ALEXANDRA JACOBS GOES SHOPPING: Nouveau Knock-Off Edition

In this week's Thursday Styles, Critical Shopper Alexandra Jacobs takes on the nascent chain that recently debuted in SoHo, C. Wonder. She notices what pretty much everyone else has about the store: that it is "heavily inspired" by the style of designer Tory Burch, on whose board C.Wonder owner J. Christopher Chris Burch still happens to sit even though he is her ex-husband. While we all continue to visualize cutting glares and frosty exchanges at the next Tory Burch LLC board meeting, Jacobs proceeds to list all of the other labels Mr. Burch is also knocking off at his new chain including Longchamps, J. Crew, Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren, and in a well observed , multi-generational feat of copying, she describes a cuff as "adorably Verdura by way of Kenneth Jay Lane". Burch makes it all his own, however with his own big flashy insignia.

Mr. Burch is also quite enthusiastic about pinning the ornate house “C” on things, like a quilted red bag that could fit both of Ashley Tisdale’s Maltipoos ($168). Is it meant to indicate his nickname, Chris? Recall faint echoes of Coco and the Rue Cambon? Or is it just a proud marker of the company’s manufacturing processes, since not only much of the stock but the facility itself, its owner bragged to Bloomberg television, was Constructed Completely in China?

On the plus side, the dressing rooms are dreamy, and the china and tableware are well priced and appealing. Better yet, Jacobs finds $30 inside a handbag she is examining. We're pretty sure that, despite its egregious lack of originality, C. Wonder's low prices will keep the store packed throughout the holiday season and beyond, but getting the word out that there's cash hidden in the merchandise? That'll get 'em lined up around the block.

Critical Shopper: At C. Wonder, Something Feels Familiar By Alexandra Jacobs (NYTimes)
C. Wonder 72 Spring Street between Crosby & Lafayette Streets, SoHo