Britney lost the law suit defending against LVMH, but what we care about second to that bit of news is finding this music video, natch!

Britney Spears - Do Somethin’

I’ve added the vid to our No Knockoffs playlist on our YouTube account: Lipped Media, as well, so check it out.

And of course you should check out the news story, if you don’t already know all the details.

I’ve thought up a feature for the blog of posting videos of blogistas inspecting authentic and fake bags to educate fellow shoppers.

The first video is not by me, but you will see me do some (thanks in part to me just joining Bag Borrow or Steal, so even though my budget restricts me from buying many bags even at the COACH level, I might be renting some occasionally!), although I have limited access to counterfeit purses to vid. This really is a practice all designer lovers should try to follow, if you can take a vid that is - post it on YouTube - just like those bad products videos that caused such a stir!

Today’s video features a fake Prada, a replica of a gorgeous Prada indeed. I hope you learn something, although it’s hard not being able to touch it (it always is), but I figure that seeing it in video-dimension will add something to the education process! (Let me know if you agree, and contact me if you make a video like this!)

There will be more to come, and if you’d like to see similar videos or send me one of yours, check out my new YouTube account: LippedMedia (I still need to flesh my page out [and of course make some vids!] - any tips on using YouTube? - I’m a little behind in the whole thing!). Also, we could connect as friends on there! (I didn’t know YouTube was social - geez I AM behind!)

Anyway, the real point to these posts are to help you shop smarter on places like eBay; so best of luck!

I know I do a lot of Marc Jacobs, but can you blame me? I love his bags. But I’m actually only doing another Fake Spotting about Marc Jacobs because a commenter wrote in. This is so late in relation to when the commenter asked, but LIFE ran at me like a MAC Truck! (And don’t worry, I wrote to her back right away after!)

Hi could you tell me what the tale signs are of a fake Blake handbag to a real one?

I have just purchased one from Designers Imports and am really worried.

Well, first of all, the website you bought it from is a faker. All those discount websites are. For Marc Jacobs buying online, only blindly trust eLUXURY, Net-a-Porter and the really upscale department stores, such as Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

The Blake is a great classic bag, similar to the Venetia, but it’s not one of the older classics, so it isn’t quite as known to people.

Look on MarcJacobs.com for the past few seasons’ collections photos and examine the Blake. Here’s a photo of one:

Here are things that should be the same with all bags by Marc Jacobs similar to the Blake:

1. Any quilting will align up centered on quilted bags.
2. The leather on the pocket flap will be plain, without texture.
3. The shape of the pockets is always the same.
4. The strap detail is always the same.

There is a great guide from an eBay user to spot authentics on all classic Marc Jacobs bags. The Blake was based on the classics, but is not in this guide. Also, check out our own general article with tips on avoiding fakes.

Also you must note that with any high-priced designer bag, no company or person can afford to slash big prices drastically. You won’t find big “below retail” or “our price” deals, only markdowns at the end of a season - and those don’t last long.

Safe buying!

Before I actually go into any designers or styles or photos of fakes again, I thought it was quite necessary to go over the basics of what you need for every bag when bidding on eBay.

Use this as a check list, don’t bid until every aspect is satisfactory. (Do you have any requirements to add?)

This is long, so click for full… Click for more (photos: angles, colors, etc.) »

First of all, never trust iOffer in the first place. And even though their fakes are worse than eBay’s, we can still learn things.

Here is a brand new gold metallic Marc Jacobs Cammie from Neiman Marcus (which I really hope stays around for a sale).

Here is a FAKE Marc Jacobs Quilted Leather Cammie in midnight blue.

(Quite clear, right?)

Now I don’t have too much information on Cammies, but I know enough to tell these two points:

• The pockets and quilts are off with the line of the bag. Marc Jacobs has excellent alignment (so too bad the brand doesn’t do signature).
• The chain strap is too long.

Now stay away from iOffer!

I love this style, the Marc Jacobs Quilted Venetia, it is my favorite and my most coveted of Marc Jacobs, although it is too wide for me at 16″, so I will quite contentedly settle for the Blake. I just need to find one. Must be blue!

Anyway, my little tizzying search led me to this bag, and after wanting it, of course I did my research before moving forward.

I learned how to spot a Marc Jacobs fake, and I could tell with the styles at which I looked.

Whether you can see it right away or not, this is a bad, or at least easily-seen fake.

The tell-tale signs: Click for more (photos: angles, colors, etc.) »