Vintage Gucci Handbags
From LoveToKnow Handbags
Gucci's designs are timeless, hence vintage Gucci handbags are still popular, sought-after items even today. Though the fashion industry is dedicated to churning out hot new designs that will inevitably be overshadowed by the next season's spectacular items, certain fashionistas carry a sentimental penchant for the past. People who are fond of fashion, and are consumed with a love of the evolution of style, will enjoy searching for and purchasing vintage designer goods.
Why Vintage Gucci Handbags
As mentioned previously, the love of vintage Gucci handbags stems from a love of Gucci itself. Over the decades Gucci has evolved and transformed as much as any other designer. Certain signature items have kept true to their pattern, but there are differences within every collection as the seasons unfold. Hence, if you are less concerned with keeping your wardrobe up to date, and more concerned with the stunning styles of Gucci past, then vintage Gucci handbags can be an interesting way to accentuate your look.
Moreover, since most fashion fans are deeply into the latest Vogue-advertised fashions, carrying around a vintage Gucci handbag is a surefire way to ensure that you won't be sporting the same bag as every socialite in America.
Vintage Defined
The term vintage typically carries the traditional meaning in the fashion world which refers to a period of time before the 1980s. Today, items of the 70s, as well as decades prior, can be considered vintage. However, when it comes to specific designer goods, you could easily argue that a 1991 Gucci hobo is a vintage piece. This is because the fashion industry rifles through styles so quickly that one year will contain a Fall/Winter line, a Spring/Summer line, and a Resort Collection. That's practically three years all crammed into one. In fact, a 1991 Gucci hobo will be virtually archaic for the socialite who updates her wardrobe seasonally. Only individuals who respect fashion as art will care enough to keep around last season's merchandise.
After all, America is a capitalistic consumer-oriented nation where the spirit of "buy!" is ingrained into the mind of nearly every person. There is a fine line between "vintage" and just plain "out of style", and that line is determined by individual fashion lovers.
Purchasing Information
The internet is such a hot spot for retailers of vintage designer goods, and therefore items like vintage Gucci handbags have never been so easy to locate for the discerning shopper. "Discerning," however, is the keyword. Shoppers must be wary of most online vendors due to the growing threat of the replica industry.
In fact, the majority of designer goods that can be purchased through online auctions are fake. Although the selling of counterfeit handbags is illegal and can have heavy over-arching consequences for American tax payers, this is still an industry that increases in sophistication and wealth on an annual basis.
More importantly, the refinement of replica procedures has led to a stock of replica handbags that are extremely difficult to identify as non-authentic goods. In the past, without a dust bag and a card of authenticity, an item was easily determined to be counterfeit. Today, the replica industry is not only including dust bags and cards, but also printing serial numbers on the insides of vintage Gucci handbags, much like those the authentic bags will boast to contain.
How to Guarantee a Gucci
Vintage Gucci handbags will not be available in department stores, and many Gucci retailers do not carry a stock of past items. Therefore, dedicated Gucci fans must look elsewhere in order to purchase the styles of prior decades. Aside from specialty stores, which can be difficult to locate, the internet is still the prime resource for vintage shoppers.
The best way to ensure the authenticity of your vintage Gucci merchandise is to research your vendor. Ask for specific photos of the items. Meanwhile, familiarize yourself with the standard of Gucci quality. If you have never purchased luxury handbags before, then you will not easily be able spot things like inconsistent stitches, cheaper materials, etc. An educated shopper or those with a closet full of Gucci may have a simpler time locating her desired products.
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Comments
Hi Barbara,
Unfortunately, without knowing where the bag originally came from, it is almost impossible to say for certain. The perfect stitching and fine leather would make me guess it may be authentic. But if not, then it sounds like you still have a high quality purse at a great value.
-- Contributed by: LoriSoardI found what may be a Gucci vintage handbaga at a Goodwill store. It seems to be very fine leather, stitching is perfect. Because of the color and style, and do not know what yeaar it is from. The beige with small silver Gucci bucke. On the inside this is not cell phone pouches, etc. There are only two small thin compartment on each side of purse. On the leather outside is engraved Gucci, Made in Italy and an R enclosed in a circle. On the handle, there is a small leather buckel used to keep handle together, on the inside of snap are numbers. Could this be the serial number. What does anyone think? Real or great fake?
-- Contributed by: Barbara Y. LoveHi Damaris,
How are you? Your best bet for getting the value of this purse is to take it to a secondhand boutique specializing in Gucci or to take it to a Gucci retailer. You may also want to check sources like eBay and MyPoupette.com.
-- Contributed by: LoriSoardThis page has been accessed 7,258 times. This page was last modified 00:26, 22 June 2007.
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