First things first, that *leather*. A real Balenciaga, especially the City bag, is supposed to feel like butter. Like, seriously supple and soft. Not stiff, not shiny, just… yum. If it feels plasticky or like it’s gonna crack if you bend it too much, big red flag. I mean, Balenciaga ain’t exactly cheap, so they ain’t gonna skimp on the leather, right? Fakes often use synthetic stuff or just really low-quality leather. It’ll probably have a weird shine too, like it’s been lacquered or something. Ugh.
And speaking of the feel, the leather should be “distressed.” Not like falling-apart distressed, but like…lived-in, kinda edgy distressed. A new Balenciaga shouldn’t look perfectly pristine. If it does, that’s kinda sus.
Okay, next, give it a good eyeball. Overall appearance matters, right? Check the corners, make sure the measurements look right. I’m not saying you need to pull out a ruler, but just make sure it *looks* proportional. Sometimes fakes are just…off. Something about the shape or size just doesn’t quite sit right.
Then, get your magnifying glass (okay, maybe not, but you get the idea!) and zoom in on the stitching. Real Balenciagas have meticulous stitching. Even. Clean. Precise. If you see loose threads, uneven lines, or just generally sloppy work, that’s a major giveaway. These guys are supposed to be artisans, after all! They ain’t gonna let a bunch of wonky stitching slip through.
Oh, and don’t forget the hardware. Zippers, buckles, all that jazz. It should feel solid and high-quality. Not flimsy or like it’s gonna fall off after a week. And make sure it’s consistent throughout the bag. If the zipper feels cheap but the buckle feels legit, that’s weird.
Now, this is a tricky one, but the lining. Authentic Balenciaga City bags often have a black cotton canvas lining with the Balenciaga logo printed in white. Seems simple, right? But counterfeiters often skimp on this. Maybe they use a different material, maybe the logo is wonky, who knows? It’s just another thing to check.
Oh, and almost forgot! The folded method? Pocket? What ARE these authentication places talking about. I’m not sure how to do these, but it’s mentioned a lot so it’s probably important.
Finally, the serial number. This is like the bag’s fingerprint. But be warned, even serial numbers can be faked. So don’t rely on this alone. Use it in conjunction with all the other things we’ve talked about.
Look, spotting a fake Balenciaga is an art, not a science. You gotta use your gut instinct too. If something just *feels* off, it probably is. And remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. No one’s gonna sell you a real Balenciaga for, like, 50 bucks. Use your common sense!
