<p>Many do…maybe most do. All my nieces sure do. My Goddaughter just got a very nice one sent to her… (I got the text that it arrived today.)</p>
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<p>My D is over 30 now. She definitely can tell the difference…and could do so by the age of 10. That’s probably because she grew up in NYC and saw knock-offs all the time. As young teens she and her friends would go shopping in Soho and would think it was hilarious when tourists bought what to them were obvious knock offs. I hasten to add that NONE of them actually owned the “real deal.” They just could see the difference between the coach or Michael Kors or other items they saw in Macy’s and the knock offs on Canal Street .</p>
<p>My D had classmates whose moms probably helped make some of the 'fakes." They could recognize the difference between “real” and “fake” before my own D could. I suspect they are the ones who first taught my D to tell the difference.</p>
<p>So, don’t judge this young woman by her comment. If she is Asian-American and/or the child of African (especially Senagalese) immigrants she may have learned to tell the difference from parents who were making and/or selling fake copies. </p>
<p>Or even if she is from a wealthy WASP background, she may have a parent in the fashion industry who taught her he difference. </p>
<p>And yes, like sororities there are tiers of designers. It is pretty easy to tell the difference between fake and real: hardware, leather quality, and weight are giveaways.</p>
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<p>Or maybe not. </p>
<p>I’m going to be a 24 year old female in a few weeks and I’ve never heard of 90% of the designers listed here let alone be able to pick them out. </p>
<p>Heck, I’ve never even owned a purse, handbag, etc. I carry a wallet in my pocket lol. </p>
<p>Be careful folks. One woman’s “high level designer” is another woman’s “low level” - so be cognizant of dissing what may be “designer” to another. Things like that leave a bad taste in my mouth. </p>
<p>I agree with I think it was Thumper (?) who said that when I think of heavily used Vera bags I think of totes, backpacks, wristlets - not so much “purses”. Vera headquarters are in Fort Wayne Indiana, so thus much of the popularity in the midwest. </p>
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<p>Yes, likewise, there are tiers of fakes. Some are so good even the quality control guys from the designer shops cannot tell right off the bat. These quality fake ones are not available to purchase easily, certainly not around popular fake shops.</p>
<p>Beware of the so-called “superfakes”! </p>
<p><a href=“Video Superfakes: The Next Generation of Fake Bags - ABC News”>http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/superfakes-generation-fake-bags-21296335</a></p>
<p>I consider VB a designer (just not a high end designer), because she comes up with her own unique prints and has been quite successful in making a unique, recognizable product. Sure, she does not dictate what the world will wear or carry next spring, but she is a creative designer, nonetheless. </p>
<p>Ok…a little off topic…but speaking of Vera Bradley…I have this ensemble in my closet! But I also have the cami that completed the outfit!</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1980s-80s-VERA-BRADLEY-MIST-GREEN-3-PC-SKIRT-SET-QUILTED-JACKET-SASH-/301430216969?pt=Vintage_Women_s_Clothing&hash=item462ea41909”>http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1980s-80s-VERA-BRADLEY-MIST-GREEN-3-PC-SKIRT-SET-QUILTED-JACKET-SASH-/301430216969?pt=Vintage_Women_s_Clothing&hash=item462ea41909</a></p>
<p>Wow, Thumper - I have to say this - are you sure that wasn’t from earlier than the 80’s!!! </p>
<p>Never seen anything Vera clothing like that!</p>
<p>I’m aware that Vera is not in the “big leagues” - but with many of her bags at $100+ at full price, it’s a brand of bag in demand. We have sold Vera stuff of ours - “gently used” for good money on ebay. </p>
<p>Actually according to,the listing…it was 1987 or so. </p>
<p>Any one want it? I can cut you a better deal,than EBay, and I have the cami too!</p>
<p>Vera Bradley reminds me of the old Pierre Deux stuff from the 1980’s - does anyone remember that?
I do have a Vera Bradley travel tote that was given to me as a gift- I don’t care for the prints, but it is SUPER useful and since my luggage takes a beating when I travel overseas, it’s fine with me!</p>
<p>11 year old girls around here are wearing a tiny Vera Bradley zip fabric id case around their necks with a matching Vera lanyard. Using for holding money because their leggings (worn as pants) have no pockets.</p>
<p>The was a special section in last week’s Economist about the luxury goods market and the paradox of “mass exclusivity”. The whole luxury handbag market is such a scam. They are invisible clothes for the emperor. </p>
<p>Where I work overseas, the street markets are awash in “frauda” Prada bags. Despite the ready access to cheap knockoffs, the secretaries in my office will give me MONTHS of their savings to buy a Coach handbag from the US for them. Marketing victims…</p>
<p>According to the blog Corporette, which is aimed at young professional women, here are the “buckets” of bags (from budget up to luxury). I don’t vouch for this list one way or the other, but thought I’d share it as a thought-starter. </p>
<p>I change my bags every couple of months to go with the weather; does anyone else do that? This is the bag I wear at this time of year when it’s cold out. I expect someone will object to the fur <a href=“Vestiaire Collective: Buy & sell designer second-hand fashion.”>Vestiaire Collective: Buy & sell designer second-hand fashion.;
<p>Here is the article:</p>
<p><a href=“How to Upgrade Your Handbag Collection”>http://corporette.com/2014/11/03/upgrade-handbag-collection/</a></p>
<p>Bucket 1: Budget Bags
Aldo
Nine West
Thrifted bags (you often can get great deals)
TJ Maxx/Flash sale special (i.e., whatever’s on sale at Rue La La, Gilt, or Hautelook)</p>
<p>Bucket 2: Midlevel Bags
Ann Taylor
Banana Republic
Coach (logo bags)
Fossil
Kate Spade Saturday
Lauren Ralph Lauren
Levenger (Halloween sale – take 31% off your entire order!)
Longchamp (nylon)
Talbots
Tiganello
Zara</p>
<p>Bucket 3: Upgrading
(can usually be found on sale or full price for $250-$500)
Botkier
Brahmin
Brooks Brothers (but some bags in Bucket 4)
Coach (leather bags) (moved from Bucket 4 as per reader discussion — see below)
Cole Haan
Dooney & Bourke
Furla
Kate Spade New York
Kooba
Lo & Sons
Michael Michael Kors
Rebecca Minkoff
Tory Burch
Treesje</p>
<p>Bucket 4: Splurges
(rarely on sale, usually around $600-$1200 full price)
3.1 Phillip Lim
Alexander Wang
Burberry
Goyard
Longchamp (leather)
Mulberry</p>
<p>Bucket 5: Money Is No Object
(usually start upwards of $1500)
Balenciaga
Chloé
Givenchy
Louis Vuitton
Prada
Proenza Schouler
Reed Krakoff</p>
<p>Bucket 6: Different Ballpark
(can cost as much as five figures)
Bottega Veneta
Céline
Chanel
Hermes
Nancy Gonzalez
The Row
Saint Laurent</p>
<p>"Wow. It appears many here are familiar with many kinds of designer bags.</p>
<p>Like my wife once said: Because we do not have a daughter, we may have missed a lot."</p>
<p>I don’t think it has anything to do with not having a daughter. Your wife’s a woman too and could have been interested in nice handbags - but presumably this just isn’t of interest to her (which is fine, everyone has their own things they are interested in and care about). </p>
<p>I change purses based on the weather (if it is going to rain all bets are off…I have a rain purse.) But I wear different purses based on season…I’ll change out as needed…but I do have my favorites. And when we go out for dinner I always carry an evening bag. No the glitter sort, a la Judith Lieber, small silk or leather. And Pizzagirl…where is Gucci on the lists? Just saying…</p>
<p>I didn’t make the list. I merely offer it as a discussion topic. I also didn’t see Fendi on here. </p>
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<p>When I was in Paris, I was approached by a Chinese woman to buy Chanel bags for her. I think she has bought so many that the store was refusing to sell her anymore. It’s interesting that the Chinese are interested in buying the real thing whereas in US, many are buying fakes.
I know in Hong Kong, LV and Chanel,Prada stores have daily quotas for Mainland Chinese tourists.</p>
<p>I was in Kotor, Montenegro where I saw a bride wearing a pair of Louboutins. I asked a young woman nearby if they are fakes, she said no, they are not interested in fake goods and added perhaps the bride bought the shoes online since Louboutins are not sold in Montenegro.</p>
<p>Re: It’s interesting that the Chinese are interested in buying the real thing.</p>
<p>I think, in most countries in Asia, the same real thing costs significant more. This is not only for designer’s bags, but also for iPhone, expensive wine, high-end cars, etc. basically any luxury items. This is why tourists from those countries come here for a shopping spree. I think they believe they may more likely be able to buy the real thing instead of a fake one if they shop here.</p>
<p>I know purses. I know you can haggle buying purses in most any store too…never pay sticker price anywhere including big dept. stores.</p>