First things first, and this is HUGE: the leather. Seriously, *feel* that bag. A genuine Balenciaga? The leather is gonna be supple, soft, like butter almost. Fake ones? Oh boy, they’re usually stiff, shiny, and just plain *wrong*. It’ll feel cheap, probably smell kinda weird too. Think plastic-y, not luxurious. Trust your gut, okay? If it feels off, it probably *is* off.
Now, let’s talk hardware. Those rivets? They better be on point! Fakes often have shallow, irregularly shaped rivets. A legit Balenciaga has them perfectly placed and well-made. Like, they’re not cutting corners on the rivets, ya know?
And then there’s the inside. Peep that lining! Authentic Balenciagas typically rock a black cotton canvas lining with the Balenciaga logo printed in white. Some fakes? They might skip the logo altogether, or use some cheap-o lining that screams “I’m a fake!” It’s all in the details, people, the details!
Oh, and speaking of details, check the style number on the main label inside the bag. Does it even match the design of the bag you’re holding? If it’s some random number that doesn’t align with anything, red flag city! This is like, rule number 1.
Okay, so here’s where it gets a little…subjective. The shape. A real Balenciaga, especially the Motorcycle bags, has a certain slouch, a certain *je ne sais quoi* that the fakes just can’t seem to get right. Many fakes end up shapeless, buckling, and they can’t even stand up on their own! Like, come on, even *I* can stand up straight-ish most days. If the bag looks like it’s had a rough night and can’t hold its form, maybe walk away. Ask the seller for pics of the bag standing up, that’s def a good test.
Size matters too, y’know? Sometimes the proportions on fakes are just…off. They’re either too big, too small, or just plain wonky. So, compare the dimensions with a known authentic bag online if you can.
Honestly, sometimes it’s just a feeling. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. No one is gonna sell you a real Balenciaga for, like, $50. Unless they, like, found it in a dumpster. And even then…suspicious.
Another thing, a lot of these fake bags are just…badly made. Stitching is wonky, the materials are cheap, the overall construction is just ugh. You can usually tell if you just look at it closly.
