As is the case with any high-demand item, Gucci’s stellar reputation has spurred a wave of purse knock-off sellers who try to simulate the features of the real thing. Buying a replica Gucci purse can be a great way to enjoy the brand’s timeless style without spending an arm and a leg — as long as you make sure you’re getting a high-quality imitation. Some replica purse companies use sub-par materials and cheap methods of construction, resulting in shoddy bags that won’t stand up to everyday use.

What’s the best way to tell if a Gucci handbag or replica is worth your money? Below are some of the most important things to watch out for:

• An inferior Gucci replica may have an inaccurate logo with spacing, spelling, or lettering that is somehow amiss. With monogrammed Gucci purses, the “G’s” should be crisp and evenly spaced.

• Poorly made Gucci bags may have large, uneven stitches that indicate a rushed construction process. Authentic Gucci purses are hand-stitched with tight, even stitches.

• A common sign of a bad knock-off is dull, tarnished, or improperly attached hardware. Be sure to inspect all snaps, zippers, and buckles.

• With a sub-par Gucci purse, the liner may be loosely or carelessly sewn in. A high-quality bag will have a smooth, tightly sewn liner made from a heavy-duty fabric.

• Beware of seams running down the handbag — these signify that several smaller pieces of leather were stitched together to make the purse. Real Gucci purses use one large piece of leather.

• If a purse has muted or inconsistent coloring, it’s probably of a lesser quality. Well-made Gucci purses and replicas will have vibrant shades that are consistent throughout the entire bag.

• If a Gucci wallet is red-and-green striped instead of blue-and-red striped, it’s a knock-off.

• When evaluating a Gucci purse or replica, check the straps of the bag. A sub-par bag will often have longer, skinnier straps, while a high-quality bag will have thicker, shorter handles.

• If you don’t see the words “Gucci Made in Italy” or “Gucci Parfums” embossed in gold somewhere on the strap or the body of the purse, it will be easily distinguished as a fake.

• When selecting a bag from a particular collection, know what to look for. With Gucci satchel bags, the vinyl monogrammed fabric should be brown and blue with a twill racing stripe and matching leather accents. When shopping for a Gucci Accessory Collection bag, look for a red and green stripe. An authentic or high-quality navy blue doctor bag from the G.A. collection will have a red and blue stripe.

You don’t have to be an expert to spot a poorly made Gucci purse or replica. As long as you know what to look for, the signs are simple to spot. If a Gucci handbag seems insubstantial, muted, or otherwise “off”, don’t waste your money. Real Gucci purses are made from premier leather, durable metals, and heavy-duty fabrics. Make sure yours will provide you with years of handsome service!

Never owned a snakeskin purse before? Here’s the perfect opportunity to break into cutting-edge style. Some purses and accessories try to do snakeskin but fall short, with the fabric appearing too shiny or artificial. Not so with the Python tote—the warm, rich python scales are artfully blended to create a wearable work of art, with a range of gorgeous earth tones and a decadent feel that begs to be touched.

In addition to the obvious chic style, I also love the Sukey’s overall structure. This is a Gucci purse that works as good as it looks. The oversized bag has just the right amount of “slouch” to it—although it’s sturdy enough to stand independently, it’s also flexible enough to take whatever you can throw into it, whether that’s makeup, wallets, planners, or a change of baby clothes. And the depth is perfect, allowing you to easily access items without spending valuable time digging. The double leather shoulder straps ensure carrying comfort, hitting at just the right length for those who prefer a bit of a high carry.

And the bells and whistles don’t hurt, either. The folks at Gucci thought of everything when they designed the Python Tote: the hand-folded pleats, the upscale gold-plated hardware, the Gucci logo key chain, and the sumptuous brown leather trim all add to the undeniable appeal of this avant-garde bag. Rarely has chic been so practical.
Wonderfully simple, functional enough for everyday use, yet striking enough to stop strangers in their tracks, the Gucci Sukey Large Python Tote is everything a girl could want in snakeskin—and more. The only potential caveat? The price. Retailing at more than $3,000, the genuine Gucci purse is a definite budget-buster for most consumers—unless you choose to purchase a high-quality replica Gucci handbag.

At Top 1 Handbags, our Gucci replica purses are meticulously handcrafted using only the finest leathers, hardware, and other materials. Every last detail is painstakingly replicated, so no-one but you will ever know you’re not carrying the real thing. Even authentic Gucci vendors were unable to distinguish our replica Gucci purses from the genuine article

There are around 600 special requests processed by Louis Vuitton in any given year. Below is just a short list of some of the many extravagant special requests that have been commissioned by Louis Vuitton over the years:

• A Japanese Kabuki artist once ordered an oversized makeup trunk with detachable legs.

• For a Saudi prince, the company once commissioned a custom travel trunk.

• Louis Vuitton created two custom iPod cases to meet the needs of famous designer Karl Lagerfeld.

• Upscale travelers have ordered special cases in which to carry their minibars, backgammon sets, and other novelty items.

• The fashion house once commissioned a padded Louis Vuitton bag specifically designed to carry a birthday cake into a party.

• A 19th-century Italian explorer once ordered a lavish Louis Vuitton trunk to take along on an African expedition.

• Louis Vuitton once created a custom tea case for the maharaja of Baronda.

• One of the house’s custom travel bags from the 1920s was cleverly designed to nestle inside a spare wheel hubcap.

How does honoring these special requests benefit the Louis Vuitton company? In many ways, according to the manager of the special orders department. Commissioning these outlandish custom items keeps the company’s most prestigious customers satisfied and coming back for more, while also solidifying the brand’s reputation as the industry’s finest designer. And by making the news with these larger-than-life custom items, Louis Vuitton gets valuable publicity.

For high-profile customers that have enough money to pay, Louis Vuitton will commission the creation of a wide range of custom items — although there are standards that must be met. A special-order item must qualify as a travel item, to remain loyal to the principles under which the company was launched. The fashion house will honor special orders for garment bags, suitcases, cosmetics bags, purses, wallets, jewelry cases, and sunglasses. Not all custom orders are honored. For instance, Louis Vuitton once refused to create a designer casket requested by a client.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to ordering a custom travel piece from Louis Vuitton. Placing your order is as easy as stopping into one of Louis Vuitton’s international locations, but all custom orders must be approved before they are processed. Allow six months for the completion of a custom order. During the construction process, Louis Vuitton keeps its preferred customers up-to-date with photos of the item in progress. Each customer’s special-order items are assigned lock numbers that are unique to their custom collection. The company even offers the option for customers to visit the workshop to hammer in the final nail.

For a special order item, you’ll pay a minimum of around $2,900, and the price can grow exponentially from there based on the size and complexity of the item. One of the most extravagant special order items was a luxury chest made with inlaid maple and ebony wood and covered in supple leather, which cost approximately $21,000.

When you order a custom Louis Vuitton purse or accessory to be commissioned just for you, you can rest assured you’ll be carrying a completely unique travel item that won’t be found on the arm of any of your fellow travelers.

Chanel borrowed on her memories, passions, and even the tragedies in her life to create what would become the most instantly recognizable women’s handbag in all of history to date. Combining practicality with femininity, the Chanel 2.55 was born. Chanel took the concept of straps – previously only found on soldier’s bags and the heavy satchels female bicycle porters carried – and feminized the idea into a Parisian sensation. It would become, and remains today, one of the most sought after Chanel handbags in the world.

The 2.55 was introduced to Paris society in February of 1955, and Coco’s signature was all over it. Boasting the “Mademoiselle” lock, the front flap hid a secret pocket where it is believed Coco hid love letters from her admirers, and it is rumored that those letters were in fact love notes from the Nazi spy Hans Günter von Dincklage. The interior was lined in reddish/brown material, a throwback to her days in the orphanage where the children wore uniforms of the same color. Attached to the backside of the purse was another little pocket where extra money could be kept.

The chain straps gave the purse portability – women could now keep their purses on their arms while their hands were free for other things. Chanel said, “I know women, women adore chains.” The double chain is another playful nod to her life in the orphanage. The caretakers would dangle keys from similar chains for the children to play with. The 2.55 came in a variety of colors and textiles; everything from silk for evening style, to lambskin and calfskin for day to day use. Like her other designs, this Chanel purse boasted the famous “secret” quilting process that was influenced by Coco’s love of horse racing.

Karl Lagerfeld, who took over the creative leadership of Chanel in 1983, released a Reissue Chanel 2.55 in 2005 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic classic Chanel handbag. The Reissue is exactly as Mademoiselle Chanel designed it in 1955. It has two chain straps, rather than the chain and woven leather strap, and the double C clasp has been replaced with a Mademoiselle lock. The Mademoiselle style clasp is so named as a reference to Ms. Chanel’s having never married. The commemorative Reissue name was intended only for the 2007 replicas, but it’s now commonly applied to ALL of the Classic Flap purses.

The 2.55 is the “it” bag of today just as much as it was in 1955. From Katherine Hepburn to Katherine Heigle, Grace Kelly to Mischa Barton, the Chanel 2.55 handbag transcends time and style, class and culture, proving to the world that a purse can indeed be an icon. The bag has adorned the arms of movie stars and royalty, as well as the common woman who has an eye for fashion, history, and even a bit of intrigue.

Chanel’s style has been oft imitated. Designer “knock offs” can be found online, and replica Chanel purses can even be purchased from street vendors. Imitation is believed to be the greatest form of flattery, and Chanel herself said, “I would shed tears the day no one copied me.”

Born in 1883, Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel built such a house, defying the odds and transitioning from an orphan to a powerful woman who would change the face of Paris fashion again and again over the years.  After a brief stint as a café songbird, “Coco” became the mistress to various wealthy men who introduced her to couture and ultimately helped subsidize her lifelong success. Her first retail establishment opened in 1910 as a women’s hat shop, catering to the women of Paris, and within twelve months, she moved into the popular market of Rue Cambon. Her line of women’s garments changed the way women dressed and related to their bodies, creating a veritable fashion revolution.

The House of Chanel became famous with the release of the little black dress, a staple in every woman’s closet even today. Simplicity was the key to Chanel’s revolution of haute couture, trading binding corsets for comfort, and introducing casually, elegant suits and dresses. The “Chanel Suit” rocked the fashion industry with its boxy and timeless look and the House of Chanel became synonymous with class, elegance, and wealth.  La Societe des Parfums Chanel was established in 1924 shortly after the release of Chanel No. 5, the company’s first scent.  In that same year, Chanel released a line of costume jewelry that Harpers Bazaar Magazine heralded as, “one of the most revolutionary designs of our time.”

Coco Chanel reached her peak in 1935 as an acclaimed designer owning multiple buildings and employing over four thousand artisans and workers throughout France. She retired in 1939 and closed her couture house, selling only perfumes and accessories at Chanel boutiques. But retirement was short lived for “Mademoiselle” (the nickname given to her by friends and peers) and she re-entered the fashion world in 1955, introducing the Chanel handbag.  The original bag, the Chanel 2.55, was infused with many personal references to Coco’s life. The bag became her signature, taking Paris, and then France, and then the world by storm. Chanel had to decline numerous orders for the bag due to the intricate artistic process, and “secret” quilting method used to create each one. The designer later received a Fashion Oscar in 1957, dubbing her, “the most influential designer of the twentieth century.”

Throughout history, the Chanel 2.55 has remained the “classic” Chanel purse.  Simplistic in design, it has a chain strap, woven with leather, and boasts the double C iconic logo on the clasp. The Reissue of the original 2.55 varies slightly; with a double- chain strap and what is known as the” mademoiselle lock.”

Below are some of the most popular Chanel handbags that continue to generate high demand among fashion conscious women today:

• The Classic Flap: Boasts classic quilted panels with brass double C lock and chain strap interwoven with leather.

• The Clutch: A rather understated, elegant Chanel handbag with the brand’s classic quilting and double C clasp.

• The Shopping Bag: A beautifully embossed double C icon logo graces the front of this Chanel handbag, with a chain strap interwoven with leather. Some shopping bags are all leather, some are woven textiles, and others offer comfort grip handles on the straps.

• The Tote: Classic simplicity defines the elegance of this preferred woman’s tote. The outer envelope pocket adorned with a brass double C clasp, leather handles, and simple closure. Large enough to accommodate files, or a small laptop.

• The Bowling Bag: This Chanel purse is quite popular with young women and is offered in a variety of chic colors. It offers the same Chanel quilting as the Classic Flap, with a contrasting double C icon on one end, and leather strap handles adorned with a chain accent.

So what is the motivation for such high demand? What makes Louis Vuitton purses so much better than other handbags?

For one thing, the fashion house is rooted in a long, quality-driven heritage. Since its inception in 1821, the company has been creating some of the industry’s finest designer luggage pieces and handbags. Louis Vuitton himself first began working from a small shop in Paris, France. After demand increased among travelers, he increased production of his steamer bag, “Keepall” overnight bag, and flat carrying case. Today, the Keepall is still one of the designer’s most widely demanded travel pieces. From there, he expanded his designs to include carry-on bags, cosmetics bags, miniature trunks, jewelry cases, computer bags, and more.

Over time, Louis Vuitton began designing luxury watches and, with the addition of his son Georgie to the design team, duffel bags and purses. When Georgie unveiled the monogrammed canvas motif, the design quickly took the fashion world by storm and became the hallmark of the brand. Three decades after launching the first store, the Louis Vuitton announced the opening of a London-based store. Throughout the 1900s, nearly 130 additional stores were opened throughout the world, responding to a growing international demand for the company’s luxury wares.

Designer talent has always been a prime focus of the Louis Vuitton Company. After announcing a merger with designer Moet Hennessey in 1987, the fashion house partnered with acclaimed designer Marc Jacobs. Patrick Vuitton continued to supervise operations. In the new millennium, Louis Vuitton continues to bring in millions of dollars in profits each year, as demand remains steady for their luxury purses and accessories. Rivaled by such top brands as Fendi, Gucci, and Prada, Louis Vuitton remains a fashion icon throughout Africa, India, Japan, China, and Korea, in addition to the United States.

In spite of cutting-edge technologies that have made production more efficient, the Louis Vuitton designers have adhered to rigorous standards of craftsmanship, never using machines or assembly lines to produce their fine goods. Master artisans train new apprentices in the fine art of leatherworking, ensuring that each and every product offers premium quality and durability.

Classic Louis Vuitton Styles

Over time, there have been certain time-honored favorites that have enjoyed a consistent demand among consumers:

• Mimicking the popular Keepall travel bag, the Speedy is a roomy Louis Vuitton handbag with an oversized main compartment that accommodates all of your everyday essentials — and then some. Several style options are available.

• As its name implies, the Neverfull is spacious enough to take anything you can throw into it. Choose from a wide array of colors, fabrics, and sizes. If you’re looking for a substantially sized purse without unwieldy bulk, the Neverfull is for you.

• With its stylish drawstring closure, the long-acclaimed Noe has been a Louis Vuitton fixture since its 1932 debut.

• A playful oyster shell shape distinguishes the Elipse bag. Consumers can choose from two versatile sizes, both boasting the same lighthearted style.

If you’re looking for a high-fashion, heirloom-quality accessory to call your own, you can’t go wrong with a Louis Vuitton handbag!