About 2 weeks ago, I received a flyer in my mail for an auction. The flyer boasted some impressive designer names (Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, and more), so of course I had to go! This turned out to be really interesting...

According to the flyer, there was going be Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga and more! And, everything had been verified as authentic already. A chance to get designer items at a good price? Sign me up!

When I got there, the first place I headed towards were the bags. People were allowed 30 minutes to peruse through the items before bidding began. The bags were grossly tossed together in a giant heap. D:

But, what was crazier, was how most of the bags were counterfeit!

This was the first bag that I inspected. Chanel makes my favorite handbags in the entire world, and the classic double flap is what I personally consider to be the most gorgeous bag ever. This white double flap was an AWFUL fake; it is not AT ALL passable for an authentic Chanel in my opinion. I knew that it was fake just walking up to it.

I overheard a little boy with his family say, "What if this is a fake bag?" The father replied, "No, everything here is guaranteed real." The situation was quite helpless. Had I said something, it may have seemed that I was arguing with the guy or challenging his authority in front of his kid.

One lady saw me inspecting one of the Birkins, and asked me if I thought it was real. The lady looked like she may already own Hermes. Somewhat relieved that she asked, I gladly told her this was a counterfeit item. She told me that the item didn't seem quite right.

There were a lot of items there that were supposed to be of high dollar, art, persian rugs, very ornate jewelry, bags, and watches. I asked the auctioneer how they were able to recognize stones in the jewelry and how they verified gold content. He said that everything had been verified, but he didn't know how. ... Shady as he**...

The whole experience was very unsettling. It was nauseating to watch people bid up to $30,000 on jewelry that may not have been of precious metals and gemstones. My husband and I didn't stay very long, but long enough to see the fake white Chanel bag being auctioned off at $1600. 🙁

***It's important to mention that not all auction places are like this. There are reputable auction houses that truly verify their items, but this requires a lot of effort, and knowledge. Unfortunately, many companies are not as thorough as they claim. 🙁

A little while ago, I went on a very fancy dinner date. One of the best parts was being able to wear Herve Leger! It also provided the perfect opportunity to take out my hand-strassed crystal evening clutch. Hope you like this outfit. 🙂

The DIY clutch was great! It held my cellphone, lipstick, cash and ID easily and securely. And, I was somewhat transfixed by how the sparkles transformed as we went from daylight to artificial lighting to nighttime.

It's funny, but I rarely pair Herve Leger with Christian Louboutin. 😛 My favorite ways of wearing Louboutin are with more casual outfits: jeans, sundresses, and skirts. When I wear Herve Leger, the dress already says so much!

Louis Vuitton is the most counterfeited designer out there. They have produced many different lines of bags throughout the years; canvas monogram, epi, vernis, damier azur just to name a few of their outside finishes. With all of this, authentication can be overwhelming. So, we put together an easy beginner's guide to authenticating Louis Vuitton bags. Enjoy!

When authenticating Louis Vuitton purses, there are many details to study: leather, stitch trim, inside lining, hardware details, monogram pattern/alignment, d-rings, etc, etc. Unless you're really familiar with LV, it is just too much! So, let's look at 3 of the most important authentication features that apply to ALL Louis Vuitton bags.

1. Louis Vuitton Stamping

The main Louis Vuitton stamp is very important for authentication, and oftentimes it can easily allow you to determine that a bag is fake.

Features to pay attention to:
1. The tail on the L is very short.
2. The O's are very round and look bigger than the L.
3. The T's are almost touching each other or are so close that it looks like it.
4. Lettering should be thin to somewhat thin, clear and very crisp.
5. Study the general font used and how it is aligned.
*There are rare exceptions to the above rules.*

Next up, are some counterfeits that you can compare to:

Notice how the first three fake Louis Vuitton stamps all have obvious errors. For instance, oval O's instead of round O's, the size of the O's, the space between the T's, and width of the imprint.

The last (4th) fake Louis Vuitton stamp is from a better counterfeit. Notice how this stamping does not appear to have any mistakes. Further authentication steps would be required to weed out this fake.

2. Hardware

In general, most fake Louis Vuitton bags will have very poor quality hardware. In fact, some are colored plastic!

Observing how clean and precise the imprinting is on hardware will also be a giveaway for many fakes. Notice how clean and crisp the lettering and imprinting on the authentic hardware is compared to the replicas.

3. Datecode

All Louis Vuitton bags before the early 1980s did not come with a datecode. Louis Vuitton in and after 2021 frequently do not have datecodes either. But most Louis Vuitton bags still in circulation will have a datecode.

Datecodes can provide the date and place of manufacture of the bag. Because many datecodes provide the country origin of this bag, this can be another checkpoint for authentication. Again, this is another thing that counterfeiters mess up on. Please note the below list may not include all datecodes.

For instance, the fake datecode is MI 1920. MI means that the bag came from France. If the stamping on the Louis Vuitton bag states: made in U.S.A or Spain, you know that this bag is a counterfeit. The country signified on the datecode must be the same country specified on the "Made in" stamping.

Countries and their Datecodes (Louis Vuitton adds factory codes from time to time, so this may not be inclusive of all datecodes):
made in France- A0, A1, A2, AA, AAS (Special Order), AH, AN, AR, AS, BA, BJ, BU, DR, DU, DR, DT, CO, CT, CX, ET, FL, LW, MB, MI, NO, RA, RI, SA, SD, SF, SL, SN, SP, SR, TA, TJ, TH, TN, TR, TS, VI, VX
made in Italy- BC, BO, CE, FO, MA, NZ, OB, PL, RC, RE, SA, TD
made in Spain- BC, CA, LO, LB, LM, LW, GI, UB
made in U.S.A.- FC, FH, FL, LA, OS, SD, TX
made in Switzerland- DI, FA
made in Germany- LP, OL

Datecodes are located on a piece of leather on the inside of the bag or on the side near a seam inside the bag. They can sometimes be difficult to find. Unless the datecode has been rubbed down or the bag is very vintage, or is a 2021 or newer piece, it should be there. Fake bags oftentimes do not have datecodes.

We hope that this simplified guide helps you significantly. These 3 easy tips would be adequate for many Louis Vuitton counterfeits. A thorough authentication guide for Louis Vuitton would cover specific hardware pieces, datecode fonts, monogram alignment and much more; it would be extremely lengthy and too exhaustive for a non-specialist!

About 3.5 weeks ago, I embarked on a mission to cover a Jimmy Choo sunglasses case with tiny sparkly crystals. The project is finally complete, and the strassed clutch is ready to be unveiled! Get ready for sparkles! *drumroll please*

Are you ready? Next pic is the finished clutch!!!!

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This project took an extraordinary amount of time.

I was really impressed by how strong the Gem-Tac permanent adhesive glue was. This glue would work on many different surfaces, such as leather shoes!

Oh, and check out someone else's project:

The concept is the same, but the result is very different. I especially like the cubic zirconia glued near the clasp. And, creativity points for putting glitter on top of the crystals!

If you're flying Airtran or Southwestern this month (July 2014), be sure to check out their on-flight magazine, Spirit! The magazine wrote a blurb about Lollipuff and its beginnings! I'm so happy to say that many of you have been with us since the get-go!

(* ˘⌣˘)◞[_]♥[_]ヽ(•‿• ) Here, here to all of you! Thank you so much for all the support! I say this again and again, but we could never ever do this without your support, encouragement, and source of inspiration. Some of you may even remember when selling first began at HLO. Transactions were started by the community's request, the community's insight and wisdom! I was unsure at first, but as transaction after transaction completed with such smoothness and ease, I knew that we were doing something that was needed and wanted.

Here's to you, new or old to Lollipuff! Here's to future users who will enrich our community even more with their bright comments and additional designer items to choose from. And, here's to the mission of making buying and selling designer items safer and easier!

California has had a few pretty hot days recently, making it perfect weather for a little white or ivory dress. I paired the simple summer dress with a Herve Leger harness belt, Chanel bag, and beige Christian Louboutins, keeping the look light and airy.

This belt was perfect to pair with my white a-line summer dress, and it also provided some shaping as well! In fact, in many ways, the belt is better with non-Herve Leger pieces. So many Herve Leger dresses offer such great hold already; placing the belt on top seems redundant.

The Chanel bag and Herve Leger belt really make all the difference. And, the slight red pop on the back of the heels add just a touch of bright color!

Herve Leger dresses are amazing. The luxurious fabric shapes and pulls all at the right places, creating something that is both unique and overwhelmingly sexy. The dresses have gained fame around the world from the very beginning and continue to be one of the most coveted fashion pieces. What some don't realize is that Herve Leger also makes amazing shoes, bags and accessories. Today, I wanted to share with you my Herve Leger belt!

My cutout Herve Leger corset belt is constructed of beige and black leather with bandage material in between. The zipper and hardware on it are very strong. Several other designers have made high-end corset belts, including Alaia and Alexander McQueen, but most of corset belts are blocky and bulky.

Herve Leger belts and harnesses usually come in the following size options: xs, s, and m OR xs/s and m/l. The belts and harnesses in xs, s and m sizing tend to fit small. The belts in xs/s and m/l sizing are more true to size.

For instance, I normally wear xxs in Herve Leger, and would normally take a xs belt. Because belts are somewhat rare, I could only find this one in size small, yet it still provides me with some shaping.

Herve Leger belts and harnesses add an extra touch of style and edge to a dress. Many of them are also shaped in a way that accentuate and pull in the waist.

These corset belts are worn mid-waist, so they will be most flattering on those with medium to long torsos. I am EXTREMELY short-waisted, but I still love mine!

The cool thing about my belt is that it is reversible, so two looks in one! When the zipper is worn in the front, it provides additional shaping around the tummy area. This is especially helpful for events with lots of eating! 🙂

This belt is really a stunning piece! The bandage material and cutout shapes are perfect for the waistline!

Jimmy Choo quality is amazing. The hardware is always heavy, and the details are modern and sexy. It's not shocking that even their sunglasses cases are beautiful and well-made. Many Jimmy Choo sunglasses cases are more durable than a lot of clutches! Naturally, we're transforming a sunglasses case into a dazzling evening clutch!

I was staring at this elegant Jimmy Choo sunglasses case, when I realized that some bedazzling would transform this top-notch sunglasses case into a shimmery glittering clutch!

Strassing Tools

1. Gem-Tac permanent adhesive glue
2. Cheap white eyeliner for picking and placing crystals
3. Hard sunglasses case
4. Approximately 12,000 different sized (SS6, SS10, SS16, SS20) vitrail and AB crystals (mixture of AB siam, AB light siam, AB deep siam and vitrail colors).

The crystals that I am using are of varying sizes (SS6, SS10, SS16, SS20). They are DMC crystals in siam ab (red aurora borealis), and vitrail (rainbow colored), leftovers from my Louboutin strassing projects. 🙂 I suspect that I will use about 6000 crystals for this clutch makeover. Varying sizes are imperative. If the crystals are of uniform size, it will look cheap. I really like AB (aurora borealis) crystals (can be purchased from Etsy or eBay), as they provide additional depth and complexity.

This Jimmy Choo case is really large, has a hard outer shell, durable metal hinges, and strong magnetic closures. My cell phone and other small essential easily fit inside. Functionally, it's perfect as a clutch!

And, the project has begun! Here it is with the edges done:

I hope that you're looking forward to the result of this strassing project! I already think that it's going to be beautiful! This is super exciting, as I don't own any super sparkly evening clutches, and the few crystals glued on are already enchanting! Updates will follow as the clutch gets covered with sparkles.

We recently had the authentic and fake version of the same Herve Leger dress. This was the perfect opportunity to share pictures of them side-by-side. These pics really puts things into perspective. Hope you enjoy!

The fake dress is on the left; the authentic is on the right. The fake dress is a size extra small, while the authentic dress is a size small. Right off the bat, you notice that the sizing on the counterfeit is off; the fake extra small looks like the same size as the authentic small. It's common for fakes to not be consistent in sizing. A size M fake can oftentimes be the same size as a XS, or vice-versa!

Obviously, style-wise, the fake is not a good fake. The pattern, stitching, and zipper are all wrong. Anyone familiar with this dress will immediately notice that it is counterfeit.

Also, on the authentic dress, it only tapers in at the waist and is completely symmetrical. The bust is also sewn in a way that it slightly extends outwards. All these characteristics lend to a truly flattering fit and are missing on the counterfeit.

The fabric longevity and durability is also better on the authentic, but you can't tell by looking at the pics. 😛

The difference in quality is extremely apparent in the back. The fake exhibits at least three large areas where the bands are not perfectly aligned, causing significant rippling.

Because of the desirability and quality of Louis Vuitton, there are many vintage pieces out there. While these bags are still fashionable, some signs of age are probably visible. This post will go over how to refurbish all of the usual areas that show wear, and how to make your bag look newer than it really is by lightening and evening the vachetta leather and brightening the metal fittings.

Here is our bag before any refurbishment. This charming Speedy 30 is 22 years old and is considered a vintage piece. As is, it's still very wearable, but we can make it way way better!

As you can see, the monogram canvas holds up very well. There is no tearing and very little wear to it. But, the metal fittings, lock, and zipper have lost their luster. Instead of shiny gold, it is a dull bronze accompanied with a little bit of rust. Also, the vachetta leather exhibits age. Vachetta leather is a beautiful leather that develops a patina over time. Some people love a darkened patina on their Louis Vuitton, but blotchy uneven patina is generally not desirable. Other than these two things, this classic vintage bag does not exhibit much wear at all. Luckily, we can fix dark blotchy vachetta leather and dull metal hardware!

psst... Btw, you can use this guide on most canvas and vachetta leather Louis Vuitton bags, not just Speedy bags!

What You Will Need to Refurbish your Louis Vuitton Bag

1. Paper towels
2. At least 5 q-tips
3. BlueMagic metal polish cream
4. 1 Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
5. Cadillac boot & shoe care leather conditioner
6. Clean soft cloth (not pictured)

I strongly recommend Blue Magic metal polish cream due to its effectiveness. It fights the tarnish and gunk, while not disturbing any etching and brand markings. Do NOT use metal polish on plated hardware. For example, Chanel frequently uses gold-plated hardware on their bags.

I also strong recommend Cadillac leather conditioner. I've tried and used MANY different leather conditioners including Apple and more high-end conditioners, and Cadillac is the best, most versatile one that I have tried. Used reasonably and sparingly, it is one of the few leather conditioners in the market that will not darken vachetta leather, while noticeably re-hydrating it.

Now, let's proceed with how to make your bag look amazing!

Fixing Dull Brass Hardware

STEP 1: With a dry paper towel, try to wipe off as much of the rust around any of the fittings.

STEP 2: Now, using the q-tips, buff the small metal fitting pieces with a small amount of metal polish cream. Try not to get any of the cream onto the leather.

STEP 3: Using a dry paper towel, firmly buff the metal pieces that have received metal polish treatment. Keep buffing until the metal is shiny and no longer giving you black residue.

STEP 4: Buff larger metal hardware such as the lock as well. Instead of using a q-tip, use a paper towel for both polish cream application and buffing. Locks will require this step to be repeated a few times before it is shiny.

And, here is the bag after all of the metal hardware have received polishing. This included the zipper as well.

Lightening Vachetta Leather from Dirt and Oil

Before proceeding to the next step (Magic Eraser), please examine how glossy the vachetta leather is. If the leather does not look glossy, do NOT apply the magic eraser step. If the leather is not glossy looking, it means that the bag was recently cleaned and further cleaning can be bad for it, or that it is too dry or too new for cleaning.

STEP 5: Taking your Magic Eraser, dampen it, and squeeze out all excess water. Now rub this against the vachetta leather handles, and tabs. Remember, rub, NOT SCRUB! Focus on each spot for 15 seconds. Do not do more as this cleaning process is very strong and too much time in any one spot can dry out the leather. So, this means, the small end tabs each took 15 seconds of rubbing, while each handle with larger surface area got a total of 1.5 minutes of rubbing. You will need to rinse out the Magic Eraser every once in a while, because it accumulates a lot of residue. Squeeze out excess water each time before going back to cleaning the vachetta leather. You will want to do this step in a large sink, as the Magic Eraser will start to disintegrate and crumble. Try to keep the bag as dry as possible.

The vachetta leather will be darker when you do this step. Don't freak out! This is only temporary. After this step, you will see the leather start lightening within 3 minutes!

Conditioning and Canvas Cleaning

STEP 6: Immediately, after the leather has dried (approximately after 30 minutes - 1 hour), put a small amount of Cadillac leather conditioner onto a soft clean cloth and condition the entire bag.

A small amount of Cadillac leather conditioner will make the cleaned vachetta leather hydrated, smooth and buttery with a slight sheen. This final step is important and keeps your bag protected.

STEP 7: Wipe down the monogram canvas, damier canvas, or epi leather with a soft clean cloth and some Cadillac conditioner.

Here is the beautiful final result:

And, just to show the drastic transformation, here are closeups of the vachetta leather handles throughout the cleaning process.

And, here is the entire bag:

I'm so happy with the results of this diy! The vachetta leather is so even in color and many shades lighter! The metal fittings look so glamorous!

Though this process worked very well for us with no problems, we do want to caution that outcomes cannot be guaranteed. Please proceed with caution.