My girlfriend is obsessed with designer bags/shoes/glasses/ ect.. I have learned a lot about fashion lately, and I know A LOT of counterfeits are being passed around. If you are shopping for a Gucci bag, read this guide.

Things to look for

Gucci Leather Cuts- Look closely at the cut of the leather especially around the interior zippered pocket if the particular item has that feature. The cut should be exact all the way around the pocket. The length between the stitching and the edge of the leather should by the same all the way around as well. Any other leather cuts, such as the leather tabs that support the D rings on some of the Gucci styles, should also be quite perfect. Sloppy leather cuts are not acceptable.

Gucci Controllato Card- This card, present with all Gucci products, really doesn’t help distinguish an authentic piece because it doesn’t contain a serial number or other marking unique to the bag to which it accompanies. The only thing to look for here is that the card itself is correct in font and placement of the words. Gucci is always in all capitals letters, “GUCCI”, and is centered at the top of the card in a dark grey background. Underneath that in a white background is the word. “controllato” in all lower case letters. Again, this word is centered on the card. Underneath controllato are the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0. The back of the card is blank.

Gucci Care Card- The only other item that accompanies each piece is a three-panel folding care card. GUCCI is on the front. When the card is opened, care instructions appear from left to right on the 3 interior panels first in Italian, then French, then Chinese (dialect unknown by this author). Care instructions appear in English on the backside of the Chinese panel. There is also Gucci care card with Italian first, English next, French third and two Eastern languages on the back of the French.

Gucci Dust Bag - there are two versions of the Gucci dust bag. Both have drawstring closures. The first is a blend of materials with a satin feel and sheen. The print on the bag is the GG logo with the second G upside down. It is dark brown in color. The interior of this bag has the same print but has a cotton feel. Look at the interior tag stitched into the lining. It is a white tag and should say “GUCCI made in italy 63% vl 37% pl”, representing the blend of materials of the dust bag. The second dust bag is a solid light brown in color with GUCCI in gold across the front. The interior tag is black and says “GUCCI” made in italy”, in a blue/grey color on the front, and 100% COTONE COTTON on the back of the tag.

Gucci Serial Number Tag - Here is the only distinguishing feature unique to each Gucci piece. There is always a leather tag on the interior of the bag just below the interior zippered pocket if the bag has such a pocket. If it doesn’t have an interior pocket this tag is still stitched where an interior pocket would typically be. At the top of the tag is the symbol ®. Below that it says "GUCCI", and below that, "made in italy". The tag itself is leather and the color is the same as the leather finishing that is typical in a Gucci item. On the back of the tag is the style/model number and a 4 or 6 digit serial number. This is all stamped into the leather.

Gucci Zippers- Simply make sure the zippers are sewn in straight and work properly. Note- On some Gucci bags, such as the Crescent Bag where the zipper follows the contour of the design in a half moon shape, the zipper is quite difficult to open and close all the way.