[eltd_dropcaps type=”normal” color=”” background_color=””]i[/eltd_dropcaps] love Kate Spade. I remember my first Kate Spade handbag — a black nylon Sam shopper a.k.a the IT bag of the late 90’s. Come on ladies, you remember this (at the time) posh purse. All the college girls had one (an authentic one that is) and if authentic wasn’t in the budget…well there was always a nifty knock-off from Canal Street in New York City where designer thirsts are quenched on a dime.
Luckily, I was fortune enough to carry an authentic Sam shopper which today is retired amongst my other slightly-out-of-style but can’t-let-it-go handbags. I have always appreciated and cherished the beauty of authenticity — a trait passed down to me from my mother. My philosophy is, if I can’t afford the real McCoy then I can’t have it…or will have to work harder to have it one day. I believe in buying authentic because when women begin carrying imitation items (or handbags in this case) that emulate designer creations, the original pieces lose their lure.
This week, e-Bay and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) launched their second installment of the custom You Can’t Fake Fashion totes. Designed to increased counterfeit awareness and promote original design, the limited edition totes range from $45-$200 with all proceeds benefiting the CFDA Foundation. This year’s bags include designs from more than 75 fashion houses including Kate Spade, Herve Leger, Ralph Lauren and Badgley Mischka. Although all totes were sold out in a few hours and I wasn’t able to snag one, here’s a look at a few of my favorites.
Kate Spade |
Badgley Mischka |
Betsey Johnson |
Diane von Furstenberg |
Herve Leger |
Nanette Lepore |
{all tote images via eBay.com}