How to Spot a Fake Prada Bag

Prada bags are a symbol of timeless style that whispers “chic.” The brand, which is known for its expert leather-working, also mines its own archives for inspiration. Its reissue of a bag from 1995—which was first introduced in a campaign by conceptual artist Alex Da Corte starring Scarlett Johansson—is currently the tote of choice for It girls like Katie Holmes, Gabrielle Union, and Karlie Kloss.

But with such a popular bag comes great responsibility, and fake versions have been cropping up all over the place. To ensure you’re getting the real deal, keep an eye out for the following details on the prada bag:

The Prada brand stamp
Real Prada bags feature a logo plaque and a tag with the house’s identifying information. It should be printed in black and white, and the lettering should have a serif font. On most leather styles, the brand stamp will be embossed on a triangle logo plaque in the bag’s interior pocket; for non-leather, small, and mini bags, it will appear on a separate leather or plastic tag.

If the label is missing, or the brand stamp is a different color than the rest of the bag, it’s probably a fake. The logo plaque should also perfectly match the bag’s exterior material.

The hardware should be shiny and smooth. A genuine Prada bag will have brushed nickel, gunmetal, or brass hardware. On some styles, there will be a metal chain strap.

A real Prada bag will have a dustbag, and it should display a serial number. If it doesn’t, ask the seller to provide a Prada authenticity card.