Let’s face it, we all have frenemies, and there is nothing worse than running into one looking fabulous and showing off her new designer bag… unless… the bag she is so proud of… is not authentic!
I know it’s bitchy, but, come on, wouldn’t you want to know if that Prada on her shoulder is fake? ;)
Well, here are a few ways you can find out!
1. Find out how much she paid for it …
And then compare it to the price on the designer website or at a reliable online store (like saks.com, e-luxury.com, neimanmarcus.com, net-a-porter.com etc.).
No matter how great the clearance is, a good designer bag can not cost less than $450 – $500 (and this is the lowest Gucci went this season for their $1200 clutches).
So if she says she was just that lucky to get the bag at a huge sale for $200, your dear frenemy is lying and that bag is as fake as her extensions…
2. Find out where she got it …
And see if that store really carries that brand and that particular bag. She might casually say that she got that beautiful Dior bag in Saks on 5th. But, wait, what a pity – those gorgeous dark blue clutches were sold out 3 weeks before Christmas… Hmm…
And another thing, if the suspicious “designer” bag was purchased anywhere but in the official boutiques or department stores (Saks 5th Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom), it’s 99 to 1 that it’s not authentic.
Your frenemy might confess she got it from a dealer who said: We get them directly from the factory, that’s why the price is so low.
But here’s the trick, many designer bags are handmade, and even if the bag in question was partially made at a factory, Fashion Houses order a very exact amount of merchandise they later redirect to the boutiques and department stores.
So, every single designer bag ever made is registered and there are simply NO designer bags that just wonder off the factory and miraculously end up at some guy’s garage!
4 Designer Classic Bags You Should Have…
3. Take a good look at the details …
LV Bag Detail
It’s easy to see if the bag is fake if you take a good look at the details (I practiced that a lot on the subway :) The stitches are not perfect at the edges, the inside doesn’t seem to be right, cheap screws instead of polished rivets…
No matter what the label and your dear frenemy say – it’s a fake.
Some fakes are of a better quality, but still there is a way to spot them! Read on…
4. There is something about the bag…
That just does not feel right! If so, you’ve got to go with your instincts! If you have a feeling there is something wrong with the bag, the chances are, there probably is! My friend, an experienced fake-bag-spotter told me it’s best to STUDY the bag first.
By “study” she meant going to a boutique or a department store and having a very close look at the original bag – the stitches, the inside, the way the logo looks, the way the leather/fabric feels. If there is a pattern, see where exactly it should be.
Take pictures and then you are ready to tell wether the bag under investigation is original or not.
Louis Vuitton LV logo on monogram bags is a good way to see if the bag is real – in Speedy 30, for instance there are 3 rows of 4 LV logos, so if your frenemie’s bag is missing a row or only have a half of it, the bag is fake.
5 Reasons to Buy a Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag
Have you seen the Sex and The City episode where the blonde thinks someone else has her bag! This is a great post on how to spot a fake…I def wouldnt buy the bag any where else but the department stores or a retail store.
Oh, yes, that episode was hilarious! :))
-That Bunny’s got my bag!!! Look on the inside – it says made in China and there is a bunch of condoms in it :)
– Samantha
It’s probably one of the funniest fashion moments from Sex and the City.
This is a great post on how to spot a fake
Yes, it’s nice to know that the bag that your frenemy is flaunting is a fake (for your own personal sake), but does any of that really matter? I happen to have a Chanel bag, and yes it’s fake, along with the other females I’ve seen that have them, but the best part about it is that I spent about $60 on mine, it feels amazing, and it fits me. Now, I know it’s not real, and I’m not ashamed to tell people when they actually believe that it’s the real deal, but unless you’re right up on it and looking at the interior, you’d never tell the difference. I know this because it’s been mistaken several times for the real thing. Unless I had a ridiculous amount of money, I wouldn’t spend my hard earned money on a purse that I’ll probably change out of in next season. There are much more meaningful things than the materialistic ones.
I’ve bought quite a few fakes and as Jenni mentioned; am just not willing to spend thousands even though I really like the design of a particular bag. I also have a few real ones, but have gotten great deals on these. Regarding ’spotting’ – when I walk into Niemans or Saks I’ve had the saleswomen in the bag department tell me they can sell my bag for me as they are out of stock on it. That’s a great bag. I’ve compared my Chloe side-by-side. I’ve also seen the cheap ones described on this blog and to me, they’re not worth carrying as I’m going for the design and style – they obviously don’t cut it.
I think it is shameful to buy a fake. If you don’t want to purchase a real one, don’t pretend that you own one. REAL bags are for the fabulous, and fakes are NEVER in fashion. I think that all women who buy fakes are really sad.
There is no shame in buying a good fake. It’s the CEO’s of high-end of fashion who should be ashamed. ALL LV, Chloe, Prada and Burberry bags are made in factories in China – Shandong Province, apparently. The hardware is retro-fitted in Italy or France, therefore allowing the goods to be labelled ‘Made in France/Italy’. These multi-million dollar companies want cheap, expert labour in China as they don’t like to pay higher wages to their own countrymen. The design houses know there are ‘leaks’ and fakes – they can’t expose the crimes, as they would then reveal their own lies and immorality. So fake yourselves out, ladies!
Will those buying really good fakes be caught by the fashion police? I travelled with a friend to Paris, I bringing a nicely crafted leather purse made in the Philippines while she bringing a mirror image Chanel Caviar Jumbo Flap. And no Fashion Police went to accost us, while I’ve heard of reports of people getting fined for carrying fakes. Is it a crime to carry a fake bag (not sell them)? Or was it just a really good fake the Fashion Police failed to notice them?
Yes, Allie this is somewhat true. If anyone has ever read the book Deluxe the author explains how many brands make their goods in other areas besides Italy/France and only a portion is attached in Italy/France. By doing this Luxury retailers can still claim it was MADE in Italy/France.
Second thing – the book also talks about fakes. If you buy them it supports child labor, crime, drug trafficking, etc. etc.
So, bascially you are screwed either way! I agree that the prices are crazy – as I worked for a luxury house previously and could see the markup!
Are you kidding me…. you actually think about this stuff on a regular basis… wow. Do you realize that you just posted an entire article on determining if some girl bought a bag that is not as expensive as you thought??? As if that would actually make a difference. Look at you… you are so much better than SHE is… you are spending your time looking to see if bought a knockoff bag (obviously jealous of her in the first place) while she is probably off somewhere enjoying life having fun, and doesn’t care about money… she is a lucky girl to not call you a friend.
Hey girls… get your minds out of your prada bag… there are SO much more important things to worry about, and self absorbed drama queens are not attractive or sexy… unless you want a tool … in that case continue
Recent studies have revealed a rather quirky fact about online designer handbags sales. Replicas may soon outsell authentic designer handbags online. Replicas of designs like Chanel and Marc Jacobs handbags are currently outselling the originals online. Though no one would argue that genuine bags and replica ones appeal to the same market the question is raised as to whether or not replica Marc Jacobs or Chanel handbags sales hinder the sale of authentic ones.
Does someone who purchases a replica Louis Vuitton wallet do so rather than purchase a real one? And perhaps a more apt question is, does the fact that the replica is out there undermine the allure of the original?
Arguments for either side seem reasonable, it seems only to depend where one stands, or what one can afford, and what one’s willing to pay for a handbag or wallet. Obviously the majority will say, we can not afford the originals, allow us the replicas. While those who can afford a real one are often begrudged by the sudden appearance of what they see as precious items in the hands of just anyone. While it seems hardly likely that someone who can afford a Louis Vuitton item will refuse themselves that pleasure simply because a women down the street owns a replica Louis Vuitton wallet, the debate will likely go on indefinitely.
Luxurybagland.com has long been home to the finest in fake designer purses, adding class to designer replica handbags when to public may have another opinion. They, along with a few other purveyors of stylish replica luxury goods, have been breaking this misconception buy continuing the sell only the finest of goods.
From these same fine people we now have the ability to purchase items from the new fake Louis Vuitton Stephen sprouse collection. Yes, new at http://www.luxurybagland.com are beautiful replicas of the LV bags, which happen to be one of the hottest new commodities to be released with the famous Louis Vuitton monogram. But perhaps that makes sense, given that since this website has been in operation it has always been quick to pick up on the latest trends and offer beautiful designer replica handbags and fake purses
no way
i wanna know how to see real victoria secret??
Thanks for this post, I hate to see a lot of high pricing handbags either online or locally but then later knowing that it are not genuine at all. glad to have this post.
some good bags are worth money
to: Gucci Bags
I SO agree with you on this one!!! I think handbags and shoes are something truly worth splurging on! They look fantastic and they last so much longer than regular stuff!
And if you are smart about your designer purchases, your Louboutin/Jimmy Choo/Prada/Manolos will cost you around $350-390 and your fabulous designer bag will be around $800-$1000 if you buy these fab items on sale in Neiman Marcus or Saks or the designer boutiques themselves! You just need to track the things you set your eyes on and you’ll get them 40% less expensive when the sales start!