Michael Kors is one of the most popular American designer bag brands, and you'd be hard-pressed not to pass at least one MK tote walking down the street. Being one of the most affordable luxury purse brands makes Michael Kors extremely susceptible to the counterfeit market. But how can you tell if a Michael Kors purse is real when you've only got a few pictures and a dodgy listing to go off of? Well, we've got all the key signs you should (and shouldn't) find to save you some cash.
How to Tell if a Michael Kors Purse Is Real
Like any luxury brand, real Michael Kors products follow the brand standards. Thankfully, these standards, like construction, materials, and tags, are all measurable. Once you can recognize these standards, you're just one calculated glance away from picking out a fake MK purse from a real one.
Materials
First and foremost, real Michael Kors bags are made out of several different materials, though crosshatched Saffiano leather is the most popular. Think of those large totes with stiff-textured leather in rich colors.
Many fake MK bags use a cheap pleather in its place. While the exterior is textured, it can easily fold, and some purses may have a telltale crease on the front or back due to improper storage.
Another key feature of genuine Michael Kors bags is the single piece of thin rubber edging along each of the panel seams, including the straps. Be wary of plastic edging, as, in fake MKs, it's a cheap replacement for the real rubber stuff.
Exterior Construction
The first thing you'll look at when investigating a luxury bag is the outside. Get a feel for how Michael Kors constructs its bags and the ways counterfeiters dupe their products.
Side Panels
Along with looking at the materials, you want to keep a close eye on the bag's construction. As a luxury fashion house, Michael Kors purses are going to be precisely cut and sewn. Any side panels are stiffly molded, while fake side panels don't keep their form and flop all over.
Zippers
The purse zipper opening always features a substantial metal zipper with a zipper stop, which prevents the zip from moving beyond the zipper teeth and coming off track. The zipper also has a metal Michael Kors embossed zipper tag or a round metal MK logo. This logo features the name Michael Kors centered underneath the open MK letters. Fake Michael Kors bags typically have cheap plastic zippers, and the cheapest fakes won't feature the standard zipper stop.
Straps
Additionally, a genuine Michael Kors bag features an adjustable strap with well-bored holes so you can adjust the strap length. The straps feature heavy and sturdy metal buckles that showcase the engraved Michael Kors logo on the side. Fake MK handbags can boast longer straps, poorly bored holes, and lightweight, cheap metal buckles without the engraved logo.
Interior Construction
After you meticulously investigate the outside of a Michael Kors purse, it's time to move to the inside. There are several key areas that counterfeiters can trip up in, so it's important that you can recognize them all.
Lining
Typical Michael Kors bags feature a single piece of lining with a printed circle MK logo pattern, with both the circle and the MK logo being the same color. The pocket fabric should match this back lining, and the tops should be covered with leather.
A fake Michael Kors handbag can easily go awry with the lining. The encircled logos often face opposite and in a mix of directions, or the fabric for the pocket is sewn upside down from the other lining piece.
Other lining mistakes you might find on fake Michael Kors bags include:
- Darker fabrics
- Circles and MK logo pattern with mismatching colors
- Heavily shaded circle and MK logo patterns
- Crooked pockets
- Two pieces for the pocket fabric
Newer Michael Kors collections feature a different lining pattern from the old standard. These boast a repeating grid of the printed name Michael Kors with intersecting chains or a cross-like motif.
Pocket Zippers
Interior zipper pockets on authentic Michael Kors bags are usually plastic but come in the same color as the lining. Fake MK bag zippers are usually a different color from the lining.
Stitching
Michael Kors lining is always finished with double stitching and features a signature triangle at the end of the sewn line. Stitches are always even and made with thread that's the same color as the fabric or material being sewn into.
The stitching used in counterfeit MK purses is inferior, usually uneven, and doesn't feature the triangle closure.
Bag Tags
Inside most MK bags, you'll find a pair of tags along the interior of the right side. The top tag is usually white and shows the model number.
The tag behind it will feature the words Made in followed by the country of origin, which will either be China, Korea, Indonesia, Italy, the Philippines, Taiwan, Turkey, or Vietnam.
The code directly below this information consists of two letters to identify the factory/plant where the purse was manufactured. This two-letter coding is followed by a hyphen and four numbers that give the date the bag was made, such as 4214, which means April 2, 2014.
Older bags have leather tags instead of cloth tags and feature a heat-stamped Michael Kors word logo.
Related: 13 of the Most Affordable Designer Handbag Brands for Budget-Friendly Style
Michael Kors Logos
The MK circle logo is the most prominent MK logo. The K part of the MK logo is connected to the vertical M letter, making it appear as though the angled lines of the K emerge from the M. They're encircled in a thick line that can bear the etched company name at the bottom. However, some more current pieces boast an MK logo sans circle.
These metal logos are on most Michael Kors purses, though not all (such as some smaller crossbodies and wallets). They can be included on hang tags, front clasps, and more. They're usually quite heavy and finished in a brass or gold tone.
Brands are constantly changing and evolving, which means that these standards might not always be in place. It's always a good idea to check the brand's latest collections for any new hallmarks they might have shifted to.
7 Signs Your Michael Kors Bag Is Real
Spotting a fake designer bag can take some practice. Even after you've studied all the brand standards, you still might miss something in the moment. That's where the old adage practice makes perfect comes in.
These are some of the genuine telltale signs of a real MK purse that should put you at ease:
- The feet on the bottom of the bag are flat and smooth.
- All MK hardware is made as one piece, with the brand name engraved clearly and finished smoothly.
- All MK hardware is heavy and finished with a mirror polish with no chips, flakes, or cracks.
- The letters of the name Michael Kors are evenly spaced.
- The square or rectangle hardware is smooth with rounded corners.
- The purse handles are firm, don't fold upon themselves, and have no wrinkles.
- The strap hooks are easy to open with no resistance.
Fake Michael Kors Bags Beware
Now that you're armed with the secret recipe that Michael Kors bags are made by, fake Michael Kors purses should watch out. You're going to be hot on their trail in no time at all.
