So you've always dreamed of owning an authentic designer handbag? Perhaps you've been saving money for quite a while to find that perfect luxury handbag. Or maybe you've suddenly realized you need a quality designer purse or clutch to complement your elegant dress for a special event such as a wedding, awards ceremony, or an important political or business event.

No matter what the occasion, you'll want to be very careful in choosing a luxury handbag. There are many authentic designer bag names such as Gucci, Chanel, Fendi, etc., but for each of these brands there is a myriad of replica companies with some even claiming to offer the real thing. Take the buying process slowly, particularly if buying a designer bag online. These tips can help.

Know Your Designer and Compare

Probably the single best way to find an authentic handbag is to get to know all you can about your favorite designer. Whether a purse has the well-favored check design of Burberry or the gorgeous "bucket bag" design by Dooney & Bourke, you'll need to compare certain features to ensure you're getting the real thing. This is especially true when buying online. Sure you can visit a brick and mortar department store to find high priced designer handbags. But if you want to find top quality designer bags that are more budget friendly, you might try shopping around on the Internet.

Some features to watch for include materials of the purse, zipper styles, logo placement (inside and out), stitching, and special markings or screws in certain areas of the handbag. The photos provided by the retail site can tell all. Photos should not be stock images or images grabbed from the manufacturer's website. A truly authentic designer handbag retailer on the Web should feature genuine photos of the actual purses being offered.

Also look for dust bags to be included with your purchase. Most authentic designer purses are accompanied by a protective fabric dust bag with the logo on the bag. Replica or cheap handbags typically arrive packaged with plastic or wrapping around their buckles; authentic handbags do not. Designer bags can be recognized by their certificate of authenticity and special care cards.

A Cheaper Alternative

If after doing some research you find that authentic designer handbags go way beyond your spending budget, it's never too late to try a replica designer bag. Replicas are similar to authentic in look and feel, but do have a few noticeable differences. Of course, these have lower quality and use less expensive materials than authentic bags. Otherwise, replicas wouldn't cost so much less than the authentic handbags. And there are various levels of workmanship...even among replica handbags! So you could end up spending several hundred dollars for a high quality replica.

Just as with authentic bags, compare replica shops online or off-line to find the best quality to fit within your budget. Read descriptions thoroughly before buying to ensure you're getting the type of purse you've always dreamed of owning. You'll find various styles such as evening purses, clutches, leather handbags, hobos, satchels, etc. as well as replicas for every brand you can think of...Burberry, Dooney and Bourke, Chanel, Chloe, Dior, Botkier, Baby Phat, Gucci, Versace, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, and others.

Use online resources to find a designer handbag to fit your style and budget. With a little research and comparison, you could be carrying a beautiful new designer bag to your next special event!