Ever wonder what’s the most expensive handbag? Do you think you can afford it? Well, according to Forbes Magazine this is the most expensive handbag….
Fendi “B.Bag“
$27,700*
Hailing the return of the structured bag, this might be Fendi’s best seller since the Baguette. Although the white lambskin runway bag (pictured on the runway) was well-received, the $27,700 black crocodile version is truly coveted.
*(14,731 pounds, 21,617 euros, 1.2M rupees, C$31,038, A$36,910)
I love Juicy Couture simply because they are fluffy and usually in pink but there are a lot of fakes out there so here are some of the significant signs and tell-tales to help you spot a GENUINE Juicy Couture bag and or item:
>Bright Pink Juicy Couture Tag has a clear stitch and has the sticker printed serial number right inside of the label/tag
>”j” zipper charm/pull is made out of sturdy matt gold or shiny silver stainless steel material and is not merely coated with a dark gold paint
>heart appliques are clear and have clean stitches and the heart has a well defined shape and centered on the bag/wallet/box
>so far all those with the yorkie charms are authentic
>no neon velour colors with Daydreamer bags
>no loose stitches in the bag, no warps, no dents, no slanted shoulder straps
>the craftsmanship is obviously well-constructed and bag has a definitive shape,style and function
>all bags range from 9 thousand and higher, nothing less !
>standard packaging is constructed with the color pink, brown and gold which are the flagship colors of the stores worlwide…
Now, you can check the authenticity of your Juicy Couture.
We all know that designer bags are expensive and we must make an extra effort to take care of our beloved fashionable designer bags by learning to keep them properly. I do keep all my bags in their dust bags, all stuffed with their original stuffing. These are kept in a big closet of shelves, each shelf with 1 humidifier (the 1s in plastic boxes from supermarkets). I also put put desiccants in each bag.
Some pouches and wallet are also kept in dust bags with their boxes.
Every month, I spend an hour to air the bags, inspect these; and general clean the closet.
The best way to maintain the bags, per the experts, is to use the bag so that the leather doesn’t harden. So, do not buy bags to hoard — enjoy these as often as possible.
I have sent some bags for repair/replacement of the inner linings (even expensive designer bags’ interiors get “sticky” or damaged due to age or continued long storage) to Vintage Restore. Personally, if your bags just need cleaning — use Applegard. Vintage Restore charges too much just for cleaning — it is their base price (depends on the bag size) then they add another/other fee/s on top of the basic cleaning for any repairs. But if your bag is very damaged or has lost its luster due to prolonged storage — Vintage Restore can resuscitate your bag.
Is your bag authentic?
Know its parts: What is it “supposed” to be lined in? Should it have feet? What does the base look like? Should it have a d-ring inside? Where? Does it have a date code? Should it? Where?You can check the Vuitton website or your local boutique for this information… you can also purchase more detailed guides here on eBay that include such details… For example: If it is supposed to be lined in brown cotton canvas, it needs to be lined in brown cotton canvas. There have never been brown suede linings- even in the vintage pieces. Alcantara kind of looks like a suede-y material, but it isn’t suede and although is found in a greyish mushroomy color, it isn’t found in dark brown. A Speedy of any age should have brown cotton canvas lining, so if you see any other lining- you know it isn’t authentic. The lining of a Speedy has NEVER looked like this:
Know its Monogram placement: Louis Vuitton has been in production since 1854! Their style is classic, and quality- phenomenal! The traditional Monogram Toile canvas that is so popular today- had its beginnings in 1896. The monogram itself can give clues as to authenticity. Louis Vuitton is very careful about the way that the monogram is placed on any piece. Most of its styles are the same today as they were when they first came out- with a few exceptions. The actual LV monogram is usually (with the exception of some vintage pieces) symetrical from side to side in all monogram styles (traditional, Multicolore, Cerises, Mini mono, Vernis etc.) as you can see in this Louis Vuitton Speedy (notice where the LVs are in relation to the handles, sides, quatrefoils etc)…
Watch the stitching: Louis Vuitton is very careful with it’s stitching. Stitching should be very even and regular. The same number of stitches will be found in similar locations on similar bags… for example the leather tab that the handle attaches onto on any size monogram Speedy bag will always have 5 regular, even stitches across the top, like this:
Watch the age: While vintage pieces follow most of the rules that I discuss in this guide, there are definite differences in vintage pieces. For example, all French Company pieces vary slightly… so if you are looking at a French Company Vintage Vuitton piece, it may differ a bit. For instance, the FC Speedy 30 does NOT always have 5 stitches across the top, does NOT have upside down LVs on one side, and does NOT have Louis Vuitton embossed in the hardware.
Made in Spain? Yes, while it is true that authentic Louis Vuitton is made in France, for over 25 years, Louis Vuitton has also produced bags in the USA, Spain, Germany and Italy. It is not true that a Louis Vuitton bag has to be marked “Made in France” to be authentic. Here is the embossed markings of an authentic Louis Vuitton bucket bag, Made in the USA:
What about the “Upside Down LVs”? People email me all the time about this one… Some styles of authentic Louis Vuitton WILL have “upside down” LVs on the backside. The reason for this is that Louis Vuitton uses one continuous piece of leather that wraps around from the front to back, without a seam on the bottom- and so, the backside has upside down logos. This is true on the Speedy styles (except French Company Speedys), the Keepalls, Papillons, and some similar styles. Most monogram pieces (any piece with a separate piece of canvas or leather on the bottom) will have the LVs rightside up on both sides.
What about the patches? It is true that many older fake bags had patches on the interior and exterior that simply were never there on authentic versions. Fake exterior patch followed by fake interior patch:
However, some authentic bags DO have them! This is especially true of vintage pieces where there is a round patch meant for personalized embossing like this:
Some current bags also have patches inside, like the Viva Cite:
The Fonts: Louis Vuitton uses a very specific font. I’ve noticed that a few counterfieters have begun to do a better job at knocking it off… so be careful, but current LV fonts will ALL look like the one on the patch above. Notice the VERY round “O”s. Here is an example of two straps- one authentic, one a “better” fake. Can you tell the difference?
(The bottom one is authentic…)
Source: eBay
 |
 |
