Weeeeeeey!!! I just bought my first YSL envelope bag and it looks amazing. I felt so fancy and so stylish that I had to show it off to everyone I know. But my friend told me something that shook me to the core. He said, “you know it’s a knockoff right? It’s not real.”
At first, I thought he was joking. There was no way that my bag wasn’t real. But then he pointed out the imperfect details. My bag was slightly slanted, the inside stitchings weren’t straight, and the logo was a bit too blurry for his taste.
All of a sudden, the hyperboles and lofty feeling I had moments before faded away. I felt duped and a bit naive. I had done my research on the product before buying it, and my friend’s words felt like a harsh betrayal.
We started to look into the issue. We checked the bag for a stamped emblem, serial number, and original dustbag. We also checked for quirky details like the placement of the zipper and how soft the leather was.
As we went through the bag step by step more clues began to pop up. It turns out that the website I purchased the bag from was a scam. They had all the signs of a fake, and I had missed them. I was so embarrassed and so mad at myself for not double-checking their authenticity.
My friend, trying to console me said, “Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us. You just need to be extra careful when it comes to checking if a bag is real or fake bags.” And I guess he was right.
So, when faced with the outlook of buying another YSL bag, I decided to truck on inwards physical stores. This time, I asked each store for the authenticity credentials and did my own inspection. And boom! I found the legendary YSL envelope that I had been dreaming about. I was so happy and relieved that I almost cried.
It costed me a whole lot more than my fake purchase, but man, was it worth it. This time, I knew the bag was real. I could feel the smooth leather, the perfect stitching, and the satisfyingly crisp details. Plus, carrying such a legendary fashion item is such a great confidence boost. Having a real YSL bag now, I don’t feel the need to pretend to be stylish since I can actually be stylish.
To add on to that, it was really easy to find a real YSL designer bag. There are only a few criteria that need to be fulfilled: all the emblems have to be stamped on and a serial number has to be included for authenticity. Any reputable store should be able to provide these.
Besides that, it’s also good to do your own inspection of the bag. Check the zipper, the leather, and the stitching. Make sure those look just right and how the YSL designers intended for them to be.
The website which I bought the bag from also gave me some lessons. I now make sure to read reviews from previous buyers, find out about the business and the website itself. For example, names such as Yves Saint Laurent, Setina Louboutin, fake bags Nike and Adidas are all taglines that are sure to appear on fake websites. So familiarising yourself with popular brand names and those associated with them is essential.
At the end of the day, it’s all about doing your research. Go online, ask people in your circle, go to stores, compare prices, but make sure to get the real deal. Fake YSL bags might give you the look you want but it’s not worth sacrificing your original purpose. Fake designs could lack the durability of the real bag and could cost you more in the long run.
Another important thing to look out for is the price. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. The YSL bags don’t come cheap, and the more you pay, the better quality you would get. If you manage to get a discounted price, make sure to check why the price is discounted, since discount prices could indicate a fake bag.
The most important thing to remember is that you are looking for originality and quality. It might take a bit of effort and a bit of trial and error, but it’ll definitely be worth it when you get a YSL bag that is guaranteed to last you for your lifetime.