Designer Handbags Guide Archives - Page 2 of 2

Louis Vuitton Christopher Backpack Bag – Bargain Or Expensive Fake?

Have you been to the new Louis Vuitton store in Sydney? It is Maison – magnificent. 3 times bigger than the old store, it is still filled with shoppers even on a weekday (what GFC, financial hardship?). On the other hand, lots of bargain hunters have been busy too, shopping for used Louis Vuitton bags for much cheaper than retail prices. But it all comes down to this question: is that near new, highly sought after Louis Vuitton bag you found on eBay a real bargain or is it just a hard to tell, super expensive fake? Someone asked me to have a look at this item listed on eBay. He liked this Louis Vuitton Christopher Backpack Bag but not sure if it’s the real deal.

Celebrities with Louis Vuitton Christopher Backpack

The cool and discontinued Louis Vuitton Christopher backpack bag has been spotted on many famous musician and basketballers. No wonder when one emerged on eBay, many people started to bid eagerly.

From the main picture, this bag looks kind of similar to a real one. It’s even got a serial number/date code AR0031 printed on a little tag inside the bag with the seemingly right country code and date format. Below 2 pictures are from the actual eBay listing:

One picture has some other designer look alike items piled next to the bag itself. That obviously impressed some bidders. Winning bid for it was US$4,276.96. Not cheap. Judged by the price alone, it got to be real right? Sadly the bag is not real. It is not even a sophisticated copy.

It’s fairly easy to tell this “Louis Vuitton Christopher backpack bag” is fake from the date code provided:

1. Wrong production date: The Louis Vuitton Christopher backpack bag was from Louis Vuitton Autumn – Winter 2004 -2005 men collection. What does the date code “AR0031” on this eBay bag tell us? Made in France, March 2001. Yeah right, back in 2001 this Louis Vuitton style didn’t even exist.

2. Wrong date code font, color and stamping technique. If you’ve seen or owned a Louis Vuitton Christopher backpack bag, you’ll know the date code on a real bag is not printed in red letters as displayed on the fake bag. It should be heat stamped on the little leather tag in side the bag like this:

Yes. auction bidding is exciting. But before making a purchase like this, it pays to do some research first. Who would like to get on hold of a second hand fake Louis Vuitton Bag?

3 April 2013

Louis Vuitton Luggage – A Piece Of History

Designer Handbags Guide

Louis Vuitton luggage is not your normal backpack or suitcase. Before Louis Vuitton (the designer and founder) started his own box-making and packing workshop, he was making luggage for the French royalty. Out of all those skilled travel box makers, Napoleon III of France picked Louis Vuttion as the trunk maker to make travel luggage and suitcases for his wife Empress Eugénie de Montijo in 1852. Yep, he was that good. The empress charged Louis Vuitton with “packing the most beautiful clothes in an exquisite way.” And he didn’t disappoint.

Louis Vuitton Luggage louis-vuitton-catalogue-1901-200x300

(photo from the Internet)

In 1854, Louis Vuitton opened his own box-making and packing workshop in Paris. The sign outside the shop read: “Securely packs the most fragile objects. Specializing in packing fashions.” Four years later, Vuitton debuted an entirely new trunk. Instead of leather, it was made of canvas that was lighter, more durable and water proof. Unlike all previous round trunks, Vuitton’s trunks were stackable, rectangular shaped—making them far more convenient for shipping via the railroad and steamship. Most commentators consider Vuitton’s trunk the birth of modern luggage. Demand for Louis Vuitton luggage was increasingly high, In 1859, Vuitton expanded into a larger workshop in outside Paris. Personal orders for Louis Vuitton luggage was not only received from French royalty but also from Isma’il Pasha and the Khedive of Egypt.

Vuitton introduced a new trunk design featuring beige canvas and red stripes in 1872. The simple, yet luxurious, new design marked the beginning of the Louis Vuitton label’s modern incarnation as a luxury brand. In 1896, in response to widespread copying of the brand’s patterns, Louis Vuitton’s son Georges Vuitton created the famous LV monogram canvas, featuring diamonds, circles and flowers, to distinguish the brand’s products.

The iconic travel bag in Louis Vuitton luggage line, LV Keepall bag was debuted in 1930. In 1997 Marc Jacobs was appointed the house’s first creative director and was charged with introducing men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections. At the time, Jacobs told US Vogue: “What I have in mind are things that are deluxe but that you can also throw into a bag and escape town with, because Louis Vuitton has a heritage in travel.” The house has cultivated a strong celebrity following under Jacobs’ direction. Many models, actors and musicians have been the face of the brand.

June 2012 – Muhammad Ali was photographed with his grandson and a Louis Vuitton keepall bag in his Arizona home. Photo by Annie Leibovitz for the label’s latest Core Values campaign.

(photo from Louis Vuitton campaign)

A couple of beautiful Louis Vuitton hard case travel pieces from Personal Louis Vuitton Luggage collection:

Left: Louis Vuitton Beauty Truck; Right: Louis Vuitton Nice Cosmetic Travel Bag.

To date, the monogrammed Louis Vuitton luggage holds claim to being one of the world’s most recognised and iconic fashion creations of all time. It is not hard to understand why once you start using it. It’s the best:).

12 March 2013

Louis Vuitton Keepall Bag Guide

Designer Handbags Guide, Style + Design

To date, Louis Vuitton Keepall bag remains as the iconic bag in Louis Vuitton luggage line, among their numerous collections. It was first crafted in 1930 and touted as the classic, stylish travel bag for travellers who need a bag that is durable, roomy, light weight and easy to carry. . Keepall fits into an airplane’s overhead compartment and is perfect for your holiday and weekend getaway.

(photos from the Internet)

Vintage VS: Modern Louis Vuitton Keepall Bag:

Louis Vuitton Keepall bag is the original, bigger version of Louis Vuitton Speedy bag. That’s why Keepall bags produced in early 80s all have a leather tab attached to the zipper, like you the one see on the speedy bags:

Later Louis Vuitton made a change to the zipper structure of keepall. Keepall bags now have double zipper closure with two-brass zipper pulls to hold the lock. This is what you see from the current version of Louis Vuttion Keepall bag:

Styles:

Keepall has 2 styles in general:

Keepall Bandliere: A detachable, longer, leather strap also comes with it, comfortably padded at the shoulder.

Keepall: top handles only with no long cross-body strap.

Louis Vuitton Keepall bags are available in 4 different sizes:

Louis Vuitton Keepall 45: 45 x 27 x20 cm

Louis Vuitton Keepall 50: 50 x 29 x 22 cm

Louis Vuitton Keepall 55: 55 x 31 x 24 cm

Louis Vuitton Keepall 60: 60 x 33 x 26 cm

Available lines:

Keepall bags are available in different lines: Monogram Canvas, Macassar Canvas, Damier (Ebene, Azur, Graphite, Carbone, Infini) Canvas and Epi Leather.

Care for the Keepall:

Damp cloth with gentle soap for the canvas, and soft dry cloth for the leather parts. If done correctly and as often as needed, the lifespan should be comparable to that of leather. Keepall should be kept away from rough, scratchy surfaces, damp places, and high heat.

8 March 2013

What Size? Louis Vuitton Neverfull Bag Size Review.

Designer Handbags Guide, Style + Design, Style Diary

Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM and other size bags have been ever popular since they entered the fashion scene. Like a lot of other Louis Vuitton models, Louis Vuitton Neverfull bags have 3 sizes available, the GM, MM and PM.

My first Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag is the GM size from monogram line. I loved the idea of having a Louis Vuitton neverfull GM bag. Did I really enjoy using it? Not as much as I had hoped… It was too big and it didn’t retain its shape properly. The bottom of my GM neverfull bag would sag out as soon as I put something with a little weight in it. I didn’t mind a big bag but a big bag with a sagging bottom bothers me. There are base shapers for Louis Vuitton bags for sale which may help with the problem. But I’ve never tried.

Soon after that I moved on to Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM bags. My verdict? LOVE. IT. I’ve been using Louis Vuitton neverfull MM bags as my day everyday for a few years now. Why always Neverfull MM? Because.

It holds tons of items. Like the name suggested, it never gets full!
Neverfull MM bag retains its shape perfectly. No more sagging bottom!
It’s sooo lightweight. I don’t feel the weight of the bag at all.
It’s practical. Ok. I have a little confession to make: I am kind of lazy. Zippered bags are great for security but Neverfull bag’s open top suits me fine. Open and close, it’s that fast and easy. There’s a large zippered pocket inside the bag so I put all my valuables inside the pocket. Usually I put a light jumper or a scarf on top of everything in my bag.

What about the PM size? Since the title of this blog entry is Louis Vuitton Neverfull Bags Size Review, I should mention the Louis Vuitton Neverfull PM too. The PM bag is much smaller than the other two. It is still a great bag and quite spacious but it does get full:). Nevertheless, a Neverfull PM bag would hold more items than a similar sized bag due to its design.

Of course different people have different preferences. It’s just that from my personal experience the Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM bag has been suitable for my needs.

My current Louis Vuitton neverfull MM bag is from Louis Vuitton Damier line. I bought it from Louis Vuitton store in Cologne, Germany last year. It’s been with me to a lot of places but it is still looking brand new.

Louis Vuitton neverfull bags. What is your favorite size?

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4 March 2013

How To Care For Chanel Bags

Designer Handbags Guide, Style + Design

“Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.” ~Coco Chanel~

Yes, Chanel was like that, bold, confident and simply irresistible.

As early as 1915 Harper’s Bazaar raved over Chanel’s designs: “The woman who hasn’t at least one Chanel is hopelessly out of fashion.” Chanel was truly a fascinating woman who had the extraordinary ability to transform her life and influence people the way she wanted.

Chanel bags are legendary.

As early as 1930 Mademoiselle Chanel was inspired to create a shoulder bag, thus freeing women’s hands and radically changing their allure. She drew inspiration for the early models from soldier’s rucksacks and produced them in jersey lined with petersham. An immediate success, this bag reached the height of its popularity in February 1955, with the so-called 2.55 model.

Chanel leather bags are luxury goods. Provided you take care of them, they can last for a long time. Below are the things you can do to care for Chanel bags and ensure the longevity of your precious bags.

How To Care For Chanel Bags:

In order to retain its elegant shape, never overload your Chanel bag.
Treat its delicate surface with the same care: do not expose the leather to sun or moisture or let it come into contact with make-up or perfume.
Light-colored patent leather should not be place adjacent to dark –colored materials (color migration phenomenon) for long periods of time. Small leather items are especially at risk for such migration.
If the product is wet, dab it dry with natural colored, absorbent, non-fluffy cloth. When you are not suing it, store in a protective cloth bag, preferably upright. For further protection, line it with tissue and place the chain straps inside so that they don’t mark the leather.
Metallic parts, metal chains and fastenings can be polished with a chamois cloth.

22 February 2013

Louis Vuitton Artsy Bag Date Code

Designer Handbags Guide, Style + Design, Style Diary

In this blog post, I’m going to show you where to find Louis Vuitton Artsy bag date code and what it looks like since I’ve received a lot of questions in regards to Louis Vuitton Artsy bag’s date code location. Indeed, finding Louis Vuitton Artsy bag date code can be a tricky task. It is discreetly”hiding” inside the bag and it could take a while to search for it if you don’t know where to look for. Some of you bought it from Louis Vuitton store but couldn’t find the date code; others found pre – owned ones but unsure about their authenticity.

We’ve talked about why a “Louis Vuitton Artsy Bag” for sale on eBay is fake in this blog post and the meaning of a Louis Vuitton handbag’s date code here.

Below is the picture of the date code (CR4161) of my Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Artsy Bag, which was bought from Louis Vuitton Pairs Champs Elysees.

A few notes of Louis Vuitton Artsy Bag Date Code:

Authentic Louis Vuitton Artsy bag’s date code is located on the fabric of the lining inside one of the wall pockets, not on a small leather tag.
The font of all Louis Vuitton Artsy bags’ date codes should be exactly the same as the one shown in above picture.
Artsy bag’s date code is imprinted on the lining ( the date code could be rubbed away with time), not painted in darker color.
Date code is not the only factor that determines the authenticity of a Louis Vuitton bag.

Some of you also asked what kind of outfits would go well with Louis Vuitton Damier Azur canvas & whether or not a LV damier Azur canvas bag will look good with darker colored clothes. Well, it depends on personal taste. In my opinion Damier Azur canvas goes well with a lot colors due to its neutral tone. It certainly looks beautiful with light colored outfits and I’ve also mixed a black top and a pair of dark blue pants with Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Artsy bag. There’s no right or wrong with what you wear really. The important thing is: wear whatever makes you most comfortable for the occasion! .

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18 February 2013

How To Spot A Real Fendi Baguette Bag

Designer Handbags Guide, Style + Design

Newly wed Jessica Biel Timberlake was spotted carrying a Fendi Baguette bag recently, together with her big rock and beaming smile.

(photos from the Internet)

A legend in Italian fashion since 1925, the Fendi logo is a symbol of quality and status know worldwide. The Fendi sisters work closely with designer Karl Lagerfeld. It was Silvia Venturini Fendi who designed the famous Fendi Baguette Bag in 1997.

(photos from the Internet)

Sarah Jessica Parker has spoken about her love for Fendi’s Iconic Baguette Bag, one of her Sex and The City Character Carrie Brashaw’s most famous accessories, in a book called Fendi Baguette.

“Having the Fendi Baguette was a very big deal, and the gate way to everything else”, Parker writes. “ It really opened the floodgates and influenced the storyline ~ especially Carrie’s habit of spending more money on fashion than her home. The Fendi Baguette Bag became a staple of Carrie’s wardrobe and character… I recently archived both (my original) Baguettes to keep them in pristine condition. Now that I have two daughters, they can each have one.”

Yes Fendi Baguette bags are expensive. But in reality, you don’t have be like Carrie, spending a fortune on a designer bag. You can still look after your home and look fabulous. Get a like new or gently used authentic Fendi Baguette Bag at a fraction of its original cost, providing you know how to spot the real deal.

How To Spot An Authentic Fendi Baguette Bag

Check the following before you make your purchase:

Fendi Hardware:

Fendi bags are accented with high quality hardware. Feel the weight, especially the Front bucket with the huge FF logo. It’s definitely not the flimsy type.

Fendi Logo:

A Fendi Baguette bag has Fendi logo engraving on every part of its hardware.
On the reverse side of the front FF logo buckle.
On the side buckets that attach the shoulder strap to the bag.
Fendi logo plate inside the bag.
The inside wall pocket has FF logo zipper pull.

Serial Number:

The original Fendi bag comes with a serial number. You can find Fendi Serial numbers either in the side lining of the inner pocket or on a leather strip between the seams inside the bag.

Hologram sticker:

Since around 2004, Fendi introduced hologram sticker on their bags for authenticity purpose. Fendi bags produced prior to that don’t have hologram. Real hologram stickers are of high quality and they don’t fall off. Fake bags have fake hologram stickers on them but they tend to fall off easily. They also have different color refection and feel to them that can be spotted by a pair of trained eyes.

Wear it strap on or strap off?

Your choice:).

(photos from the Internet)

10 January 2013

Expensive Gift Or a Super Fake – Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Stresa GM Bag

Designer Handbags Guide

Expensive Gift Or a Super Fake? Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Stresa GM Bag.

We received a lot of emails/phone calls everyday from people wanting to sell us something; website design, advertising space, SEO service, bags, web hosting, cups, doormats, you name it. We also receive genuine inquires for consignment private sales, which we welcome. However, recently we received a very interesting package. It contained a brand new, never used, Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Stresa GM Bag its owner offered for sale to us. At a rather high price I might add.

Normally private collectors would send us photos to get a quote before sending the bags over. This bag arrived without any photos sent prior. When the parcel was opened, we saw a gorgeous looking bag. Its leather still pale-new, untarnished. For a used bag this would always be a bad sign. LV leather only looks that pale not for long before it turns into a darker patina. But this is a brand new bag, so its all good. It was so new, in fact, it even had plastic wrapping around the handles.

Hm… plastic wrappers around the handles? Curiouser and curiouser …

Bag received

The thing is, new bags from Louis Vuitton stores don’t come wrapped in plastic. It just looks tacky and cheap, and LV is all about style. Well, at least, we’ve never seen such plastic wrappers from any of the Louis Vuitton stores we’ve been to; in Australia, Europe, America or Japan. The owner said that the bag came from an LV store in Macau, and since none of us have purchased from that store before, we examined the bags thoroughly to verify its authenticity.

The bag looked very much like a real Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Stresa GM bag. Normally 99% of fakes can be spotted with just a glance, but this one was a real challenge. It has the right color of stitching, shape, measurements, right number of wall pockets positioned in the right spots of a Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Stresa GM bag. The date code is VI2150 meaning: made in 25^th week of 2010. The copy of the receipt was dated on December 20^th 2010 so it’s all making sense on paper.

It’s quite amazing how sophisticated some counterfeiters have become. We actually had fun spotting the minute differences between the real LV and this bag. We compared it to a large number of real Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Stresa GM bags we’ve seen and we want to share the details with you.

Louis Vuitton factories are very consistent with the font, stitching, logo, wording, heat stamps etc on their products of the same model, produced in the similar period of time, which helps a great deal in the authentication process.

Wrong date code font: real LV Stresa bags’ date code font is slim and long as shown in the blow photos:

real Louis Vuitton damier azur stresa gm bag (4 of 4)

Real Date Code font is slim and long

This bag’s date code doesn’t possess the correct font. The numbers and letters in the date code are too round compared to real ones and the last 2 numbers “5” and “0” are slightly out of alignment. See the wrong date code font of the bag received in below photo:

Fake: Font is rounder, number 0 looks shorter then the rest

Wrong heat stamp: real LV Strasa bags’ heat stamps are pressed lightly on the leather. Letter strokes are thin.

Real LV streasa bag heat stamps: light and thin

This bag’s heat stamp is deeply pressed into the leather. Letter strokes are much thicker than the ones on original bags.

Fake: heap stamp pressed deeply into the leather.

Counterfeit zipper pull. Real Louis Vuitton Stresa logo pulls have the Louis Vuitton logo nicely engraved on the brass, using a special font with a well-rounded “O”.

Real LV zipper pull: Logos are engraved lightly on the brass with rounder logo font

Letters on the zipper pull of the bag received are smaller and in wrong font.

Fake: Louis Vuitton logo

The bag has incorrect number of stitches on the side leather tab with brass rivet. Louis Vuitton always have the same number of stitches on the bags of the same model, manufactured in the same period of time. Real Louis Vuitton Stresa GM bags have 9 even stitches on each side of the brass rivet on the side leather tab.

Real LV Stresa GM bag leather tab has 9 stitches

The bag received has only 8 stitches on the each side of the brass rivet, which appear uneven as shown below:

Fake: leather tab has 8 uneven stitches

Sadly there are so many “close to real” fakes out there. We don’t accept any item that we can’t guarantee its authenticity. So we had to bring the bad news to the sender that the gift they bought is actually a fake. A very smart fake but nevertheless, not the real deal. In the mean time, watch out buyers. If you see a similar Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Stresa GM bag for sale somewhere, stay away. It might be this bag’s sister from Macau.

More blog posts on Designer Handbag Guide.

20 December 2012

It’s a Chanel, it’s a Chanel WOC

Designer Handbags Guide, Shopping, Style + Design

Can’t call myself a huge Chanel fan but I don’t mind the idea of dressing up with a Chanel half moon WOC chain bag. What do you do if a handbag is too big and a wallet is too small for your special occasion? Choose a Chanel WOC (wallet on a chain):).

Basically, it’s a clutch bag with a long shoulder chain, built-in card slots, bill, and zippered coin compartments. There are many different styles of Chanel WOC and they come in different colors and sizes. They are made of different materials.

Classic Quilted: The most commonly known rectangular shape with diamond-quilted pattern available in both caviar and lambskin leather.

Timeless Envelope: Pebbled caviar leather with large embossed CC logo, not quilted.

Camellia: Lambskin with embossed camellia flora pattern.

Lipstick: Patent leather with large multicolored CC logo.

Brilliant: Classic diamond quilted leather with crystalized CC logo.

Half Moon: Pebbled caviar leather, half-moon shape with large embossed CC logo.

Boy: Classic boy shape, quilted front flap with a CC metal nameplate on it.

Sevruga: Micro pebbled matte leather, not quilted.

Different materials of Chanel WOC:

Lambskin: a very delicate, smooth leather that could be scratched and scuffed very easily.
Patent leather: a shiny, plastic looking leather.
Caviar leather: pebbled, the most durable leather compared to other Chanel leather lines.
Cevruga leather: micro pebbled matte leather. The least expensive Chanel WOC (still costs more than $1.000).

Why I like the Half Moon the most out of the all the different types of Chanel WOC.

It’s chic, feminine shape. Personally, I don’t want another square -ish, quilted Chanel bag. Call that “timeless” or ” classic”, to me, this modern, unique looking Half moon WOC bag is like a breath of fresh air.
It’s made of caviar leather. The Half Moon is more susceptible to wear and tear. Unless we have millions to inherent, we want the bag costs us thousands of dollars to last a little longer. Do you agree?
The Half Moon is the roomiest among the Chanel WOC bags. It has the greatest length compared to other Chanel WOC. Due to the pleated design, it has more room to give.

I was totally unsure if I should put this into my blog. But since there isn’t a lot information on the Chanel website, I’ve decided not to let my research go to waste:).

13 November 2012