Ask Bonnie

When it comes to accessories, handbags run a close second — if they’re not holding down first — in terms of importance for most women’s closets. And while it’s fun to load up on your favorite designer labels, it can get expensive. The solution? Discount designer outlets, eBay, and other online retailers. But wait: how do you know that what you’re getting is the real, top label deal?

Meet Dale Guiducci, the founder of eStyleSense.com. Launched in February, eStyleSense.com brings authentic top tier designer purses at a price considerably less than department stores to fashionistas everywhere — the only difference is they’re a season or so behind the times. More traditional brands sold on the site include Chloe, Balenciaga, Fendi, Gucci and Marc Jacobs, and Guiducci continues to search the fashion world for new and distinct handbags to add to his inventory.

So how does Guiducci make the impossible possible? “Handbags are no different than shoes, clothes, electronics and nearly every other consumer product. Authentic designer handbags, like all these other products, can be purchased at less than retail prices at outlets that deal in overstock merchandise,” he says. “These bags aren’t the current season styles, mind you. But women flock to discount shoe stores (traditional and online) to buy last year’s top name designer shoes at 25-50 percent off retail and don’t think twice about authenticity.”

But sometimes it’s hard to know whether that Chloe bag for $150 on eBay is really a Chloe bag, or just one of those $20 knockoffs you can get on the streets of New York. Luckily, Guiducci has some top tips to help you sniff out the fabulously real Fendis from the fakes.

Tip 1: Check the return policy.
It doesn’t matter where you’re buying it from — you’ll want to get familiar with your rights if your bag isn’t all that it was made out to be. “Do not buy from any company that will not allow you to return the bag for any reason within a specified period of time, or does not clearly state their location and contact information,” says Guiducci. Why? Because they’ve got something to hide: better to play it safe.

Tip 2: Do your homework.
You don’t have to have owned the label before to know whether or not it’s good — just take a trip to your local Neiman’s. “It really is fairly easy to tell the difference,” Guiducci notes. “If someone spends just a few minutes really looking at, feeling and smelling the real bag, it will be hard to be fool them with an imitation.” In fact, Guiducci suggests you open the bag and literally smell it. Imitation bags tend to smell like chemicals used to treat the leather, whereas real bags will smell like calf skin leather.

Tip 3: Check authenticity guides.
Luckily, Guiducci has one on eStyleSense.com that can easily point out little tips and tricks to help you decipher the difference between the authentics and wanna-bes. “If you’re looking for information about Chloe, Fendi, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Prada or Tod’s you’ll find specifics on what these designers have done to protect their brand from forgeries and therefore what you can look at in a bag to protect yourself from buying a fake handbag,” Guiducci says. There’s also general information about what to look for in any designer handbag.

Tip 4: Take note of where you’re buying your designer bag.
Are you picking up your lovely Gucci from an authorized dealer, or buying it from a purse party or swap meet for $50? Guiducci says considering the source of your purchase is as key as doing your homework on the make and style of the bag of your dreams.

It may sound intimidating, but taking these steps can really help you not only save money and time, but embarrassment down the line.

Says Guiducci, “If you buy from a reputable online retailer you’ll be pleasantly surprised, and extremely excited that you saved a lot of money. Then perhaps you can also afford to buy that Fendi Mamma bag you’ve had your eye on.”