How to buy arm candy
By Alicia Pyke
The quest to find the perfect handbag can leave the best of us flirting with idea of settling for a tacky designer rip-off. Banish those thoughts... here’s all you need to choose the right arm candy every time – it’s all about getting bags that are inspired by the designers.
Colour and Style
While you might (quite rightly) think that tan and chocolate are “safe”, don’t rule out red, gold and silver. They’re just as versatile. Take inspiration from classic bag styles that have gone the distance. The Hermes Birkin, Louis Vuitton Speedy and Balenciaga are all practical day bags that have inspired many chain stores’ designs. Scan the websites of labels and you’ll soon work out which brands channel the big names without actually ripping them off.
Size and stitching
It’s smart to buy a bag that uses strong stitching, rather than glue. And while you’re checking that the lining is secure and that there are pockets to hold all your essentials, look for extras. “Check for adjustable straps and expandable compartments,” Mimco designer Amanda Briskin says. Test drive each fastening for functionality.
Oversize totes are great if you’re tall, but if you’re petite they’ll swamp your frame. Small shoulder bags shouldn’t sit in your armpit, either. “A tight underarm bag is never flattering,” Briskin says. “If you put a jacket on, the drop length will totally disappear.” Besides, do you really want to risk sweat patches on your bag? Ensure the line of your bag suits your outfit. “If you’re wearing a slinky dress, you don’t want a bulky bag sticking out,” says Briskin.
Leather vs pleather
Unless you’re vegan, you will probably prefer the feel of leather bag over pleather (that’s plastic disguised as leather).
With many of the mid-range chains doing butter-soft bags between $100 and $250, a lush leather tote needn’t cost a month’s pay. Soft, supple leather will age well; shiny plastics that show up every scratch won’t.
But if you want a quick fix, synthetics like PVC are great way to get the new one-season patent and python looks on the cheap.
Spotting a fake
Think you’re getting a bargin by buying a “designer bag” for $30 at the markets? You’re not. It’s illegal, not to mention tacky. The old method of spotting fakes was simple: flimsy hardware, cheap leather and misspelled logos were dead giveaways. Now, fakes are so good, it’s almost impossible to tell the difference. But what we can tell you is that Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Burberry and Chanel products are only sold through their own store, while other high-end labels are sold in selected boutiques and department stores.
“Talk to sales staff about the design,” Briskin says. “They should know its story.” Still not convinced? Check the bag’s equivalent of fine print: logos should be engraved, not printed; stitching should be small and evenly spaced, and the handles should be symmetrical.
The clincher? Many designer bag have serial numbers (Fendi and Gucci do), or come with “authenticity cards”, which contain the logo, product info and bar codes.