Nicki Minaj should think twice the next time she decides to rummage through her craft supplies to make an outfit.
Jessica Rogers, the designer of SomedayNewYorker is accusing Minaj of copying one of her signature "Puff Ball" designs while the Hip-Hop star attended New York Fashion Week.
The colorful (and cartoonish) ensemble donned by Minaj at the Carolina Herrera Spring 2012 show this past Monday morning does closely resemble Rogers collection, causing many to wag their finger at the rapper.
Maybe Minaj didn't think a small-time designer like Rogers, with a mere 322 "Likes" on Facebook would care or even find out. Roger also dismisses any talk about the resemblance being a coincidence since she was in contact with Minaj's stylist a year and a half ago about the potential of the star wearing her designs, although nothing ever came of their conversations.
So sadly foul-play (or plagiarism) is assumed. Word to the wise: If you plan on ripping off someone else's work, try not to be a mega Hip-Hop star, attend New York Fashion Week and certainly don't be seated directly next to Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
“I am very upset by the fact that she was sitting next to Anna Wintour,” Rogers told Fashionista.com. “I admire Anna Wintour very much and I was hoping that one day she would see my garments and it would be the first time that she would see Puff Balls used as I use them.”
Furthermore, Rogers doesn't think Minaj executed the imitation well.
"I'm disturbed by the fact that the knock off doesn't look that good to begin with," Rogers wrote on her blog.
This isn't the first time a celebrity has been caught galavanting around town in plagiarized designs. Courtney Love managed to piss-off Karl Lagerfeld when she wore a Chanel knock-off. And of course, the lawsuit that Christian Louboutin failed against Yves Saint Laurent for the rights to be the only person to produce red-soled shoes. But as we quickly found out, no one person can own a color. Drat.
In this case, does Rogers have control over what Minaj or anyone creates with pom-poms or "Puff Balls?" Your call!