There’s nothing I love more than a classic, the YSL College Bag. It’s the perfect marriage of sophistication and style. I’ve had my eye on it for years and was just about to pull the trigger on the purchase when it occurred to me that there are a lot of reported fake versions of the bag circulating around. So, I had to do my due diligence to make sure I was in fact purchasing the real thing.
The first bit of research I did was to check out the photos on the YSL website so I could compare it to the one I was looking at. Immediately, a few key details jumped out to me. Firstly, the stitching on the genuine bags is impeccable. Secondly, the details like the Y lines are woven into the fabric, not added with a secondary zig-zag stitch. Thirdly, the hardware on the authentic YSL bags are always a shiny gold with a smooth finish.
When looking for a genuine bag at a retailer, it’s important to look at the certificate of authenticity as this identifies that the item has been verified as genuine. While this isn’t always possible with online purchases, there are some telltale signs to look out for on the bag itself. The font, logo and lining must all have a smooth finish and any embossing must be neat. YSL always use YKK zips and anything less than that is a key sign that the piece isn’t genuine.
The last thing to look at is the stitching and inside tags of the bag. YSL make use of two types of stitches. The first is a thin, staggered stitch and the second is a broader, squared off stitch. Photos on the YSL website will show these off the best. The inside tags should also have a serial code that corresponds with the bag’s style and colour.
These pointers should help you distinguish between a genuine and fake YSL college bag. It’s really important to be aware of the difference as you don’t want to end up paying high prices for a bag that isn’t the real deal.
Given that I want to make sure I’m investing in an authentic YSL college bag, I’m going to research a few different vendors online and compare my notes from my research. I’ll be sure to look for bio’s, reviews and credentials that point to the vendor being reputable.
Talking to friends and family before making big purchases like this is always a great idea. In this case, some of my family were able to provide a few warnings from prior experiences. They advised me to be particularly wary of any online sellers who don’t allow returns or exchanges or those with a long lead time to deliver.
But even before I look into these vendors, I want to make sure I come to the table fully prepared. That means doing all my research and taking cues from the experts. It’s essential to pay attention to all the little details on the bag, including the lining, logo and stitching. All these subtle touches help determine the authenticity of the YSL college bag.