Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?

I'll delve right in to it. I love Rachel Zoe, I really do. However, I do not like when designers/chains imitate each other, it gets to me as it makes me think there is a lack of inspiration somewhere. Sure, some consumers may like this, but personally, I prefer walking in to a store and seeing something I have not seen before. A particular style of Rachel Zoe's bags, the Zoe tote is available on Shopbop.com in the following versions-

The Zoe Tote

Camel

$495

The Zoe Tote

Black

$495

The Zoe Tote

Natural/ Black

$475

Now compare against River Island's Oversized Padlock Bags which were available until January 2012 on their website and in stores (some black ones have still been spotted in stores as of yesterday!)

Sure, the designs are very slightly different (in that the Zoe Tote fans out slightly and is slightly less structured, but come on, they've even been photographed very similarly.

So, do you agree with imitation being the sincerest form of flattery? Or is is something that irks you as much as it does me?

Ta ta!