Tips to Spot a Fake Designer Handbag

Some say designer accessories are a waste of money. On the other hand, some insist designer items are the only way to go, even in those cases when you barely have money to pay the rent. Whichever that may be, being able to tell the difference between a real and a fake designer item – handbag, more specifically – is of vital importance to avoid getting scammed, the Daily Mail says.

Just last week, Christian Louboutin issued a warning on websites selling fake shoes, pointing out that the real thing could only be found on the official webpage of the label and at a handful of authorized retailers. The same goes with designer handbags as well: as simple and perhaps a bit ridiculous as this might seem, the safest way to make sure you don’t get ripped off is to stick with the big name. Don’t look for bargains or to acquire your bag from someone who’s selling it for half the market price, because you’re literally asking to be scammed.

The above is all the more true in a context in which most fake bags are so elaborately done these days, with so much attention to detail, that it’s practically impossible to spot them as fakes unless you know precisely what to look for. Most often than not, the little things that give a fake away can easily be overlooked by the untrained eye – especially if you don’t have something to compare it with, that is, if you don’t know how an original should look like.

“A top tip is to look for the serial code, which is often hidden on a strip of material found inside a pocket or the main compartment – this is standard practice for Louis Vuitton and Gucci bags. A quick Internet search on the designer’s website will soon help you to make sure the design, pattern and details are all correct. If the material looks like leather, ensure it really is. Real leather will have an irregular texture and rougher edges; fake leather will feel like foam. Hardware like rivets and buckles should not pierce or damage the fabric of the bag. Shoddy craftsmanship like this is a dead giveaway for a fake.” the Mail writes.

The first thing that should make you ask yourself some questions is, though, the price. If someone is trying to sell what they claim is a Prada, LV or Gucci bag for a price that you personally consider a sweet bargain, ask yourself why. After you do so, search the Internet to see whether the label in question ever made a bag like the one you’re about to buy, and then ask to see the bag itself to check all the above-mentioned details.