Over the past few years there has been an influx of realistic looking designer replicas flooding the market.
As a result, those who think they've scored a 'bargain' designer bag or shoe are actually strutting around flaunting a cheap fake.
The team at Luxe.It.Fwd- an Australian business that sells authentic second-hand designer handbags and heels - send all their items to specialist authenticators to ensure they are not fakes.
Here, the company's founder Miranda Gillespie lists the 10 key signs that designer heels are fake and the key differences between an authentic pair of Valentino Rockstud Pumps that retail for $1,295 and a pair of fakes bought for $200 from China.
So can you tell the difference?
Can you pick the authentic Valentino Rockstud Pumps that retail for $1,295 from the pair of fakes bought for $200 from China
GENERAL SHAPE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
The genuine Valentino shoes on the right are sleek and elegant, crafted from patent leather.
'The fake pair on the left has a rounded appearance at the toe and have a slightly different shape overall,' Miranda said.
'The fake pair has an acrylic type smell to it, which is a common sign of a replica shoes and which indicates that they are not made from leather.
'Note how the authentic pair hold their shape while the replica pair sags.'
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The genuine Valentino shoes on the right are sleek and elegant, crafted from patent leather where as the fake pair on the left has a rounded appearance at the toe
THE BOX
The genuine box has a linen textured appearance with Valentino Garavani embossed in red.
The replica box is a slightly differing shade of red and has a much subtler texture.
'The logo is embossed in black and appears slightly crooked. The replica box also has an odd, slightly unpleasant smell about it,' Miranda said.
The genuine box has a linen textured appearance with Valentino Garavani embossed in red
The replica box is a slightly differing shade of red and has a much subtler texture
DUSTBAGS
Valentino use several different dustbags, however the replica dustbags do not resemble any of them in any way. They are wrong in every way – material, colour and font.
Valentino use several different dustbags like the one pictured
The replica dustbags do not resemble any of them in any way. They are wrong in every way – material, colour and font
INTERIOR VALENTINO TAG
'On the genuine Valentino pair the interior tag is perfectly positioned and secured with neat even stitches. The font is clear and crisp,' Miranda said.
'Notice the differences in colour on the replica pair, which uses a brown for the font, rather than the black of the genuine pair.
'The stitches are messy and also note how puffed up the sole underneath the tag is compared to the genuine pair which is flat.'
'On the genuine Valentino pair the interior tag is perfectly positioned and secured with neat even stitches. The font is clear and crisp,' Miranda said
'Notice the differences in colour on the replica pair, which uses a brown for the font, rather than the black of the genuine pair,' she added
DATE CODE
Genuine Valentino shoes have a serial number printed on the interior in the same colour as the hardware. The fake pair have no serial number at all.
Genuine Valentino shoes have a serial number printed on the interior in the same colour as the hardware. The fake pair have no serial number at all
GLUE AND STITCHING
'Genuine Valentino shoes have no excess glue visible, whereas the fake pair have excess glue visible in nearly every area of the shoe,' Miranda said.
'Also note that the fake pair have used white stitching on the black patent, whereas the genuine shoes have black stitching.'
Genuine Valentino shoes have no excess glue visible
The fake pair have excess glue visible in nearly every area of the shoe
THE STUDS
The back of the studs are concealed within the straps on the genuine Valentinos. The back of the studs are visible on the interior of the straps on the replica pair.
'In person the studs on the replica pair also appear much shinier, slightly yellower and quite plastic when next to the genuine pair,' Miranda said.
'Also note that the buckle on the replica pair is rose gold, whereas on a genuine pair all hardware is the same colour.'
The back of the studs are concealed within the straps on the genuine Valentinos. The back of the studs are visible on the interior of the straps on the replica pair
In person the studs on the replica pair also appear much shinier, slightly yellower and quite plastic when next to the genuine pair
HEEL HEIGHT
Though both pairs are 100mm heels, there is a noticeable difference in the actual height of the heels, with the genuine Valentinos being a tad higher than the replicas.
Though both pairs are 100mm heels, there is a noticeable difference in the actual height of the heels, with the genuine Valentinos being a tad higher than the replicas
STAMPING
'The stamping on the genuine pair is crisp and neat, and imprinted quote heavily into the leather soles,' Miranda said.
'Whereas on the fake pair the imprint is much lighter, and the type and size of the font does not match.
'Note that the genuine pair have leather soles, while the fake pair have man made soles, which are a differing shade also.'
'The stamping on the genuine pair is crisp and neat, and imprinted quote heavily into the leather soles,' Miranda said
'Whereas on the fake pair the imprint is much lighter, and the type and size of the font does not match,' she added
INCLUSIONS
'The genuine valentine shoes are accompanied by two spare studs in red paper case, two spare heel caps and a care booklet,' Miranda said.
'The replicas are accompanied by many spare studs and a pair of spare heel caps in plastic bags – probably so many included because with the quality of the fakes they’ll fall off soon.'
'The genuine valentine shoes are accompanied by two spare studs in red paper case, two spare heel caps and a care booklet,' Miranda said
'The replicas are accompanied by many spare studs and a pair of spare heel caps in plastic bags – probably so many included because with the quality of the fakes they’ll fall off soon,' she added
Luxe.It.Fwd has a bunch of Valentino Rockstud shoes for sale here