/08/100-followers-giveaway.html
You look Gorgeous in that dress! I am a copycat most of the time. Sometimes I can see myself as a trendsetter (or maybe just crazy lol).
WOW you look gorgeous in that dress and the photos look completely professional like an ad! How did you do that?
The dress is an amazing reproduction of the first look, I’m so impressed. I also agree with Mimi’s comment (16 down from top) about imitating. I am so flattered when girls want to imitate my style, and I have plenty of friends that do so… love it. However I knew one girl in particular who did just what Mimi said. She would secretly go out and buy an entire outfit (literally head to toe) that I had recently worn and then she would try to actually wear it on days I was wearing it!! It was bizarre! Then she actually transformed her entire wardrobe into things she had seen me wear before. She not only did that, but she would accessorize and do her hair like mine too! It got a little creepy…. so I think that is definitely a very special circumstance, hahaha.
I hope your week is off to a great start, sweet friend!
♥
Rachel
PS. I’m following you on twitter now!
wow, the end result is fantastic! And the pictures are amazing as well, they definitely have a retro vibe.
thanks for commenting on my blog!
jo from slowcatharsis.blogspot.com
OMG!! I like your look better than the Versace one! You did such a great job recreating the look & your seamstress is amazingggg!!
Gorgeous!!
xox
Kat
http://www.maryanddyer.blogspot.com
P.S. Hope that you have had the chance to enter our Tiffany & Co. necklace giveaway!
deng dale!!! you look hot! i cant believe thats the same dress. it looks completely different and sooo flattering with the alterations. looove the color as well. xx
Omg you totally transformed that dress!!! It looks amazing on you!!!
The after looks very nice.
I agree with you, girl! :]
It’s okay to “copy” each other as long as you still add your own style to it.
You did great. The dress looks amazing! You gotta love vintage finds. <3
If I could have 1 person’s wardrobe, I would either choose Leighton Meester’s or
Demi Lovato’s. I love their classic boho style.
XoXo, Bree
http://vivalabreee.blogspot.com/
Tweet me: Viva_La_Breee
woww i love this dress!
please check my blog out!!
angelasquared.blogspot.com
Just got back from Texas, thanks for all the nice comments
@ Mimi totally agree with you how that situation could get annoying
@ Rachel -thanks so much and I definitely agree how copying head to toe would be TOO much. hehe
Hope everyone had a nice Labor Day weekend!
I do love the sleeves!!! Fantastic pair!
Come back soon to visit my blog, I’ll be waiting for you!!
Cosa mi metto???
Love love love!!! I need to try vintage clothes, I just get overwhelmed! Ha- great outfit!
Follow my blog, I’ll follow back!
Summer
Oh woaw! I hadn’t seen the Versace look before but I love it so much!
Especially the shoes are amazing!
I wonder how Versace for H&M will look like, would it be something simular ?
wow! i love this outfit
You look awesome, that dress is such a great find!
kate
I think you look pretty cute even if you think it’s not nearly as great as the real thing. This is an excellent question and I often wonder this myself. Being one that can probably never afford the real stuff, uh yeah, I’m fine with imitation. With a personal unique touch, of course!
Sincerely,
Sabrina
i love this dress
You know, it’s great when people say they’re trendsetters and such, but it tends to get overated, and in the end, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with copying. Because while we may copy, we all add our own individual tastes to it. And yes, that Versace dress is gorgeous, and you recreated it quite well! The baggy photo certain wasn’t going to achieve it lol!
http://red-soledfashionista.blogspot.com/
i love this mint colour!
The mint color is phenomenal!
xo
You are totally funny! Haha. And great hob with re-creating the look!
Hey, do you take photos by yourself? If yes, can you make a tutorial on how to do it (including lighting as I suck at those)
Thanks dear!
nadjnadj.blogspot.com
so cute i really like that colour!
WOW! You look phenomenal! I love it, I would definitely love Blakes wardrobe too
Nadia – Thanks! My friend does the lighting and takes the pics. I will definitely try to do a tutorial
You definitely rocked in this outfit! You look like a fashion model!
Have a great weekend!
Jessie
http://www.mixandchic.com
Pretty and chic!!
Love your style and blog! 
I’m a new follower!
http://bellasstyle.blogspot.com
You and I want the exact same wardrobe. I want Blake’s too! she’s absolutely fabulous.
Loving this dress and the color is perfection on you doll.
<3 Marina
Fashion.MakeUp.LifeStyle
That dress is awesome! you look amazing with it x
I think I’m a little bit of both. I like to be inspired, but I like to put my own spin on things.
Shasie of Live Life in Style
Love this dress! I like your version best!
Francesca
I love this post! You were so creative with this vintage find and gave it a totally modern flavor. And your photos are fabulous! Love it, Dale!
WHAT AN AWESOME SEXY CLASSY DRESS, IF YOU EVER WOULD LIKE TO GET ONE MADE LACEM FLOWERS, OR JUST CASUAL VINTAGE VISIT OUR SITE CLICK ON OUR NAME, SAVY SPICE IS AWESOME ON STYLE!! YOU GO GIRL/LADY!!