Poll Purses

Knock Off’s: Highest Form of Flattery

September 28, 2011

This is a touchy subject for me.  How do you feel about Knock Off bags? or anything fake for that matter?

I read this article on Slate a while back.  It talks about if fake bags help or hurt the brand names? 

If it looks good would you buy it?  Would you wear it? 

Cheap Purses
I am a handbag connoisseur so I zoom into bags like a radar.  I can spot a real from a fake fairly quickly and easily.  But does it really matter? Is this really a big deal?  Do you think different about that person?  Is the person with the FAKE really smart? 
I want to know where you guys stand on this issue so please take the poll below.  This is so you can remain anonymous : ) But feel free to leave comments if your bold!

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  • Our Delightful Home
    September 28, 2011 at 11:32 am

    To each his own! If I see someone with a fake bag, I will not judge that person. But please do not act like you just spent 1K or more on the big. Be real!

  • Natalie
    September 28, 2011 at 11:57 am

    I can always spot a fake too. I would never carry a knock off- no judgement to those who do, but if I want a bag I want the real thing. I think it is not fair to the big purse companies (ie Louis Vuitton, Dior etc) when their designs are blantently copied. They work hard to create those purses and I think the knock-offs hurt their brand. Just my thoughts! You know I love me a designer purse!

  • Cheryl E.
    September 28, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    In college I used to rock the fakes until now I can totally spot them. I dont know who I was thinking I was fooling before. But bags are so pricey and if the fakes make a person happy then go for it.

  • Aisha G of HartlynKids
    September 28, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    I don’t judge others but I personally detest fake bags. I’d rather find them on sale or just get a cute bag that I can afford. I own pricey bags but I also own bags that I paid $2 for (literally) and each are complimented equally. It is not important for me to be recognized as carrying a bag I can’t afford.

  • Fashion Meets Food
    September 28, 2011 at 3:07 pm

    I can always spot a fake too. I would never carry something fake or wear something fake. If I want something from a certain designer I definitely buy real and if I cant afford usually start to save or just accept that I will not own it. I don’t think its fair to companies and they charge more or retire bags… I am still bitter over Chanel having to retire the bag I really wanted but couldnt afford at the time. They will never have it again because it is knocked off so many times. To be completely honest I judge someone right away if I spot them with a fake.

    xo

  • Cam - Bibs & Baubles
    September 28, 2011 at 3:26 pm

    sometimes i can spot a fake. i used to rock them in high school. my mom threw out my fake LV and my heart broke. It was gorgeous… sigh…

  • DSIC
    September 28, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    Whether one carries a ‘real’ or a ‘fake’ or an imagined designer bag is really superfluous and adds nothing to the quality of that person’s life. Yes, it might make the one carrying the ‘real’ bag feel some sense of importance, yet MOST who have ‘real’ bags, in reality CANNOT afford it.

    What value is there in trying to determine if someone else’s bag is ‘real’ or ‘fake’? Those who do not wish to spend ridiculous amount of $ on ‘real’ bags should satisfy themselves with well-priced bags that they can afford, instead of perpetuating this charade of ‘real’ & ‘fake’ bags.

    The one who carries the ‘real’ is no better than the one who carries the ‘fake’. With so MANY carrying ‘designer brand’ bags these days, personally, I assume they’re all fakes. I wouldn’t spend 2 sec. of my life trying to tell if SOMEONE ELSE’s bag is real or not. I like a bag because of its make, aesthetics etc. – not the sticker price or the brand. Most important, a bag should have more cash inside than the price of the bag itself.

  • LA Lynn's
    September 28, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    GREAT POST but for some reason I can’t see the poll I may have to wait until I get on another PC. However, I will add that some of the FAKE bags are U-G-L-Y & cheaply made so if someone can get a good replica kudo’s… FAKE IT til you make it!!!! (I guess) lol

  • Chicago Mom (Heather)
    September 28, 2011 at 4:16 pm

    My friend came home with a fake Tory Burch clutch and I could tell it was fake but most people probably would not!

  • Looms, Lids, and layers
    September 28, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    I do not like knock off bags… I feel that you may as well get a nice bag that is not compared to the real thing from a department store. That is a better investment. Everyone thinks differently though. I love my designer bags and I love some of my trendy bags but they are not knock offs. Some people want the real thing so bad but cannot afford it so they want the look. I do not agree but to each their own. Everyone has personal preference.

  • OurLifeUnrehearsed
    September 28, 2011 at 5:12 pm

    To each his own but I would definitely not purchase a fake bag. If you can’t afford it there are plenty of other alternatives. Society is so caught up with materialistic views so I understand how some people feed into the nonsense. I’m happy with my black coach bag I use daily, I mean I barely have time for me let alone swapping out my purses on a regular. I’m so not into many purses anymore as I don’t use them. I have so many from college sitting in my closet that I need to take to the consignment shop. (Adding to checklist)

  • Julie
    September 28, 2011 at 7:18 pm

    I am quality over quantity but there was a time that I purchased fake bags to. I wanted the name and couldn’t afford the price. Now I purchase what I can afford it is lasts much better than a fake any day.

    ~Julie

  • leticiabenita
    September 29, 2011 at 12:25 am

    Aisha G said it best! There are so many beautiful bags out there at reasonable prices, why even bother with the fakes.

    Less Is More
    leticiabenita.blogspot.com

  • The Fashionista Next Door
    September 29, 2011 at 1:05 am

    In my younger day, I didn’t mind. I had a few knock-offs in college, but as a grown a** woman, I’m not feeling it. If i can’t afford it, I just can’t afford it. I am fine with bags “in the style of” or “inspired by” but full on knock off with fake labels and stuff.. no thanks!

    I also have a better understanding of how it does truly hurt the luxury brands. I know people feel like so what…if they are charging $1000 for one bag, its not hurting them, but in fact it does. Luxury markets have suffered a great deal in our current economy.

  • LESAPEA MUSINGS
    September 29, 2011 at 1:47 am

    I’m too old for fakes…enough said on the subject.

    Lisa x

  • Erica
    September 29, 2011 at 12:10 pm

    IMO fakes are for 16 y/o young girls …lol….but in all seriousness i can usually spot them and they just look ridiculous to me. My SO thinks their ok but personally I would rather but a $40 purse in H&M or ALDO than spend $40 on a cheap LV knockoff

  • Khadijah
    September 29, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    If you can’t afford a $500 bag that doesn’t make you a bad person. Simply move on with your life and get you a nice $50 bag or whatever your budget is.

    But then again, I’d rather have 10 stylish cheaper bags than one big name brand purse. I’m strange.. but I’m not paying Coach 400 for a bag with C’s around it. I just don’t see the hype.

  • Looms, Lids, and layers
    September 29, 2011 at 4:09 pm

    I like on FB

  • Jenny
    September 29, 2011 at 10:21 pm

    I don’t mess with knock-offs. If you can’t afford the real deal, then get something else instead. There’s plenty of cute options out there.

  • Kristin
    September 30, 2011 at 12:12 am

    I don’t mind designer inspired pieces, but I don’t do complete knock-offs!

  • Yakini @ThePrissyMommy
    September 30, 2011 at 1:37 am

    In college and grad school I had no shame in my game – i would totally carry a knock off. I mean, I live in NYC and Canal Street is just a hop, skip, and jump from me. LOL! It was way too easy to get them….

    Now that Im older and grown, I wouldnt ever carry one. I think its something that just comes with age/maturity. Its not that Im balling out of control or anything, but there is a certain sense of pride one feels when carrying the real thing. Whether people can tell or not, YOU can tell, and it feels good to have the real deal on your arm.

  • Jill
    September 30, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    no, i’m a bag snob

  • Anonymous
    October 2, 2011 at 4:37 pm

    imo carrying a fake is too “keeping up w the joneses”… why not get something u can afford that is just as good quality (without paying an outrageous amount for the logo/namebrand) that u can carry with pride and not wonder if someone is going to figure out its a knock off & call u out on it.lol.
    i agree quality always beats quantity.

  • Jarette (juh-rette)
    October 3, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    I think to each its own… I think that there so many desigeners and people tend to focus just on LV, gucci, fendi, and coach bags and there is so much more out there. Places like TJ max and marshalls sell bags thats well over 600 bucks and you get them for decent prices .. I find that in the urban community they are so stuck on the same named brand bags and if your not rocking those then they frown upon you.. When a person has a real bag they say that the bag is fake anyway so it’s a catch 22. Just worry about what you are wearing and what makes you feel good…

  • I Goodie 2 Shoes
    October 5, 2011 at 1:49 am

    I would rather buy a cute trendy bag from marshalls or a dept store before i give u a *benny* on something that will fall apart in a month.
    i would not judge some people cannot afford what others can afford. does a bag make you more or less than a friend or etc. I say not. But dont FRONT on *backstreet* either. (where in the heck did that come from)
    and you can layaway and some vintage/boutiques….
    #realtalkrealbags

  • Carsedra
    October 5, 2011 at 4:32 pm

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  • Carsedra
    October 5, 2011 at 4:33 pm

    I’ve been lurking around your blog for a while, you have a great blog!!

    I think it is sad when people get so caught up on trying to be something they are not just to impress others. I don’t own fake designer anything and never would. I can’t afford right now some of the designer things I like, but I do know how to go out and find something similar (inspired look) and make it work for me. Just as with my handbags, I buy handbags because they look great (to me), how well it’s made, if it suits my needs. They aren’t your typical BIG name brand bags, but are real leather and I get compliments on them all the time. Plus, for me I like having a nice, chic bag that I know not everyone else may have.

    Like others have said you can find a very nice, chic, trendy (sometimes leather) handbags at places like TJ Maxx , Marshalls, Dillards etc… they don’t have to be LV, Gucci, Prada. Someone else said it best even if your bag is real there are so many fakes some may still believe yours isn’t real. So why be so stuck on buying Name Brand and still have people look at you with a side-eye? Personally, I’m not into monogram bags anyway, so I don’t care that my bag doesn’t have LV’s C’s or even G’s on them.

    Being a real Style Diva, Fashionista or Trendsetter you should be able to buy a bag from K-Mart and rock it so fierce that you have people going to K-Mart just to find it!!

    Carsedra of:

    http://embracingtherealme.blogspot.com/

    http://sweets4yourtooth.blogspot.com/