My proudest thrift cost me only $20 – people say it’s fake based on the stitching but I have the authenticity trump card
A FASHIONISTA with an eye for a bargain has raved about the designer bag she found at her local thrift store.
A photo of the stylish handbag sparked a discussion about checking the authenticity of preowned luxury buys.
She shared the snap on Reddit’s Thrift Store Hauls forum using the handle u/am_ireallyhere.
The brown leather handbag had white details stitched and buckles on the large front pocket.
“My proudest thrift, an authentic Chloe Edith bag for roughly $20,” she said.
Many commenters were impressed by the budget-friendly purchase, while others argued that the bag looked fake.
“Hard to say for sure from just one picture but… I don’t think that’s real,” one person wrote.
“Some of the stitching seems off and even though it’s a little blurry the Chloe imprint on the front doesn’t appear to be the right font.
“For $20, it’s probably still a great deal but not authentic.”
“I’m so sorry to say but this is not authentic,” another said. “Chloe does not use string and paper tags. Cool, though!”
“I don’t even know much about fashion and have never even heard of this specific brand….but assuming that it’s supposed to be a high-end brand…even the tag looks off/cheap,” a third added.
The original poster shared a link to a smaller version of the same bag, currently listed for sale on Collector Square for $900.
According to the secondhand specialists, the leather handbag has silver metal hardware, a removable strap, and one zip closure.
It was made in Italy in the 2010s and originally sold for almost $2,000.
One commenter said they were convinced the bag was genuine after comparing the photo of the bag from the thrift store to the one listed by Collector Square.
“After looking at the link op posted, it looks legit to me,” they said.
“The stitching may seem awkward but it’s the same with the sample picture on the link.
How to know if a Chloe bag is authentic
Chloe was founded in France in 1952 and is known for products that have a feminine design.
According to Real Authentication, there are three features to look out for on a genuine Chloe bag:
- The logo is usually embossed or foil rather than painted on the material.
- The stitching is even and straight, as the brand doesn’t use diagonal methods.
- The leather should be “soft and flexible,” while retaining its original shape.
“As for the paper tag, Googled Chloe bags and they do come with it, same strings too.
“If it’s really fake, then it’s a pretty damn good fake that we probably won’t be able to tell for sure from a single picture.”
“It looks genuine to me. Congrats OP [original poster],” another said.
However, other responses to the post continued to argue the bag from the thrift store didn’t look authentic.
The original poster said she had it examined and received buyer offers but doesn’t want to sell it because it’s her “thrifting trophy.”
“I appreciate everyone’s take on this,” she said.
“But I’d rather go with the opinion of someone who has inspected this personally. Good day to everyone.”
