How to Recognize a Fake Balenciaga Bag

Balenciaga, being one of the most sought after designer handbags is also one of the most copied.  Being more expensive than other designer bags, we tend to want to just buy pre loved instead of buying brand new from the store. Pre loved as it is , these bags are still not cheap. We have to make sure we're getting  our money's worth when we buy one and not get fooled into buying those high end replicas. Here are some guidelines that can help in distinguishing if we're getting the real deal. 

First, of course, we would want to check the leather. Balenciaga has this distressed look. The leather Should not be too shiny. Please see photo below.

Second, check the hardware, especially on the straps.  The authentic bag has this rounded hardware, while the replica has sharp edges and is wider. 

Notice how the round hardware differ. The authentic bag has a smaller circle while the fake one is too large for the leather that's holding it. 

Check the Lampo zippers too. The authentic bag has a smoother, not too shiny lampo zipper. 

Lastly, When you check the interior, the stitches on the tag that has the heat stamp Balenciaga should always be black, regardless of the bag's color. 

It should not be the same as the bag's color except of course if and when the bag is black .. :)

Also, check for the parts that should not be there. Like these hardware on the bag's bottom that are not supposed to be there.

Remember, they make look the same on first glance, but you will not miss a replica by keeping these guidelines in mind. Happy shopping!

For authentic designer hand bags, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/toopretty.tohate.3?fref=ts

Photo ref: First photo from http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=luv2shop-hate2spend

All other photos were taken by yours truly .. :)

YSL, Now Saint Laurent Paris

Saint Laurent Cabas Ligne 2013

So the famous YSL is now Saint Laurent! I actually went to a Ferragamo store, which surprisingly, also sells the YSL brand. I was carrying a Saint Laurent Cabas Y-Ligne bag in Fuchsia and I wanted to compare prices with them but there was nothing like it in the store. The ones that were available are actually the older cabas models, the ones that have the Y displayed in front of the bag. I spotted a YSL Easy in animal print and oh my, it was gorgeous! And it was on sale! From P75,000, the price went down to P45,000! Wow! Not sure if they're going to release an Easy bag without the Y though. Actually, all the other YSL bags on display were on sale at 30-60% off the original price. The reason? The SA said it’s because YSL had a major makeover and is now Saint Laurent. So don't be surprised to see discounted YSL bags everywhere, even online! No wonder some old YSL models' price really went down, and were being mistaken as replicas. The cabas bags that are being released this year (2013) don’t have the big Y anymore as part of their minimalist approach. As per the quality and branding, Hedi Slimani, the creative director of the brand said, everything else is going to be the same. The brand’s logo will still be the same as well. I just noticed my Saint Laurent Cabas doesn’t have the YSL logo anymore, even on its zippers; instead, they put “Saint Laurent Paris”, as in the whole phrase on them.

YSL Cabas Chyc 2011

YSL or Saint Laurent, the bags in that store are worth having, especially now that they’re at 30-60% off! What a sweet deal for YSL fans!

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The 5-4-5 Stitch Rule in Speedys

So I heard that the 5-4-5 stitch count rule for Speedys no longer apply. Some even have 7-2-7, 6-3-6 and other weird combinations; and these bags were brought from LV stores so there’s no doubt about their authenticity. Evidently, Louis Vuitton seems to change their patterns more often lately because of the counterfeiters. The locations of the date codes change from time to time as well or so they say.

An Authentic Speedy with 6 stitches on top

I heard that the bags that were produced recently have different stitch counts so authenticating has become more difficult especially for those who buy from out of the store. The good news is, minus the stitching, we can still authenticate these lovely bags by just looking at the hardware, the quality of the leather and the stitching overall.

Being the most copied Louis Vuitton bag, the counterfeiters became more and more detailed and a good replica Speedy, if one won’t look carefully is almost as good as the real thing.

When authenticating a Speedy, one should always look at the quality of the leather first. It should be lightweight but shouldn’t feel weak. It shouldn’t be too shiny or too matted. The monogram shouldn’t bee too contrasted with the bag’s brown color. No, it shouldn’t be too bright. The bag should not stand on it’s own because it’s leather should be of soft quality.

An authentic Speedy hardware/rivet

The hardware,  overall, shouldn’t be too yellow. The hardware holding the handles shouldn’t be too square and edgy but not too round either. They should be squarish with slightly rounded edges. As per the bag’s stamping, honestly, I’ve seen too many authentic Speedys with different stampings. I wont say they’re uniform, especially when comparing an old speedy to a newer one. The only thing they have in common is the perfect “O” in Louis Vuitton. In my opinion though, based on my observation, the older Speedys have got more appeal than the ones that were produced recently. The leather seems sturdier but softer and suppler in older Speedys. I’m not sure if it’s because the leather is older or if LV has really changed their raw materials.

An authentic Speedy's bottom

Of course, the basics that we’ve used as guidelines in authenticating change every now and then. But there are still qualities in LV Speedys that are forever there. The rivets are still the same, the zippers, the way they make sure that no LV letters are cut; that the monogram should be symmetrical from side to side; that the bag shouldn’t be stitched at the bottom; how the leather shouldn’t be cut thus making the monogram upside down on the other side are still indicators for authenticity.

They say it’s safest to buy from the LV store. But sometimes buying pre loved isn’t just for saving some but also in it’s own way, a challenge. Happy shopping everyone!

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