How to Spot a Fake Dooney & Bourke Bag

We all want to be one of the classy and privileged women toting around a beautiful Dooney and Bourke handbag, a classic designer close to the ranks of Chanel, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. These bags are more than just an accessory--they're an investment and a fashion statement. Read on to find out how to know if your bag is authentic.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Take a look at the leather logo tag on the front of your purse. Is the stitching the same color as the thread on the seams? Is it very tightly bound and secure? If not, it's a fake.

2. Examine the entire bag. British leather trim will surround all Dooney and Bourke handbags, and the handles are always made of this same style of leather as well. If the leather colors and styles are mismatched, you're not looking at a real bag.

3. Take a look at the hardware. Any and all hardware will be brass, including studs, protective feet and knobs on the handles. If there is any silver, the bag is not real.

4. Take a close look at the interior of the bag. All authentic Dooney and Bourke bags have a leather logo and a red, white and blue registration number sewn under a leather seam with a serial number on the back. This takes a very close examination, and you won't be able to notice this right off the bat.

Tips & Warnings

• The best way to guarantee an authentic bag is to shop at a department store such as Macy's, Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom, or a Dooney and Bourke boutique. Remember, the salespeople in these stores know what they're talking about. It can't hurt to ask any questions you may have about the authenticity and quality of a bag. Jot down all the advice they give you, and remember this information if you plan to purchase a bag on eBay. On eBay, check a seller's feedback and only go with sellers who have a very high ranking and plenty of detailed feedback. If the seller has little or no positive feedback, find a different seller. Since you know what to look for, message the seller and ask questions regarding the steps you learned above. When purchasing a designer item, there is no such thing as too many questions.
• It may be tempting to buy a Dooney and Bourke knockoff while browsing Canal Street in New York City, but you'll get what you pay for, and not only will it be a cheap quality bag, but it will be an illegally purchased bag that no fashion-savvy woman would take pride in.

[bonjay]

on 11/28/2009 I purchased a Dooney Bourke handbag direct from a reliable Dooney Bourke vendor, not on ebay and not from a second or third party. For a bag that came from Dooney Bourke, it meets only some of the above "must haves" in "How to Spot a Fake". Dooney B's come in a wide variety of colors these days. The British tan is not on all bags anymore. Next, hardware is not just gold, but comes in silver and other finishes as well. The tags inside are leather and the newer bags don't always feature a duck! If you have any doubts, get on the DB website and look at the variety of colours in leathers and the finishes in hardware! I agree with advice as where to buy your bag! There are no bargains. You get get what you pay for. The person who wrote "How to Spot a Fake" probably hasn't bought a DB in a long while. Much of the criteria mentioned was true at one time, but not today. I congratulate DB on...