Buying a designer handbag can be a little tricky because not all bags are authentic. Buy an authentic designer handbag with confidence with my shopping tips. Find the best deals and hottest trends for the perfect eye catching accessory. Once you make the decision to buy a designer handbag, you want to be sure you are getting what you are paying for.

A designer handbag is a luxury item that is enjoyed by many women. The feel of the leather, the sturdiness of the strap and the silkiness of the lining are all worth the heavy price tag. Gucci, Kate Spade, Coach and Louis Vuitton - they all have such a nice ring to them. This is a luxury that any woman can partake of no matter what size she is. Unfortunately, these purses come with a heavy price tag, which makes them a little out of reach. Still, they can be worth it.

Recently, I have been in both Los Angeles and New York. There are places in both cities to be aware of. The "alley" in Los Angeles is comprised of many shops selling designer items, mainly purses, at highly discounted prices. When you see a thousand dollar purse being sold for forty dollars, you just know it's too good to be true. Still, I have to admit, I was sucked in. These purses are knock offs to the real thing. Some are better than others and you can find some very nice looking purses. I found out thought that while they look almost identical, the quality is just not there. I bought a fake Coach purse and shortly after arriving home the "Coach" tag, held by a chain, fell off. Then, some threads started unraveling from the strap and the actual strap started peeling - little bits of leather like material kept coming off.

This same thing goes on in Chinatown in New York City. Canal Street is lined with shops as well but they are a little more secretive with their items. We had chinese women leading us to hidden back rooms to show us their "high quality" purses. They have these hidden rooms because what they are doing is illegal. Since I didn't learn my lesson in Los Angeles and was yet again sucked in. I bought another fake Coach purse and wallet. The zipper toggle already fell off the back zipper of the wallet. So far so good on the purse but it feels very light. If you just want the look of a designer purse and don't care about quality or having to replace it soon, I suppose these places are okay.

To find an authentic Coach purse at a discounted price, you might want to try Ebay.  I have been pleasantly surprised at what people are selling.  You do want to be careful from individual sellers though since they could be selling fakes, make sure they are reputable. Another place to check out is Zappos.com. They typically sell designer items for discounted prices and offer free shipping. If you have a Coach outlet store near you, that is the place to get unbeatable prices on Coach handbags. Whenever I go into the store in my town, it is crowded with shoppers.

You can't beat a good quality authentic designer purse. I still have a Gucci purse that I bought 23 years ago. Oh wait! Did I say I still have it? I gave it to my daughter who absolutely loves it - vintage and designer! No other purse that I have ever owned would ever have lasted that long.

If you still don't want to spend all the money but really want a purse for a special occasion, a good option would be to rent. Bag, Borrow or Steal is a company that rents out purses for short to long periods of time. This is also a good option if you like to continually change handbags.

Here are some great authentic coach handbags and wallets offered by Amazon. I love the black purse since it will go with anything and the wallet to match makes a perfect pair. The pink purse and red purse are a little more trendy and lots of fun. They make a perfect gift for a special purse loving girl. The red purse, with it's festive color, would be especially special for a Christmas gift.

I love the denim handbag.  It is perfect for casual wear.  Since denim is such a popular fabric, the handbag is sure to go with most anything.

The one thing you can count on with a designer handbag is quality. I have owned many purses throughout the years and this is one item where the higher price tag pays off.

I can't tell you how many inexpensive purses I have gone through. I thought I was saving money but when the zippers break or the handle rips, I just have to go out and buy another. Maybe I stuff my purses to full, I don't know...

Once I bought one designer handbag, I was hooked. It can stand up to my abuse and looks great to boot! Now when I need a new purse it is just for a change of season or for a new style - not because I have to replace a damaged one.

 The authentic leather handbags featured are all of exceptional value in that they are all being offered at about $1000.00 less than normal retail.  All of them are 100% authenticity guaranteed and are made in Italy.

Prada is a high end designer and the brown bow leather handbag is a clear example of the great style and design.  The golden "Prada" logo is featured on the front of this handbag with the special crickle finish.  A double strap ensures durablity and comfort of wear.

The Dolci and Gabbana leather leopard print handbag with eggplant leather print boasts trendy sophistication.  It has a removable adjustable strap for versatility in wear.  The silver logo tag is located in front.  It includes the silver signature zipper and silver buckles on the sides.

Luxury abounds with the Versace cream and light gold handbag.  The golden "Versace" logo" is located on the front and on details with golden buckles on the sides.