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I don’t know about you, but I still can’t get over the hotness that was Balmain‘s Fall 2009 collection. It was pure eye candy all the way through. Not that this collection was a practical one; it’s not like you can work a sequined micro mini dress to work. But I’ve never been a practical shopper anyway and understatement is for cowards, right, girls? The actual problem though is, where does one find the necessary 10k to acquire the real Balmain; also non-supermodels might feel a tad uncomfortable rocking a dress that short. That’s why we searched high and low to find you the best Balmain alternatives which embody the disco feeling without looking too stripperella.
Go Shopping:
by Celine on March 6, 2010
Every woman needs that perfect dress in her closet; the dress that hugs in the right places and flows away in the wrong ones. I know generally this is a little black dress but I’m going to argue that a dash of color, on the contrary, is what will really get you noticed. Reem Acra started out as a bridal gown designer back in 1997 but eventually branched out – and perfected – the red carpet dress. Acra’s experience designing for women’s bodies is clearly evident in this satin jersey wrap dress from her Resort 2010 collection. Exquisitely draped with that aforementioned pop of color, this dress was made to flatter a woman’s body.
Reem Acra Resort 2010 Satin Jersey Wrap Dress
(Price Unknown, N/A)
Celebrities Love Reem Acra
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ABS by Allen Schwartz Crossover Pleated Dress
Now don’t get me wrong: I adore the ocean blue hue of the Reem Acra Satin Jersey Dress, above, however how delicious is the steel blue (cornflower blue?) of our ABS by Allen Schwartz knock-off? It is precisely that inability to pinpoint the shade that really renders this dress so captivating. We’re missing some of the Grecian draping of the original, but I can picture this color looking outrageously good on a whole spectrum of skin tones. Still a bit pricey at $320, but this dress is guaranteed to be your go-to frock for all fancy occasions.
ABS by Allen Schwartz Crossover Pleated Dress
($320, Bloomingdale’s)
by Irina on November 20, 2009
Believe it or not, but Victoria Beckham has established herself as a respected designer in the fashion world. She sure is no second Alber Elbaz (Lanvin), Riccardo Tisci (Givenchy) or Stefano Pilati (Yves Saint Laurent), but she has a huge celebrity following and as soon as anything VB hits the virtual shelves of NET-A-PORTER it’s almost all gone by the end of the day despite the ridiculous price tags. I mean, the cashmere dress below is pretty and all, but I don’t see myself paying $3k for it. No way!
Victoria Beckham Carmontelle Dress
($3.145, SOLD OUT)
Celebrities Love Victoria Beckham
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ABS Seamed Peplum Dress with Brooch
If you want to update your office wardrobe with such a secretary chic sheath dress, but don’t have $3.000 laying around, ABS has a great, almost identical alternative. They added a brooch, but I think it looks quite cute on the dress. Very Jackie O.
ABS Seamed Peplum Dress with Brooch
($216, Chickdowntown)
by Irina on September 18, 2009
Judging by all the Balmain look-a-likes coming from the high street, Balmain is still the hottest brand in town. I seriously lost count on how many Balmain knockoffs I’ve already seen this year. While most designers moved on to “interpret” the Fall 2009 collection, you can still find an occasional homage to the rock’n'roll chick collection aka Fall 2008. The majority of this collection consisted of ultra-sexy mini dresses and I adored ALL of them, especially the LWD below.
Balmain Fall 2008 Embellished One-Shoulder Mini Dress
(Price Unknown, N/A)
Allen Schwartz White Draped Cocktail Dress
Thanks to Allen Schwartz you don’t have to spend a fortune to get the same sexy look à la Balmain. This white draped cocktail dress below which was exclusively designed by Allen Schwartz for Chickdowntown.com looks downright identical compared to the Balmain LWD and it can be yours for $290. If you prefer a different color, the dress comes also in black
.
Allen Schwartz White Draped Cocktail Dress
($290, Chickdowntown)
by Irina on August 27, 2009
This one’s an oldie but goodie. Back in February 2008 Carrie Underwood attended the Clive Davis’ annual Pre-Grammy Party looking adorable in a monochrome tiered strapless chiffon dress by Marchesa. The black bodice had a cute black bow attached and Carrie perfectly accessorized her glamourous ensemble with matching bling and black satin YSL sandals.
Our Rating: 
| Who? | Carrie Underwood |
|---|
| Where? | 2008 Clive Davis Pre-GRAMMY Party, Los Angeles |
|---|
| When? | February 9, 2008 |
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| What? | Marchesa Spring 2007 Strapless Tiered Bow Dress |
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ABS by Allen Schwartz Bow-Front Tiered Dress
When I saw this prom-like dress by Allen Schwartz I was instantly reminded of Carrie’s red carpet look above. While Carrie’s frock goes in the thousands you can have this Marchesa inspired look-a-like for just under $400 (or around $200 if you order at Bloomie’s). If you have a formal event to attend, this dress would certainly make you stand out.
ABS by Allen Schwartz Bow-Front Tiered Dress
($395, Saks)
P.S.: The same dress is on sale for $197.50 at Bloomingdale’s
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, $215.96
, $97.46
, $278
, $236.90
