6 Wise Tips for Buying Designer Bags
A good bag should be durable and last forever. You can buy a bag as a serious investment or a fleeting dalliance. You can keep the best ones forever and enjoy the short time with the rest. You should have bags that you can enjoy every day without the need to save them for special occasions. They will have a good character if you carry them every day. It’s true each bag you own has a story to tell.
Did you know that there are people who are embarrassed by having new bags? Such people would rather jump, stomp and rub their bags in the dirt so they look used and worn out. Well, you don’t have to go to such extremes but you can always get a vintage bag from your older relatives. If you need a bag with some character, vintage bags always come in handy. However, you need to be careful how you shop, especially with there being so many fakes out there. Shop at thevintagebar.com for authentic vintage designer bags.
- Look for A Reputable Seller
You will find a lot of place selling luxury bags in physical stores and online. There are a few trustworthy ones but there are some conmen. If you want to be safe, make sure you get a source you can trust, someone who takes authenticity seriously as you do.
- Go with Your Gut
A lot of super fakes and fake bags out there means the sellers have deconstructed the actual bag and copied everything in it. You might have a hard time knowing the real items from such counterfeits. If you want to distinguish them you need to hold them in your hands and feel the markers for quality. For instance, is the bag oddly light? Does the leather feel cheap? If your gut feels wrong, don’t buy the bag.
- Check the Serial Number
A lot of high-end quality bags have internal markers of authenticity such as serial numbers. For instance, Chanel bags have a hologram sticker and there should be an original authenticity card with a number that matches what’s inside the bag. Hermes bags have the brand name stamped as well as a date stamp somewhere on the bag. Louis Vuitton puts a date code in the bag stamped on the inside lining or a tab. Don’t forget to check the font. If there’s a difference with the usual display of the brand name, you need to be careful.
- Compare to The Real Thing
The best bag authenticators in the industry have spent a long time looking at numerous bags. They could be from the original store or the counterfeits sold in the streets before they can identify the various differences. If you look at both items, you will have an idea of how the pieces are supposed to look. For instance, how does the bag hold its shape, sit and how does the texture feel?
- Don’t Ignore the Little Things
A fake will look great from a far but when it’s close you will notice the differences. Don’t forget to check the little things. For instance, straight stitching, smooth engraving on the hardware and classic hardware should be the first things to check. Zippers should give you the hint since the designer bags have chosen zipper brands. Be careful about that. Look at both the originals and the counterfeits to spot the differences.