REAL / FAUX?
HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DESIGNER AND KNOCKOFF HANDBAGS
How Much is That Handbag in the Window?
As stylish, chic handbags grow in demand, so do their prices. Luxury handbags for major fashion labels can cost thousands of dollars. And many women are willing to pay the price. Handbags have become much more than a fashionable carryall. They have transformed into a status symbol: a sign of class for women from all walks of life.
Some of the most popular designer handbags could cost more than your monthly or even yearly salary. The ever-famous Birkin bag by Hermes retails at over $60,000; a classic Fendi baguette costs close to $3,000; a 2.55 Chanel bag may cost over $4,000; a mid-size Lady Dior handbag may ring up at $7,200.
But the high price points don’t stop there. Limited-edition designer handbags, like the Cleopatra Clutch by Lana Marks, could cost up to $100,000. Some fashion collectors are even willing to pay in the millions—a diamond-studded handbag designed by Japanese jewelry house Ginza Tanaka went for a cool $1.9 million.
In comparison, you’re going to pay much less for a knockoff version of a designer bag:
Hermes Birkin
$375
Fendi Baguette
$225
2.55 Chanel
$175
Lady Dior
$150
You may be in the market for a knockoff, or a replica, if you don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on a luxury handbag. Whether you’re shopping real or fake, it’s essential to buy strategically so that you know exactly what you’re getting for your investment. We’ll teach you the tricks of the trade to distinguish between faux and authentic designer handbags.
IS IT REAL OR FAKE?
Here are 5 quick tips to separate knockoffs from real designer goods:
1
Compare the look and feel of materials. Real designer wares have heavy hardware, well-made textiles.
2
Double-check the workmanship for sloppiness, i.e. stitching and construction.
3
Take a peek at the bag lining and check for color distortions.
4
Match all interior and exterior pockets with the original version of the bag.
5
Look for label and manufacturing typos, a sure sign of a counterfeit.
Many times, it takes a trained eye to separate the real from the fake. Take a closer look at these knockoff versus designer comparisons to get the full picture:
Hermes Birkin
Real
Firm,
pronounced shape
Straight line on seam
Detailed hardware engraving
Fake
Bulging shape
Loose seam lines
Sloppy engraving
Gucci
Real
Authentic serial
number
Expensive
materials
High-quality
“Made in Italy”
stamp
Fake
No serial number
Poor quality
manufacturing stamp
Cheap lining
Louis Vuitton
Real
Deep manufacturing
imprint
Expensive materials appear
glossy and luxurious
Detailed seams
and stitching
Fake
Visibly poor stitching
Faux materials
appear flat
Poor quality
manufacturing stamp
2.55 Chanel
Real
Detailed seams
and stitching
Heavy, ornate
chain
Real leather
Fake
Faux leather
Faux materials
appear flat
Low-quality
stitching
Coach
Real
Heavy, costly
hardware
Authentic Coach
logo placement
Expensive
leather tassels
Fake
Cheap hardware
Randomly placed logo
Low-quality tag
Balenciaga
Real
Correct retail size
High-quality
hardware; proper
placement
Firm, expensive
leather
Fake
Too large;
wrong size
Cheap hardware;
wrong placement
Droopy, poor
quality leather
Burberry
Real
Authentic label
Firm shape
Tight, even stitching
Fake
Droopy shape
Loose threads
and stitching
May have
misspelled label
Michael Kors
Real
Stiff, firm leather handles
Expensive, heavy
front hardware
High-quality
leather tag
Fake
Droopy, soft
leather handles
Incorrect
hardware
Counterfeit tag
STYLE ON A BUDGET
Many modern women are on the hunt for a beautiful, luxurious handbag that they can call their own, but most are willing to compromise. According to a CouponCodes4u.com poll, women that can’t “afford the real thing” are satisfied with second best.
75%
of the women polled knowingly purchased a knockoff fashion item, including dresses, wallets, jewelry, shoes, and handbags.
Over half of the women admitted to buying faux goods because they simply couldn’t afford a designer label. 9% of the women couldn’t tell the difference between real and fake with their naked eye.
Here are helpful tips to hunt for designer handbags for less:
Visit Designer Boutiques
Even designer brands have sales. You may be able to snag a pricey luxury handbag at up to 40% off, depending on the time of year; designer sales are often scheduled May through June. Vintage or consignment stores are another alternative, where you can buy designer cast-offs from past seasons.
Check Out Department Stores
Major department stores like Saks and Nordstrom offer deep designer discounts in pre-sales before major midseason sales, although pre-sales are minimally advertised in-store. If you see a bag you have your eye on during a pre-sale, request to buy it at the sale price before the actual sale begins.
Shop Online
If you’re looking for a specific designer label, search for brand authenticity when shopping online. Online designer handbag retailers often run regular sales and provide competitive discounts; comparison shop with several e-commerce stores before making a final decision. If you’ve done your homework on your handbag, you can also check out eBay for a better price—as long as you can differentiate between faux and real.
SOURCES
- “Most Expensive Purses.” MostExpensivecom.
- “BagBible.” Bag Bible RSS.
- “FAKE VS REAL WHICH IS BETTER.” HOW TO SPOT FAKE AND REAL GUCCI HANDBAGS.
- “Fakes Are Never In Fashion!” theseventhdistrict.com.
- “Why You Shouldn’t Buy Counterfeits.” Lollipuff: The Safer Place to Buy and Sell Chanel, Herve Leger, and Christian Louboutin.
- “STYLE 101: MAGAZINE: #KnowTheDifference.” STYLE 101: MAGAZINE: #KnowTheDifference.
- “How to Spot Fake Twiggy Handbags.” How to Spot Fake Twiggy Handbags.
- “How to Spot Fake Burberry Bags.” StepbyStep How to Guides to Do Things Yourself RSS.
- “How to identify counterfeit Michael Kors Gia Crocodile Satchels.” Counterfeit Michael Kors Gia Crocodile Satchels.
- Reuters. “In Quest To Get The ‘Designer’ Look, U.S. Women Admit Buying Knockoffs.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com.