Louis Vuitton. You can practically write an endless thesis on the brand! A high-end French fashion house dedicated to luxury and for its superior quality. While today, Louis Vuitton is a leading international fashion brand, the iconic phenomenon planted its soil and roots from humble beginnings (Vuitton made a living from packing luggage which later motivated LV to introduce compacted light-weighted trunks to his customers). Many refer to the brand with its initials ‘LV’ trademark yet it is one of fashion’s most counterfeited brands due to its reputation and its appropriation to high status. Although the monogram logo was originally from the Louis Vuitton travel trunk, it ironically was designed to prevent counterfeits. Yet it has become the most copied designer logo. [Related Post HOW TO TELL FAKE ACNE STUDIOS]
LV takes counterfeiting seriously, employing a team of professionals to serve justice to those who have stolen their name and trademark! So it’s got make any wonder if their own Louis Vuitton possessions are authentic or a replication. Like many of you who are reading this, as an active advocate for high-end luxury, Bloggers Boyfriend utterly adores Louis Vuitton (the real kind)! So here, we break down how to spot a real one from a fake to make anyone an expert on spotting the difference!
Pattern: The infamous ‘LV’ initials is probably the most notorious initials which one could identify and know exactly what it stands for (and if you’ve just questioned it, you might as well as just walk out of the room right now!). High-end designer companies like Louis Vuitton truly value their ‘LV’ logo so the pattern should match and be evenly printed on the product. Word on the street is that it’s fake if the letters are divided in the seams or cut off anywhere on their products. However, according to Graham Wetzbarger from the retailer-designer site Real Real, it’s a myth. Also, don’t be alarmed if the pattern is upside down as the genuine Louis Vuitton Speedy bags are designed with a continuous piece of fabric that goes all the way around the bag, resulting in the pattern on one side being right side up and the other being upside down.
Image via louisvuitton.com
Details: More than anything, this ultimately comes down to common sense but let’s lay it out just to make it all crisp and clear- the detailing should be in mint condition. Take note and examine the material as after all, high-end luxury is a synopsis to quality so make sure it’s leather, not vinyl. The hardware should also feel heavy, not hollow or appear brassy. It should not definitely be made out of plastic. Observe the stitching work as there should be no sloppy back-and-forth stitching. Also, take note of colours- if it’s faded or alternated then it’s a big red flag!
Image via ny.racked.com
Writings: All Louis Vuitton bags made today have a date code. But on the off chance you happen to come across a bag manufactured before 1980s then this rule doesn’t apply (is that crickets I here?) The date code indicates when and where the Louis Vuitton item was produced for quality control purposes. However, that still does not necessarily guarantee that it’s out of the fake zone just because it contains a tag that has numbers and letters. While interrogating the product, take a look at the letter sizing and font- the ‘O’ should be bigger than the ‘L in ‘Louis’ and the ‘T’s’ should almost be touching each other and the font should be considerably thin.
Image via louisvuittonbags.joomla.com
Pricing: The amount of money you spend could possibly determine whether your Louis Vuitton handbag or sunglasses was a worthwhile investment or a complete rip-off! Real high-end designer products should never be sold with bargained or sale prices and should cost more than $100AUD. The rough purchase prices are generally $200 AUD for a coin purse, the cheapest tote bag in canvas would reach $700AUD, and a wallet would approximately cost within the $ 500-1200AUD margin. Note that these figure are bare minimum as their rate in pricing increases every year. Sure, we all like to get the best of both worlds of having the real deal without having to substantially ‘pay the price (literally) but no one wants to be robbed from their wallet by being schemed either!
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Seller: There is one tactical execution you can undergo to completely dodge the bullet without having to play ‘spot the difference!’ Even before thinking about what you will buy, stop and think about who you are buying from. Do your research and grasp a good amount of knowledge of the seller! When in doubt, head to their actual retail boutique to buy safely and directly from the luxury company. We also recommend even taking the bag you bought to the retailers and getting their verdict as store staff would definitely recommend you to purchase from their stores (as you would expect). Avoid buying from discount or wholesale outlets or flea markets. Make sure you don’t be fooled by credit card receipts, that appear to record ‘legit Louis Vuitton’ tax invoices on eBay Scammers from local markets tend to forge tax invoices as the real deal by providing the real Louis Vuitton’s retail address or duty-free stores. The best way to purchase is via Vestiare Collective and Real Real as these websites are trustworthy and reliable.
Image via thedubaimall.com
(Please note: The above information is only a general guidance as there could be exceptions to the advice/opinions provided)
