| I'm sure I'm not the only one who wistfully stares at the | | | | 4. Designer stores are usually located in high-profile |
| wildly expensive, incredibly attractive handbags in | | | | areas, and pay high amounts of rent |
| designer stores. I have fallen in love with the | | | | Clearly, none of this has anything to do with the |
| beige-and-brown beauties from the Gucci stable, the | | | | product itself. This is why an absolutely identical fake |
| glossy black leather from Louis Vuitton, the silvery | | | | handbag - right down to the materials - is going to be |
| platinum from Dolce and Gabbana... and then have had | | | | much cheaper than the designer item itself. And THIS |
| to sigh ruefully and turn away from the shop window. | | | | is how I have built my collection of "Gucci"s, "Louis |
| Those were the days when I believed that a handbag | | | | Vuitton"s, "Prada"s and more - all for under $100 each. |
| was an investment, one to be preserved and used | | | | You just have to keep looking. |
| carefully for several years on end. | | | | The biggest problem with fakes is that you do not get |
| Since growing a sense of fashion, however, it has | | | | the brand's guarantee. While a real Gucci falling apart |
| become absolutely necessary to have at least half a | | | | at the seams will definitely cause a stir - and get you a |
| dozen affordable handbags on hand. With a small | | | | free replacement - a fake that cannot handle weight is |
| collection of versatile handbags, I can now match bags | | | | only to be expected. People shopping for fakes usually |
| to outfits, and choose the right bag for an occasion. I | | | | end up spending quite a sum of money initially, trying to |
| hope you agree that this is a huge improvement from | | | | figure out which fakes will last and which will not. |
| my previous policy of "Black backpack for travel, black | | | | The best way to find good fakes is to find out what |
| leather handbag to work, black-and-white clutch to | | | | the real article looks and feels like. Get into a mall, run |
| parties". | | | | your fingers along the goods you will never be able to |
| Now, how do I get hold of handbags that are:a) | | | | afford, and familiarize yourself thoroughly with their |
| Fashionableb) Durablec) Affordable? | | | | look, feel and texture. When you go to buy a fake, |
| The answer is quite simple, actually. Get hold of fake | | | | make sure that the same look, feel and texture are |
| handbags! | | | | there. Also, check the lining and stitches - they should |
| The reason a designer handbag is so expensive has | | | | feel soft, supple and strong. Anything that feels hard or |
| little to do with the materials it is made out of. The | | | | brittle to the fingers should be avoided completely. |
| prices of designer goods go up because: | | | | The best fakes are not the cheapest. They will cost |
| 1. The high price establishes it as "premium". | | | | you a certain sum of money, but are much, much |
| 2. The designers get paid extremely high amounts, and | | | | cheaper than the original. Only this time, you're paying |
| the profits have to justify them | | | | for the quality of the manufacturing rather than the |
| 3. Advertising campaigns are expensive | | | | fees for the supermodel on the posters. |