Designer Handbag News and Authentication

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The following links and RSS blog feeds are the most comprehensive collection of the best handbag forums and blogs on the web. They cover breaking news, handbag reviews, authentication, and recommendations.

Google Ads Disclaimer

Because I have no control over what links are present in the Google Ads portion of this lens page (these are sponsors of Squidoo and the links are automatically generated and added to the page), I am not responsible for, nor do I endorse the authenticity of the handbags sold on those pages.

If you wish to find authentic handbags sold by authorized retailers, please see the "Authorized Handbag Retailers and Designer Website Directory" section below.

If you need assistance authenticating a handbag purchased through second party sources, or from one of the Google Ads links, please see the "Handbag Authentication" section below.

Forums and Coupons

TFS - The Fashion Spot - Handbags: This is a forum for dedicated handbag enthusiasts. While most active threads are on specific designer handbags and assistance with authenticating designer handbags, there are also threads devoted to identifying celebrity's handbags from photos, and handbag recommendations on a budget.
TPF - The Purse Forum: This is another forum for dedicated handbag enthusiasts that has little overlap with the tfs forum. A friendly atmosphere to discuss handbag obssessions that have sub forums dedicated to specific designers such as Balenciaga, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Coach.
The Bag Forum by eBelle5: This forum is relatively new on the scene and doesn't have much activity, so the owner/moderator of it frequently has contests/giveaways to help get the forum going. It doesn't offer much that tfs or tpf already covers.
Live Journal Handbag Lovers: Here's another forum for handbag lovers. Also includes a list of recommended/not recommended sellers (*disclaimer: I do not personally vouch for this list, but do acknowledge its existence and possible use as a reference).
Reesycakes online shopping coupons, promo codes: This is a great site that lists all the online coupons and promotional codes for online shopping for woman's fashion and accessories.
Style Envy: Another great site that features online shops with promotional codes and coupons.
Toutie online shopping coupons, promo codes: This is a great site that lists select online coupons and promotional codes for online shopping for woman's fashion and accessories.
Ebay & Paypal coupons: This link is a good reference for Ebay & Paypal coupons. Check it before you make a payment on Paypal.

Handbag Authentication

The Fashion Spot - Handbags - Is this bag Fake/Authentic?: Need help authenticating a handbag? Just post a pic and/or auction number (no ebay links please!) to this forum thread and get expert opinions.
Handbag Authentication Resources: This ebay site has links to authentication pictorial guides written for many different designer brands: Chanel, Gucci, Hermes, Marc Jacobs, to name a few.
Summary of Authentic Handbag Characteristics: This blog page quickly summarizes the some characteristics of authentic bags for various designers.
Atelier.Naff's Balenciaga Authentication Guide: This is a pictorial guide written by a good friend with the best (online) authentication information on Balenciaga motorcycle handbags. Detailed information and pictures with styles, retail prices, color swatches, hardware and tag serial numbers, and history/evolution of design. It has been referred to as the "Balenciaga Bible," even though my friend modestly points out that she is not yet an expert.
Identifying authentic Balenciaga bags: Another great guide for tips to authenticating Balenciaga motorcycle bags. The best tip is the one on shoulder strap hardware (see pics in the link). I haven't found a single fake bag that has the correct shoulder strap hardware, making it a dead giveaway.
Chloe Paddington Authentication Guide: A very comprehensive tpf thread on Chloe paddington authentication tips.
Dior Gaucho Authentication Guide: An excellent guide to authenticating the Dior Gaucho handbag written by the fabulous tpf'er MayDay.
Fendi Spy Style/Color Reference: Need to check whether or not the Fendi Spy bag you are interested in purchasing from a reseller was ever produced by FENDI? Then check this pictorial guide. It contains almost all the photos of Fendi Spy bags styles since the bag was released in S/S 2005-S/S 2006 organized by season.
Vintage Fendi Authentication Guide: Looking for a good guide for authenticating vintage (prior to mid 90's) Fendi handbags? Then this pictorial guide is exactly designed for you.
Nepherisis' Pictorial Guide to Hermes Handbag Styles: This page has pictures of authentic Hermes handbags in various styles.
Allison_v's Guide to the LV Cerise Line: Fellow Louisvillan Allison_v has put together an extremely informative page showing how to authenticate the Louis Vuitton Cerise line.
Fashionphile's Guide to the LV French Luggage Company Line: Interested in buying a vintage Louis Vuitton French Luggage Company line handbag, but don't know much about it? Fashionphile has written an excellent ebay review guide on the history and authentication of this line.
Livinluxuriously's LV Handbag Care and Authentication Page: Want to know how to clean, and care for your vintage Louis Vuitton handbags? This page has excellent information on LV handbag care and authentication.

Authorized Handbag Retailers and Designer Website Directory

Handbags: Online Sources: This link is my other lens page where you can find official designer websites and the complete list of online handbag shopping sites that I endorse. It also features affordable and indie designers (including vegan handbag alternatives).
Grechen's Designer Closet: Looking to buy a particular designer's wares online, but can't find all the stores? The designer directory is the most comprehensive one available online, and regularly updated.
Style CEO: This great designer directory is another resource when you are looking for a particularly hard-to-find designer's wares online. Plus any online coupons associated with the online store are usually listed beside the link.

Online Auction Tools

ToolHaus: This great web utility allows you to check negative/neutral feedback and mutually withdrawn feedback for an ebay seller.
Goofbay: Bothered by private feedback? Well, you used to be able to use Goofbay's excellent private feedback tool to actually see what nasty comments are being left behind for sellers trying to hide behind private feedback, but ebay has recently removed Goofbay's API access. Want this and other great tools back? Please sign the petition.

How to report fake handbag sellers

If you have inadvertantly purchased a fake bag when the seller advertised it was authentic, there is a phone number you can call to report fakes: 1-866-NOTFAKE. This hotline is for the international anticounterfeiting coalition (ACC) in order to report manufacturers, sellers and distributors of fake designer bags. The source of this number comes from a Harper's Bazzar article in the January 2005 issue. It is a crime to manufacture and/or sell fake designer bags. Even if the seller offers money back, I would still report them to the ACC.