^Sorry I was talking to 17:26

Haha I’m right there with you PP!

I have a bag that is a slightly differently-shaped, sturdy version of a bag that is commonly knocked off, and a few friends have assumed it’s fake bc the shape looks “off” to them from the flappy ubiquitous one (which it turns out they themselves have purchased fakes of…they live in NYC). My version is way more practical (and expensive, NOT that it matters), but after carrying it around as a workhorse for years and years I’m thinking I might need to go look for something simple even though I haven’t “used it up” yet. Also probably doesn’t help that I am not precious with my stuff, so yes the bag gets thrown around everywhere

I am never close enough to strangers to really look at jewelry, but as far as the bags, I assume it’s fake if

1) there are obvious signs of poor quality - look of the seams, peeling handles, bubbling leather, etc. Good quality bags wear out differently.

2) if there is a major disconnect between the presumed quality of the bag and the rest of the clothing. A cotton t shirt from GAP and Vans are fine, basics are basics. An ill fitting piling acrylic sweater and plasticky “leather” shoes make me doubt the authenticity of the bag.

I'm a usual frump who has a few nice, real pieces because I like them. I don't like them enough to overhaul my whole wardrobe and makeup regimen, so people must assume what I have is fake!

I guess I assume all bags are fake. It’s inconceivable to me that people spend so much on designer bags. Moreover, from the pictures I’ve seen of expensive bags, they don’t strike me as any more attractive than the bags you can get for a fraction of the cost at any store. I’m sure there are many women in the area who have such bags, but I wouldn’t recognize the genuine articles if they were right in front of me.

I don’t think of it as a negative if someone isn’t using a designer bag. If I think about it at all (which I generally don’t), I would have a lower opinion of someone who paid exorbitant amounts for a trendy label than someone who paid a more moderate price, while thinking even more highly yet of the woman who got a bargain. I’m not suggesting people buy counterfeits so they can have a designer label without paying for it. I’m saying that it doesn’t make sense to care about the label at all.

I don’t begrudge people spending their money however they want. It’s their money and my personal financial priorities are obviously irrelevant to everyone else. But if they do carry a designer bag, I won’t recognize it as such, much less be impressed.

Anonymous wrote:Really? You are shocked that people make negative assumptions about people based on their weight?

Op here. I’ll use McLean/Tysons as an example for me, because it’s an area I would subjectively describe as wealthier. I’ve seen plenty of women all sizes, larger, smaller carrying designer bags or shopping in the Galleria and always assumed they had $$$.

I wouldn’t assume someone with Van Cleef (sp?) and a size 14/16/18 was wearing a fake piece of jewelry simply because of their weight.

It shocked me that an assumption like that could be common. It never crossed my mind. I’ve seen trailer parks with Mercedes and BMW’s parked outside and thought they must spend more on their car, less on their home in the same way some people have nice homes but old beat up vehicles. I just never made a connection between weight and inability to afford luxury goods.

Anonymous wrote:*Personally, I wouldn't buy a bag so popular that fakes are being made and bought.

Exactly. I wouldn’t be caught dead with Van Cleef & Arpels’ Alhambra design, or the myriad famous bag designs or logos out there.

Quiet luxury, people.

I assume most high end bags that I see in the wild are fake. Who in their right mind walks around downtown with a 12k bag? If I'm at a high end place with rich clientele then I assume it's real. But most people have enough sense not to dress for a robbery.

Particularly in frumpy DC (and I very much count myself as a denizen), I think the people who do care about this stuff might be surprised by how many of us are completely oblivious to all of it.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I was taken aback after hearing someone say that a designer handbag was fake because the person carrying it was overweight.

Do people really feel this way?

I have seen people of all sizes and never thought that weight meant they were not wealthy. I have seen threads here about weight as well. This shocked me.

No. l have a couple friends who love real designer bags and are overweight.

Anonymous wrote:I was driving through a very poor area of DC yesterday and was surprised to see a lady carrying an Lv neverfull. Assumed it was fake.

Isn’t that kind of who those bags are for though?

Half the bags here are fake.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I was taken aback after hearing someone say that a designer handbag was fake because the person carrying it was overweight.

Do people really feel this way?

I have seen people of all sizes and never thought that weight meant they were not wealthy. I have seen threads here about weight as well. This shocked me.

I didn't know people thought this way at all. Is this just a catty woman thing? Because normal people don't think about this.

Anonymous wrote:I was shocked by how much people of all SES like obviously labeled designer or brand stuff in the DC metro.

Doesn't matter whether it is real or fake to me, it all looks like people want to be an unpaid advertisement. So I think less of all of them, for that reason.

Public transportation with a designer bag = fake

I give zero notice or thought to this