First things first, the logo. Seriously, LOOK at that thing. The *real* MK logo since ’09 (i think) has rounded corners on the rectangle and the “MK” inside should be crisp and clear. If it’s blurry, or the corners are pointy… red flag! Like, major red flag. Someone’s trying to pull a fast one on ya. And speaking of logos, check everywhere! Zippers, lining, the little dangly charm thing. Consistency is key. If one logo looks slightly different than the others, that’s… suspicious, to say the least.
Then there’s the zippers. Oh man, the zippers. Real MK bags (and I mean, most decent bags in general) use YKK zippers. They’re like, the gold standard. Check for the YKK stamp on the zipper pull. If it ain’t there, or it’s some janky-looking knock-off stamp… yeah, you guessed it, fake.
And don’t even get me STARTED on the material. A real Hamilton bag, even if it’s not leather, is gonna *feel* nice. It’s gonna feel substantial. It won’t smell like chemicals straight outta a factory. Run your hand over it. Squish it a little. Does it feel like something you’d actually want to carry around? Or does it feel like a cheap plastic garbage bag? Trust your instincts! Seriously. Your gut feeling is often right.
Also, pay attention to the stitching. Are the lines straight? Are there any loose threads hanging all over the place? Sloppy stitching is a HUGE giveaway. Michael Kors ain’t gonna let a bag leave their factory looking like it was sewn by a blindfolded monkey, you know?
Now, here’s where I get a little ranty: the price. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Like, if someone’s selling a “brand new” Hamilton for like, 50 bucks… RUN. Just run. Unless it’s your grandma and she legit forgot what she paid for it, it’s almost certainly a fake. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I’m just being real.
And don’t be afraid to do your research! Google is your friend. Look up pictures of authentic Hamilton bags online and compare them to the one you’re considering. Pay attention to the details. Even the placement of the pockets inside can be a tell.