One of the tenets of Zuburbia’s Vintage Crusader Manifesto is that we…
...don’t dress to IMpress but to EXpress our wonderful authentic selves.
The key word here is authentic. There’s no room for fakes in the wardrobe of a Vintage Crusader!
But since the $450 billion fake fashion industry is fueled in large part by fake handbags, today I’m going to share some tips for spotting a fake Louis Vuitton bag when you’re out thrifting or browsing the web. And while counterfeits are becoming harder to spot all the time, these guidelines will eliminate most of the fakes you’ll come across on the market.
1. Look closely, very closely, at the “LV” initials.
Authentic Louis Vuitton bags don’t split the “LV” initials. Not on a seam, not on a snap.
2. Look for the “LV” initials on the zipper pulls and purse snaps.
A bag may look authentic and the “LV” initials may all be in place but, if the zipper pulls and purse snaps don’t have little “LV”s of their own, you’re looking at a fake. Oh, and that hardware should be brass, which means those zipper pulls will feel heavy and not feel like tin.
3. Check out the leather handles.
First off, make sure they’re made of leather. If they are, make sure the stitches are yellow and the edges are dyed red. Then, if you make it past these two tests, check out the color of the leather. In authentic Louis Vuitton bags the color of the handles starts off a light tan but will oxidize with use and turn a darker shade of brown. So if the inside of a bag shows signs of heavy use but the handles look brand, spanking new, you guessed it—it’s a fake.
4. Stay away from attached tags.
Unlike many other handbag designers, Louis Vuitton does not attach tags to its handbags so don’t fall for that little white plastic tag that looks so official but is just windowdressing for a fake bag.
5. Don’t be fooled by the fake dustbag trick.
Just because a Louis Vuitton bag is being sold with a matching dustbag doesn’t mean the handbag itself is authentic. Any counterfeiter who can counterfeit a bag can counterfeit a fake dustbag, too. Or sometimes they’ll just sell their fake bag with an authentic dust bag. It’s all just more smoke and mirrors. Don’t fall for this type of trickery.
Above all, the best tip for buying authentic vintage and pre-owned Louis Vuitton bags is to seek out reputable sellers. Make sure they have a solid return policy because you can always have your bag authenticated at a Louis Vuitton Store. And if you’re a real LV fan, then spend plenty of time at https://www.LouisVuitton.com. You’ll be able to zoom in and examine the different bags in detail so you’re as educated as you can be.
And that education can save you some bucks. Today’s VPOD, for instance, features a beautiful pre-owned Louis Vuitton Monogram Vertical Lockit Bag that costs about $400 less than the same bag new. And while you’ll still be shelling out a pretty penny, you’ll rest easy knowing you’re acquiring an authentic, handcrafted handbag from one of the best manufacturers in the business and not lining the pockets of some druglord or terrorist.
And that makes it the only possible choice for a vintage fashionsta!
Available at Rodeo Drive Reasale.
Discovered at TheFind.com..
(To receive the VPOD via email with detailed size, price and purchase information, sign up for my growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)
