What to Look for in Vintage Burberry Handbags

For designer handbag fanatics, one of the premier creators of luxury handbags is the established British company Burberry. The brand is famous for their fine clothing and accessories and has been making luxury leather and coated canvas handbags for decades. While new versions of these handbags are popular for many purse connoisseurs, those looking for a timeless addition to their handbag collection may be interested in vintage Burberry handbags. Some of the brand's most iconic handbags came out years ago but are still available through the right sellers to anyone who is interested in having their own vintage Burberry handbag.

About Vintage Burberry Handbags

Burberry is a London-based company that has been in the business of making luxury fashion items since 1856, when the original store first opened. Since then, the clothing brand has taken off tremendously and has since started to create all types of different products. The company garnered international recognition for their plaid-pattern scarves, but people also know this company for its luxurious designer handbags. These shoulder bags are made of the finest materials and have been in production for several decades, meaning there are vintage purses of numerous types and styles available.

Tips for Searching for Vintage Burberry Handbags

When it comes to searching for vintage Burberry handbags, there are several tips to keep in mind that can help in making a smart choice for purchase. Since vintage bags are used, there are different considerations to take when buying one of these pieces, which differ from the considerations when buying a brand new bag.

Always look for details about the condition of the bag. Most vintage handbags show some signs of wear, but the seller should be clear about the condition of the item. Items that have been stored in an environment where smoking occurs tend to have a permanent smell. Leather or PVC bags, in particular, are porous and hold the smell of smoke for years.

Determine whether the handbag comes with its original dust bag. This is a great way to protect a purse when not in use. If the purse does not have its original dust bag, purchase a new one.

Caring for Vintage Burberry Handbags

A properly maintained vintage handbag properly maintained can be a long-lasting addition to any collection and even an heirloom. Those who have vintage leather Burberry bags should regularly use a leather conditioner on their bag, as many times leather bags are stored in basements and attics, leaving the leather dry. This helps the vintage bag look its best and prevent cracking and over-drying. There are also several considerations to take when storing vintage bags:

• Store away from dust and humid/damp areas
• Keep bags away from the sun to prevent color fading and warp
• Place in a dust bag while being stored, or wrap in an unused t-shirt
• Fill vintage handbags with dryer sheets and old shirts to help keep their shape

Follow these simple tips to keep any vintage bag in top condition.

How to Buy Vintage Burberry Handbags

Many sellers have authentic vintage Burberry handbags for sale. Use the search feature on the eBay homepage to find vintage Burberry handbags. While searching, contact sellers with questions about the condition about their bags, since vintage handbags are used products. Make sure to reference the key features for spotting real Burberry bags when searching through the results and it can be easy to find a completely authentic, timeless vintage Burberry handbag to add to your collection.

A vintage Burberry handbag that is well maintained can complement a number of ensembles and last for years to come, long enough to hand down to someone else someday. The best pieces are distinctive, timelessly classy, and meant for carrying, not hiding.

How to Spot a Fake Burberry Bag

The iconic British luxury brand has its share of fakes. How can you tell if the Burberry handbag that you are about to buy online is real? From lining to stitching to brand logos, here’s our top 3 tips to help you spot a fake Burberry bag.

Know your patterns…

The two most popular Burberry patterns are the Classic Check (far right) and the Nova Check (immediate right). The Classic Check has a tan background, with black, white and red stripes of both horizontal and vertical nature. You’ll also notice a faded knight insignia positioned at the intersection of two red lines. The Nova Check pattern is slightly different, with the main discrepancy being that, like the Classic Check, there should be no faded knight insignia. Similarly, the background has a light yellow undertone, and the lines that are red on the Classic Check have a pinkish hue instead. Any bags that deviate from these well know patterns may be fake.

Check the stitching…

Get up close and personal with your Burberry bag and check out how it’s sewn together.

From the handle to the lining inside the bag, the stitching should be straight, neat, even and clean with with no loose threads.

If anything looks messy or not quite right, you could be looking at a fake.

Look at interior plaques and tags…

The bag should have either a metal plaque or a leather tag. The metal plaque should match the colour of the bags hardware, plus an engraving reading ‘Burberry – London’ in the brand’s signature font. Many (but not all) of the leather tags have ‘Made in Italy’ stamped on the back. Nowadays, Burberry does make some items in China, especially smaller bags and accessories, so don’t worry if you spot a ‘Made in China’ stamp in the bag. Whether it’s metal or leather, the font of the logo on the stamp or engraving is very distinctive. The left side of the U and the Y are slightly wider and the R’s have small tails.

Burberry Replica Handbag/Tote Review (hint: it’s beautiful!)

So I very recently purchased a Burberry replica handbag or tote which I am in love with. Burberry is one brand which I personally at least cannot justify buying a real purse from. Especially after I watched this documentary on Youtube in which it showed Burberry deciding to move their production from the UK (where they originated from – they are a British brand for those of you who don’t know) to South Asia. As a business decision this makes a lot of sense as the owners of the company can now make their bags for dirt cheap and enjoy maximum markups. However for the heritage of the brand and in terms of the luxury radar it was a big mistake. Why would anyone in their right mind pay full price for a Burberry purse when you can buy a knockoff made in the same country, and most likely in the same factory for a much lower price? At least companies like Louis Vuitton, Chanel etc. assemble their handbags in Europe to give it that feeling of lux (even though many of their parts come from China as well!). I feel like when I look at the label of a purse and it says “made in China” when I pay over a thousand dollars for it, I have been ripped off in a sense. I personally support true artisanal craft especially when it comes to leather and purses, for which I am weak at the knees, but Burberry has definitely dropped the ball when it comes to the whole luxury factor surrounding their brand. I still can’t get over the part in the video where all the British Burberry craftsmen were worried about remaining unemployed for the rest of their lives after the factory was due to close.

Anyways, due to those reasons and more I will personally NEVER be able to justify purchasing an authentic Burberry handbag, or anything else for that matter! I personally purchased a gorgeous tote with the renowned Haymarket print (for which Burberry actually lost a trademark suit for meaning anyone can use that checkered print they are renowned for – another negative for their luxury image) and am very impressed by the replica bag I have purchased! The bag is more than gorgeous and if you peruse the pictures below you will definitely see why. The canvas weight of the bag is nice and heavy like the authentic pieces (I actually do have 1 authentic vintage Burberry crossbody that was my mom’s and she handed it down to me, so I compared the weight of the two). The finishing are also real leather indicating that the bag is truly a counter quality or superfake model as opposed to the lower quality of fakes which use plastic to finish off the trimmings to reduce costs. Take a look and let me know what you think in the comments below!