| Owning a designer handbag for some women is the | | | | whole hearted and went on to relay a story of her |
| quintessential, must-have accessory. The cost of | | | | plans to attend a "purse party"... until the seller was |
| owning an exquisite designer bag often requires | | | | arrested and sent to jail. Go figure. I was shocked. Are |
| creative financing. That new Black Gucci Tote at a | | | | all my friends and family criminals? Are they so |
| hefty $1730.00 might be inspiration for getting that | | | | concerned about appearing a certain way that they |
| second job, or perhaps foregoing that Starbucks | | | | have lost sight of right and wrong? Do purses make |
| Carmel Frappacino for a full year, or just piling on more | | | | women CRAZY? |
| credit card debt. While some women have no problem | | | | All of these events got me thinking about what type of |
| dropping that kind of coin, most women are too | | | | person would buy a legitimate designer inspired purse. |
| strapped to make such an opulent purchase. So | | | | Many designer inspired purses can look almost exactly |
| what's a budget conscious fashionista supposed to | | | | like the original, but carry no labels claiming that they |
| do? Lie? Cheat? Steal? Sell your first child? Shop in | | | | are. They reflect the style of the originals which is |
| the back room of a store in New York Citys' | | | | often why women want these handbags. To them it is |
| Chinatown? Attend a "Purse Party" in your neighbors | | | | simply a statement of their sense of style at a fraction |
| garage? Hmmmm? | | | | of the cost. A women who carries a designer-inspired |
| Many top designers have been forced to take action | | | | purse is most likely telling others, "Hey this looks great, |
| against selling these knock-offs. For every designer | | | | and it makes me feel fashionable, and I can't afford an |
| handbag that Kate Spade sells at least one | | | | original, and as Tyra Banks might say, "Soooo |
| "knock-off" is also sold. These knock-offs are bags | | | | WWWhhhat!" |
| that look exactly like the original and carry fake labels, | | | | If price is no option then the original designer bags are |
| which is illegal. A friend of mine had just purchased one | | | | great, but if your sense of fashion far exceeds your |
| of these "fakes" while visiting New York City. Having | | | | budget then a quality made designer look-a-like is a |
| recently finished a website for a company that sells | | | | great option. An option that is legal. Perhaps my friend |
| legitimate designer inspired handbags, I asked her if she | | | | and sister will change their minds and become proud |
| would consider buying a well-made inspired bag | | | | "budget-fashionistas". Not onlywill they look great while |
| instead of her "illegal" purchase, she flatly said, "No | | | | saving money, they just might set an example for |
| Way, I want people to think i have the real thing." My | | | | others to support the legitimate business of designer |
| sister, who was with us at the time, agreed with her | | | | inspired handbags. |