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How to Spot a Fake Handbag: Texas Living- KTXD TV Dallas
I had the most amazing day visiting the set of KTXD TV, Texas Living! The co-host team of Kimberly Schlegel Whitman and Hilary Kennedy were even more stylish and multifaceted in person than on the screen.
Kimberly’s accolades include TV Host, Author, Radio Personality, Lifestyle Expert, Speaker, Blogger, RSVP calendar Publisher, Party Planner and Social Media Aficionado. Hilary is a native Texan and graduate of Texas Christian University who enjoys all things lifestyle and entertainment.
The ladies and I spent the morning discussing key factors in buying authentic bags and learning the key points to look for in spotting a fake.
First and foremost, I strongly suggest you only buy from a trusted seller that guarantees authenticity or your money back. For example on eBay, look for sellers with a history and good feedback. When buying on the web, only consider those companies who guarantee authenticity or your money back.
- Each luxury handbag brand has different markings to consider, however, the fact remains that each bag have a serial number or stamp should be prevalent. On a Hermes Birkin it is on the flap, on a Louis Vuitton it is on the interior of the bag, on Chanel it is on a sticker inside the bag.
- The stitching should be consistent. It might be pulled in an area, but it won’t be uneven.
- The patena on a Louis Vuitton bag will be prevalent on the handles. The patena is created from oils on your hands. If the bag shows wear on the bottom but doesn’t show a patena, the bag is a fake.
- There are certainly limited edition bags, however, if the style, color and proportion of the handles aren’t constant, the bag is a fake.
Of course there are exceptions to every rule, but these guidelines can get you started. Just remember if the price of a bag is “too good to be true”, it probably is.
At The Vintage Contessa we guarantee the authenticity of every bag or we’ll give you your money back. We buy every bag in our stock. We are not a consignment store. So, we in essence put our money where our mouth is.
My husband and partner, Rob Chramosta, is an estate jeweler, numismatist, vintage watch dealer and diamond dealer. He has been in the industry for over 30 years. Our reputation means everything in our business. It would be counterproductive to sell anything fake. Therefore, we go through a multistep processes authenticating everything we buy and, in turn, sell.
On a side note, look who I ran into at the Texas Living Shoot, Interior Designer Janet Rice.
And my best friend from college, Kathleen Plagens Evans.
