Before I actually go into any designers or styles or photos of fakes again, I thought it was quite necessary to go over the basics of what you need for every bag when bidding on eBay.

Use this as a check list, don’t bid until every aspect is satisfactory. (Do you have any requirements to add?)

This is long, so click for full… Continue to read more bag love »

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First of all, never trust iOffer in the first place. And even though their fakes are worse than eBay’s, we can still learn things.

Here is a brand new gold metallic Marc Jacobs Cammie from Neiman Marcus (which I really hope stays around for a sale).

Here is a FAKE Marc Jacobs Quilted Leather Cammie in midnight blue.

(Quite clear, right?)

Now I don’t have too much information on Cammies, but I know enough to tell these two points:

• The pockets and quilts are off with the line of the bag. Marc Jacobs has excellent alignment (so too bad the brand doesn’t do signature).
• The chain strap is too long.

Now stay away from iOffer!

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(Note: This post contains a little helpful information on recognizing authentic Louis Vuitton bags.)

The Louis Vuitton Speedy is a great bag. I love LV’s signature layout, it’s simply the finest with the greatest attention to quality and detail. The Speedy bags are made using uncut leather, pretty much one strip, so the back side of them have upside down LVs. I just love this so much, it’s pretty much how I would do things.

But then there’s the material. It just doesn’t hold it’s shape. It slouches no matter what. So however much I like the Speedy, I can’t carry one.

My new favorite is the Louis Vuitton Alma. I always loved it perhaps the most, for its classy, unique shape. It has a leather bottom, and so the rear has upright monogram, but the incomparable aligning and the fact that LVs are never cut off the side measure up to standard.

Anyway, it’s mostly about that sophisticated, classic shape. When I buy a Louis Vuitton, it will be an Alma. (Just a bit too bad the Alma’s a few hundred more dollars than the Speedy, at $880.) You can buy the authorized Alma at eLUXURY. Do you think I should save up, or perhaps research further and go for used and a little discount on eBay? I might even get one at the boutique, I imagine there would be no better feeling when buying a Louis. Yes, in a couple years time, for sure, although I hear LV’s pricing always rises. Well, my professional writing income will probably be raised quite a bit, so I think it will be less cash to me! Most of you, maybe act now on this forever classic bag.

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I love this style, the Marc Jacobs Quilted Venetia, it is my favorite and my most coveted of Marc Jacobs, although it is too wide for me at 16″, so I will quite contentedly settle for the Blake. I just need to find one. Must be blue!

Anyway, my little tizzying search led me to this bag, and after wanting it, of course I did my research before moving forward.

I learned how to spot a Marc Jacobs fake, and I could tell with the styles at which I looked.

Whether you can see it right away or not, this is a bad, or at least easily-seen fake.

The tell-tale signs: Continue to read more bag love »

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Here is the first of my two stories from my trip for this blog. It’s late, yes.

My friend took me to a sort of flea mall, called “Festival Flea Market.” It’s supposed to be somewhat nicer than a usual flea market.

I wanted to look at the handbags. And it was an adventure. There was only one original brand shop for handbags, but every few feet, there was another shop filled with knockoffs. Really good looking, but not feeling, Fendi. Really, really bad Coach. Mixtures of two designers. And lots of the same replica Marc Jacobs Stam and similar bags that one even sees at cheap stores at any mall in Massachusetts (we don’t get the fakes abounding like in Florida).

There was no talk (other than from my mouth informing my friends) of what designer these bags were molded after. An Asian woman came up to me (looking at a “Spy”) and told me “$35.” I fear for the unsuspecting public. Most women in the mall carried bags that were far from designer, whether they be fake or not. (I had my teal Coach satchel the whole trip.)

I really wanted to take pictures of the sea of fakes. I also would like to take shots of a few individual bags for education. But I didn’t feel it would be polite.

Have you seen such a thing? What is the level of “inspired” bags in your area? Do you have booths in the middle of your mall aisles?

And what do you think of this?

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Via Yahoo! : Fendi S.R.L. sued Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in US Federal Court on Friday for selling counterfeit bags and accessories, at their Sam’s Club stores, with the Fendi logo and passing them off as authentic, while reportedly earning millions off the highly “discounted” merchandise.

“Wal-Mart said late on Friday that it had not seen the complaint and therefore could not comment.” (Weren’t the Wal-Mart folks there for the suit, though?)

Metro 7 by Wal-Mart “Embossed Satchel” bag

“In one example cited in the lawsuit, a black handbag bearing Fendi’s trademark logo was offered for sale in a Sam’s Club store in Miami for $508.25, 45 percent less than the retail price of $930 for a genuine Fendi bag.

“Sam’s Club stores, which sell everything from bulk groceries to office supplies, recently said it would ratchet up competition with rival Costco Wholesale Corp. by selling more luxury goods like fine wines and diamonds.”

Fendi has asked for monetary compensation and requests the knockoffs be destroyed. Good for them.

Meanwhile, Wal-Mart is selling replica Fendi Spy bags, Chloé Paddingtons and more designer “inspired” bags for under $20. (I refuse to link.)

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As a special treat this week, I thought I’d feature great purse-posts (or pursts) from around the bagosphere. I’m a little bit wiped from purses, but there were great bags and/or commentary abounding this week. I can find inspiration from an opinion or another blogger’s (bagger’s) find, even if I’m having trouble starting from scratch.

Starting with an Important IT bag from Fendi that I missed in my recent scouting, due to different stock at different e-stores: The Fendi Large Leather Selleria Tote, via Luxist, sold at Saks Fifth Avenue. I posted the line’s hobo on High Fashion High, last week, but this bag is better! I love the shape, stitching and horizontal strap. And sure, the horse is an interesting feature, but I don’t understand its buckle design embossed onto the leather. That doesn’t seem too luxe, just odd.

– Purseuing’s DKNY Reversible Bag in red paisley is lovely for summer, but I wish the block pattern on the opposite side were a contrast color, like navy. I’d buy it for sure, then.

– I disagree about Coach’s Signature in general (I think it has an artistic and well-designed aesthetic of the butterfly pattern) but EBelle5 points out more to dislike about their patchwork signature. Still, as a commenter stated, the “counterfeiters dream” aspect is more about higher difficulty in recognizing a fake, and less about amateur sewers replicating it.

– Finally, get a different perspective from Mallory’s on Luella’s Charm Satchel on The Bag Snob, with “Not Charmed by Luella” (best title this series). Although, The Bag Snob is quite mouthy about her distaste, indeed. Gosh, she is a Bag Snob! Whoa.

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See how nice this Louis Vuitton bag is that Jessica Simpson is carrying? I’ve definitely—and boldly—made it clear how I feel about Marc Jacobs’s design efforts with the brand, but this bag is nice. I do like the pointed leather straps details many bags have—it’s a signature (and they should all have it).

And sure, this is a very expensive version that Jessica Simpson can afford, I get that … but this LV is so much nicer than the ones I see you carrying at the mall. I’m watching you.

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In recent news, contrary to what seems to be eBay’s policies as in writing, eBay has spoken out in refusal to remove counterfeit auctions and denied responsibility to monitor authenticity of sellers’ items.

New York Times News Service — SAN FRANCISCO - EBay refused to remove hundreds of listings for [knockoff butterfly brooches]. It said it had no responsibility for fakes, because it was nothing more than a marketplace that links buyers and sellers.

EBay, based in San Jose, Calif., argues that it has no obligation to investigate counterfeiting claims, unless the claim comes from a ‘rights owner,’ a party holding trademark or copyright. A mere buyer who believes an item is a fake has almost no recourse.

Experienced eBay users say that the fraud goes well beyond eBay’s official numbers, and that counterfeiters easily pass off fakes in hundreds of categories.

This means jeans, jewelry, handbags, almost anything, can be fake. Buyer beware; only buy from a seller who offers to give refund if an item is counterfeit, and get everything authenticated by an official retailer (not department stores).

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It is my inspired opinion that imitation bags, yes I mean especially ones that copy design without logo, lower the value of the original, creative and unique designs of the big designer handbags, thereby raising individual bag costs due in part to lower sales, but also the mere essence of the original look being perverted and disbursed to the masses!

Think about this, an ever-increasing pricetag for a line with an ever-decreasing value? You don’t want to carry that, even if you rock the income and covet the style.

But what should low-end consumers do when faced with a reputable brand-name’s copy? It is under $100, or on sale for so, it might even be genuine leather. Maybe one wants to “stick it” to the pricemakers of $4,000 … $7,000 … $11,000 bags.

I know when I saw this Wilson’s Leather Turn-Lock Handbag that was in the style of Hermes Birkin, I suddenly liked it, and it was suddenly perfect for my needs. I bought it, I love it, and I’m into it more than the original design. (But sometimes I feel guilty.) What do you think is crossing this fine line (or perhaps it’s large yellow tape)?

For another angle on these bags, visit Kiss Me, Stace, our fashion and shoe blog.

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