Well, thanks to the perks of shameless capitalism and the lack of copyright protection laws for designers you can get copies of any number of pricey, fresh-off-the-red-carpet couture dress designs for a fraction for the cost– about $250 to $300 retail to be exact.

Knock-off artists have had less than 48 hours and they already have prototypes and waiting lists for the dresses worn by the red carpet’s sexier-than-thou.

Here Jennifer Lopez’s metallic gold Marchesa gown is rendered with a bit more coverage, in front, but the gown is still backless by the infamous, celebrity inspired line, Faviana, that sells at various mall stores and online at www.Unique-Vintage.com.

Next you’ll note that Eva Mendes’ Christian Dior gown gets a downsized poof at the waist and they have even paired it with a tiny touquoise bauble that is no match for the extraordinary statement necklace Mendes wears from the Van Cleef & Arpels Private collection.

In case you were wondering, Mendes’ necklace is a circa 1974 “Panka” necklace features 132 blue turquoise stones and 36.06 carats of diamonds set in 18K yellow gold.

Click the photo to enlarge and grab a tissue, there may be drooling.

The Faviana designing copy cats have also offered up a versions of Kate Winslet’s Yves Saint Laurent gown, a basic black column of perfection and Eva Longoria’s red Reem Acra gown.

Knock-off artists argue that everyone deserves good fashion, so they apply cheap materials to high end designs and simplify complex techniques. Then they offer cut-rate prices.

I’m not so sure that that’s actually justice at work.

The knock-off artists say that there is no competition, so no foul.

The argument is that since only people who can’t afford the high end design would even be tempted to purchase the knock-offs, that it’s not really wrong.

It’s so rampant that it’s no longer much of a surprise. And maybe it’s not so bad. But … if I was a designer I would find it galling and ultimately, I think it does poise a threat to real designers. If people become accostumed to watered-down luxuries then why would they ever grow to splurge on the real thing. I’m sure many of them think that their friends wouldn’t know the difference and they’d just end up the poorer for it.

And then, of course, there’s the argument of how ultimately money is not a huge factor in personal style. Inexpensive doesn’t have to mean cheap any more than expensive means extraordinary.