Fashion

Is it a Fake? Buying Designer Handbags
By Shel Maydon

Designer handbags, especially Gucci handbags, have always been a woman's best friend - they enhance a simple ensemble, add elegance to an outfit and even become timeless heirlooms. With the prevalence of fake designer handbags though, its getting more and more difficult to tell an authentic designer bag from a fake one at first glance. There are surefire ways however, to determine if what you're spending your hard-earned money on is a real designer bag or not. The following are some tips to keep in mind to make sure you don't get conned.

Check materials and stitching. Fashion houses use great care in choosing materials for their Designer bags. Check for cheap-looking materials and large, inconsistent or uneven stitching. While some designer bags are made of faux leather or PVC, because of current trends, most still use genuine, high-quality leather. There shouldn't also be any loose stitching or hanging thread visible anywhere in the bag. Designer bags usually have clean, small, even stitching.

Check the brand logos or the bags brand tag. The brass or metal brand tags or logos located on the bag should not be tarnished nor should it have spots. Also, as in Gucci handbags, the designer labels are stitched onto the bag and should not be hanging from a strip of carton on the handle. Most counterfeit handbags also have the labels misspelled. Its common to see an additional (or missing) letter from the labels in a fake designer bag. Some fake bags even have different fonts and spacing between letters. Also, logos should be engraved on leather and not just stamped on it. Pay attention, especially to how the letters in the logos are shaped. Bring a photo with you for comparison.

Check the bag’s lining. The lining inside the bag should be sturdy, shouldn't feel like it will rip easily nor should its stitching be poorly done. The lining of fake designer handbags is very thin and cheaply made - one wrong move and they can rip as easily as paper. Also, most designers have their labels or logos monogrammed on the lining of the bags themselves. Their linings should also be sturdy, soft and silky to the touch.

Check if the bag has an authenticity card. An authenticity card is like the passport of a designer bag. All designer bags have this to prove their authenticity. The bags serial number (which should match the serial number found in the bag itself) should be embossed on the authenticity card; other information, such as the bag model and a magnetic strip or bar code should also be found on the card. The card is usually placed in the inside pocket of the designer bag. Be wary though, authenticity cards can be faked, but these fake cards look cheap and unprofessional.

Verify the serial number in the bag. As mentioned before, this should match the serial number found on the authenticity card of the bag. Different designer bags also have different patterns for their serial numbers and these can change over the years or per collection released. Serial numbers should also be clear and should be easily read.

Stop, look and check first before you part with your hard-earned money on those Gucci handbags you've been eyeing since last year. Keep the above tips in mind when scouting for a designer bag to be sure that you're spending only for the real deal.

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