TOD'S HANDBAGS-AUTHENTICITY CHECKLIST

This guide was brought about when I attempted to sell a Tod's handbag for a friend, who had presumed it to be authentic, and it turned out it was not. I would like to thank my very helpful and knowledgeable buyer for helping to educate me in the world of Tod's handbags! Very little information exists regarding the details that make a Tod's bag authentic. Tod's bags feature a superior quality of construction that is, first and foremost, the key to an authentic Tod's bag. Beyond that, only a few details exist that can truly distinguish an authentic bag from a fake one.

BAG LINING
The lining of a Tod's bag is one way to spot a fake rather quickly. Most of their bags are lined with a simple, smooth canvas fabric usually in black or a light brown color. There is never two different fabrics in the main bag area and the inside pocket for a bag produced for Tod's boutiques. Very rarely you might find two-fabric interiors in bags made solely for their outlet stores. One example I have seen has this arrangement but it is in an entirely different fabric as well, not the usual canvas. One other lining Tod's bags may have is full leather interiors, which are popular now on many of their current styles.

In the photo below, the black bag has a beige and white tweed lining that is NOT a Tod's fabric. The authentic red bag has a sort of ridgy faille type fabric in the main compartment and the same fabric in a moire version on the interior pocket. This bag was made especially for their outlet store, and was never a floor model in a boutique.

        

FEET
If the bag has metal feet, they should also have screws that go all the way through the bottom leather and be visible from the interior of the bag. In the photos above, the black one does not have the screws, where the red one does.

ZIPPERS
Tod's bags that have zippers will have them in a silver finish and the underside of the zipper pull has the word "Lampo". Older Tod's bags have this written in a sort of script (see photo below of camel bag). The black bag has a copy zipper with the "Lampo" in block print as well as a "Made in Italy" label. Handbags currently available in Tod's boutiques also have the "Lampo" in a slightly different script with a zig-zag lightning bolt shape under the name, unfortunately I don't have a photo of that version. On each zipper pull, a leather tab is attached, embossed with a "T" and an ornate lion's head decoration to the right side of the "T".

        

HARDWARE
Many Tod's bags do not have hardware, others have very limited usage. In the examples below, the hardware for the Diana bag is shown. The black (copy) bag has a very thin, uneven, inconsistent engraving of the Tod's name on the strap hardware. One end even had the name stamped crookedly. Compare it to that of the camel (authentic) bag and you will see a nice, even engraving, with thick, deeply stamped letters.

LOGO
Each bag has a Tod's logo embossed on the interior above or below the pocket, and sometimes on the exterior as well as seen in the photos below, again from the Diana bag. The black logo is barely embossed and is off-center in the medallion, while the camel has nice even embossing with depth to it you can feel.

        

OTHER EMBOSSING
Many Tod's bags also have "Made in Italy" embossed inside near the pocket. They also may have "Genuine Leather" and a date stamp imprinted there as well. According to a tod's sales associate at the Chicago boutique, the date stamp can be used to verify only the production date and is not otherwise useful for tracking a particular bag.

SLEEPER/DUST BAG
The sleeper bags that come with Tod's handbags are a nice chocolate brown with the Tod's logo imprinted in their signature mustard/orange color. In the photo below, the top bag is the copy and features a logo that is a different, duller color, and is larger than the one below which is the authentic one.

On the replica bag, the logo has bled to the back side of the bag due to sloppy screenprinting.

The fabric on the copy also has a much lighter hand, is a rougher weave, and is not as substantial feeling as the authentic one. The authentic bag has a much smoother feel to it and is fuzzier on the inside. The drawstring cords also are different. The authentic bag (on the left) has a much thinner, finer cord, while the copy (on the right) is thicker, yellower and not as fine a weave.

CARE CARD
An authentic handbag may also have a care card with it. A folded card in the same mustard/orange color of the logo on the bag, it features the logo on the front and a description of the leather used in the bag and how to care for it. The information is in Italian on the left and English on the right side of the interior of the card.

CONCLUSIONS
I am hopeful that this guide has helped you to be more educated about the Tod's line of handbags, and the impeccable quality they are known for. If you have any other characteristics to add that can help others beware of merchandise that is not authentic, please contact me  and I will add it to this guide.

TYPES OF BAG

Athletic bag: a soft, roomy bag used to carry sporting equipment and apparel to the gym.

Backpack: a bag that is supported by the shoulders with double handles and lies across the back. Backpacks are supported on either one or both shoulders.

Baguette Bag: A purse that is relatively long from side to side and small from top to bottom – basically a little like a baguette with a handle.

Bowling Bag: A bag originally made to hold a bowling ball, this has become a fashion item.

Bucket bag: roomy bag shaped like a bucket, usually has an open top and shoulder strap.

Clutch Bag: Small but long bag (rectangular), evening bag without a handle. You have to clutch it – hence the name.

Cosmetic case: bags of varying sizes and shapes with a zip closure lined to hold cosmetics.

Doctor's bag: A traditional doctor's bag is a duffel-shaped leather satchel used primarily to carry small medical necessities when making house calls. The classic doctor's bag is flat-bottomed with rounded sides, slightly elongated. Two large handles come together over the top for easy carrying. The mouth of the bag has a collapsible metal frame that springs open when handles are separated and tugged. The gaping mouth makes it easy to see into the bag and extract items.

Duffel Bag: A large bag usually used for travel or sports. The name comes from Duffel, a town in Belgium where the thick cloth used to make the bag originated. Duffel bags are often used by sailors, and are sometimes called sea bags in this capacity.

Envelope bag: a flat, square or rectangular bag with a triangle-shaped top flap that folds over like an envelope.

Feed bag: bag that is used to feed an animal (such as a horse); covers the muzzle and fastens at the top of the head.

Fold over clutch: a clutch with or without a handle that can be tucked or folded.

Hobo Bag: a large crescent-shaped shoulder bag or any large bag that hangs from your shoulder and has a main compartment closure (unlike the "tote" which is normally open top).

Messenger Bag: A bag with a long strap to be worn across the body that winds around the chest resting the bag on the lower back. Materials used in messenger bags are often more durable and water-resistant than traditional bags. Messenger bags are often used by bicycle messengers, though they are increasingly becoming an urban fashion icon.

Minaudiere: a small evening bag embezzled with pieces of metal, semi precious stones or beads or covered with fabric or leather.

Muff: a winter bag made of real or faux fur, wool or velvet that has zippered compartments and a slip opening for your hands.

Saddle Bag: a large bag (or pair of bags) hung over a saddle. Many designers use saddle bag as an inspiration for their designs. Therefore, their bags are called saddle bags, even though they are not actually saddle bag.

Satchel: A structured handbag with double handles, locking hardware and a wide, flat bottom. May be large or small.

Shoulder bag: any bag with a shoulder strap.

Sling Bag: A bag with a long strap (similar to a messenger bag), yet smaller.

Tote Bag: A medium to large bag with two straps. Sometimes sold as a reusable shopping bag, this bag can carry anything that is too large for a common handbag – also called a ‘Shopper’.

Weekend Bag: A bag of a size to carry clothing and personal articles for a weekend trip.

Wristlet - a clutch shaped bag that comes with an attached leather or bracelet-looking strap allowing you to hold your bag and dance freely.

SOME STEPS TO KNOW A FAKE CHANEL CLASSIC

Chanel Classic

Authentic	With fake bags, most of the time the lines of the bag is not clean, the shape is wrong and you can see the overall quality is not even close to the authentic one. Authentic Chanel bags have superior workmanship. We can see that the fake Chanel has a really heavy quilting compare to the authentic one.
Fake
Authentic	From this side view you can see that the perimeter of the flap of the authentic bag does not have any stitching, like the fake one does. This stitching is actually for the Chanel Caviar leather not the lambskin leather. Most of the fakes that I’ve seen use the perimeter flap stitching on the lambskin leather.
Fake
Authentic	One of the easiest to spot a fake Chanel is by looking at its’ back pocket. Fake Chanels usually have the wrong size of pocket. Notice how the fake Chanel has bigger pocket than the authentic one? Also the diamond quilt on the authentic Chanel lined up perfectly while the fake one does not. The top edge of the authentic Chanel looks more like a soft wave while the fake one looks like a flat curve.
Fake
Authentic	The inside of the first flap should be smooth. Notice how the inside of the first flap of the fake Chanel is all wrinkly.
Fake
Authentic	Inside the second flap there is the interlocking CC logo. This particular fake Chanel has too skinny C’s compared to the authentic one.
Fake
Authentic	On this other fake Chanel the interlocking C’s are too fat and too flat. The interlocking C’s are supposed to be raised a little.
Fake

Read more tips on recognizing an authentic Chanel.