Spring Break
Know how to tell if they're faking it
By Ashley Feucht
Issue date: 4/4/07 Section: Features
We see designer brands everywhere: Coach, Louis Vuitton, Dooney & Bourke, Chanel. It seems like everyone and their mother has a designer bag these days. When did everyone get so rich?
The modern woman's best kept secret is no longer her age, but the authenticity of her handbag. It's become an unspoken fact that most of the "designer" bags we see women wearing aren't the real thing.
Knockoff handbags are illegal to sell, but that doesn't make them difficult to buy. Vendors set up carts on the streets of New York, women throw "purse parties" and countless online stores sell replica handbags.
We live in an era when designer logos are slapped on anything and everything, and these replicas are affordable and easy to find. But are you really getting a great deal? Knockoff bags are cheaper for a reason: they lack the quality and craftsmanship of the real thing.
Designer bags have clear and distinct logos. Seams are evenly spaced and the fabric or leather is never puckered. Zippers do not get stuck and snaps and buttons do not come loose. A designer bag will last a lifetime.
In an episode of "Sex and the City," Carrie couldn't bring herself to buy a knockoff bag out of the trunk of a car. She knew she'd be able to fool people into thinking it was legit, but the "Made in China" tag on the inside would be a constant reminder of her bag's true identity.
You may be able to convince others that you have a designer handbag, but you will always know that your bag is a fake. For some women that's all that matters.
Others see nothing wrong with wearing a knockoff bag. Why splurge on the real thing? A close replica selling for hundreds - sometimes even thousands - of dollars less than retail price can be a great deal. Plus, it's only illegal to sell knockoff purses - it's perfectly legal to buy them.
If you're going to wear a knockoff, just don't wear a bad one. There's nothing tackier than a "Prado" or "Goach" bag. The only way to avoid such a calamity is to know the authentic product. It's not a bad idea to visit high-end department stores like Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom to see the real bag in person. You don't want to be stuck with a knockoff Fendi bag shaped like a Louis Vuitton.
The modern woman's best kept secret is no longer her age, but the authenticity of her handbag. It's become an unspoken fact that most of the "designer" bags we see women wearing aren't the real thing.
Knockoff handbags are illegal to sell, but that doesn't make them difficult to buy. Vendors set up carts on the streets of New York, women throw "purse parties" and countless online stores sell replica handbags.
We live in an era when designer logos are slapped on anything and everything, and these replicas are affordable and easy to find. But are you really getting a great deal? Knockoff bags are cheaper for a reason: they lack the quality and craftsmanship of the real thing.
Designer bags have clear and distinct logos. Seams are evenly spaced and the fabric or leather is never puckered. Zippers do not get stuck and snaps and buttons do not come loose. A designer bag will last a lifetime.
In an episode of "Sex and the City," Carrie couldn't bring herself to buy a knockoff bag out of the trunk of a car. She knew she'd be able to fool people into thinking it was legit, but the "Made in China" tag on the inside would be a constant reminder of her bag's true identity.
You may be able to convince others that you have a designer handbag, but you will always know that your bag is a fake. For some women that's all that matters.
Others see nothing wrong with wearing a knockoff bag. Why splurge on the real thing? A close replica selling for hundreds - sometimes even thousands - of dollars less than retail price can be a great deal. Plus, it's only illegal to sell knockoff purses - it's perfectly legal to buy them.
If you're going to wear a knockoff, just don't wear a bad one. There's nothing tackier than a "Prado" or "Goach" bag. The only way to avoid such a calamity is to know the authentic product. It's not a bad idea to visit high-end department stores like Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom to see the real bag in person. You don't want to be stuck with a knockoff Fendi bag shaped like a Louis Vuitton.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Tassie
posted 7/03/08 @ 10:59 AM EST
This is a great and well written article! I thought it was brilliantly composed.
I own several genuine designer hand bags and I know one or two people who buy the knock-off's as well. (Continued…)
Lemonade Diet
posted 7/14/08 @ 1:42 AM EST
I can see that the real bags are better quality but not to the extent of the price. But if knock-offs are illegal people should not buy them.
Melanie Maddison
posted 2/15/09 @ 11:55 PM EST
Are you sure that replica designer items are illegal? I can see them being illegal if the person was selling them as authentic when in fact they were not. (Continued…)
John
posted 2/17/09 @ 10:14 PM EST
The article is correct. Selling knockoffs is "technically" illegal (buying is legal) but the law is poorly enforced. Just go to Canal Street in Manhattan on any day of the week and you'll have your pick of knockoff handbags and watches, and that's with tons of police standing around. (Continued…)
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