There's a reason why people like buying designer dress brands.
From Juice Couture to Dior, brands represent proven quality, originality, and the tacit promise that the designers and fabricators stand behind their work.
But knock-offs are a fact of life in nearly every industry-from pirated movie DVDs being hawked on street corners in Manhattan to faux Movado watches-and the fashion world is no exception.
With the emergence of the Internet as a primary shopping platform, the chances of encountering counterfeit designer dresses have increased dramatically for shoppers.
An established brick and mortar boutique has its own brand to maintain, so selling bogus designs would be bad for business-not to mention make the business vulnerable to potential legal problems.
So online buying on the web site of an established store (or from the site of the designer) is a good rule of thumb that can prevent you from being conned into buying a fake designer dress.
Internet shopping sites, though, by their very virtual nature, can be a riskier proposition.
Their affordability appeal is obvious, especially in the current economy, as boutiques and department stores typically have large mark-ups, making costly clothes even more expensive.
For many shoppers, this mark-up leads them to search out bargains online on sites other than those associated with brick-and-mortar stores.
While some shoppers are finding great bargains on beautiful designer dresses, others are being drawn into unscrupulous shopping sites that offer fake designer goods at prices that far outstrip the garment or accessory's true value.
There are some ways to shop safely online.
Firstly, if a deal seems too good to be true, odds are, it is.
You are not going to find a Vera Wang dress for $25, and any site that may advertise as such is sending up a red flag.
Remember: if the designer dresses advertised are being sold for less than non-branded garments, proceed with caution.
Once you receive a garment that you have purchased online, or if you are shopping in person, pay attention to details such as the material and stitching, as well as things like the zipper or buttons.
Shoddy seams, cheap-feeling material, or hastily-sewn zippers or buttons are tell-tale signs that the garment you are holding is probably counterfeit.
The details are the clue.
Also, check the logo or label.
Compare it to the real logo.
Fakes tend to be manufactured in bulk and labels are often an afterthought.
One way to test the product is to check to see if the thread color of the label matches the fabric.
If you have any doubts, take your item to a tailor for an expert second opinion.
If you feel you've been sold a fake, return the garment, and report your suspicions to the appropriate authorities.
From Juice Couture to Dior, brands represent proven quality, originality, and the tacit promise that the designers and fabricators stand behind their work.
But knock-offs are a fact of life in nearly every industry-from pirated movie DVDs being hawked on street corners in Manhattan to faux Movado watches-and the fashion world is no exception.
With the emergence of the Internet as a primary shopping platform, the chances of encountering counterfeit designer dresses have increased dramatically for shoppers.
An established brick and mortar boutique has its own brand to maintain, so selling bogus designs would be bad for business-not to mention make the business vulnerable to potential legal problems.
So online buying on the web site of an established store (or from the site of the designer) is a good rule of thumb that can prevent you from being conned into buying a fake designer dress.
Internet shopping sites, though, by their very virtual nature, can be a riskier proposition.
Their affordability appeal is obvious, especially in the current economy, as boutiques and department stores typically have large mark-ups, making costly clothes even more expensive.
For many shoppers, this mark-up leads them to search out bargains online on sites other than those associated with brick-and-mortar stores.
While some shoppers are finding great bargains on beautiful designer dresses, others are being drawn into unscrupulous shopping sites that offer fake designer goods at prices that far outstrip the garment or accessory's true value.
There are some ways to shop safely online.
Firstly, if a deal seems too good to be true, odds are, it is.
You are not going to find a Vera Wang dress for $25, and any site that may advertise as such is sending up a red flag.
Remember: if the designer dresses advertised are being sold for less than non-branded garments, proceed with caution.
Once you receive a garment that you have purchased online, or if you are shopping in person, pay attention to details such as the material and stitching, as well as things like the zipper or buttons.
Shoddy seams, cheap-feeling material, or hastily-sewn zippers or buttons are tell-tale signs that the garment you are holding is probably counterfeit.
The details are the clue.
Also, check the logo or label.
Compare it to the real logo.
Fakes tend to be manufactured in bulk and labels are often an afterthought.
One way to test the product is to check to see if the thread color of the label matches the fabric.
If you have any doubts, take your item to a tailor for an expert second opinion.
If you feel you've been sold a fake, return the garment, and report your suspicions to the appropriate authorities.
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