First off, let’s talk about the Neverfull. That thing is like, the *most* faked bag EVER. Why? Because it’s popular! Duh. If you’re buying one secondhand, you better be extra careful. I saw one the other day, and the lining… Ugh. It was like, a weird plasticky thing. Real Neverfulls have a nicer, more substantial lining. Like, a canvas feel, y’know?
And then there’s the Speedy. Another classic. Honestly, I love a Speedy, but… the fakes! Okay, so stitching. Stitching is HUGE. Real Louis Vuitton stitching is like, perfect. Consistent. No loose threads. A fake? You’ll see wonky stitches, uneven spacing… basically, it’ll look like someone sewed it in the dark after one too many margaritas. (Not judging, we’ve all been there.)
Okay, now, the Alma. The Alma’s a little more tricky, I think. My friend almost got scammed on one last year. Anyway, date codes. Those little date codes inside the bag? Research them! They can tell you where and when the bag was made. And, like, don’t just blindly trust them. Make sure the code matches the style and era of the bag. ‘Cause fakers are getting smarter, they’ll put in a code, but it might be a code that’s totally wrong for that particular bag. Ugh.
Speaking of materials… the Vachetta leather. Oh, the Vachetta leather. This is where a lot of fakes fall down. Real Vachetta leather is untreated, so it’s gonna be this pale, almost creamy color. It’ll patina over time, meaning it’ll darken and develop a gorgeous tan. Fake Vachetta? It’ll often be this weird, orange-y color right off the bat. Plus, it’ll probably feel like plastic-y. Yuck.
And listen, don’t be afraid to use an authentication service. I know it costs money, but it’s better than getting stuck with a fake, right? Think of it as an investment in your… luxury accessory future.
