In today`s post, we examine some telltale signs of a bag transformed into a vintage crocodile maxi, compared against the original Chanel bag.

View the details:
🔗 bit.ly/maxitransformation

🚨 COLLECTOR ALERT: We’re seeing a rise in deceptively altered, “Frankensteined” 1980s–90s Chanel: collectible bags and costume jewelry built around authentic stamps, markers, or components, but finished with fabricated exteriors, altered construction, or entirely replaced stones.

This is not new, but it appears increasingly concentrated in premium “one-of-one” pieces priced from $10,000 to $200,000, where the potential return justifies sourcing authentic parts, and there are little to no comps to compare against for the average consumer.

For bags, watch for:
- Exotics, fabrics, or construction that are not period-correct (e.g., crocodile porosus instead of alligator on vintage classic flap and kelly styles, or incorrect material on certain parts of the bag)
- Partial or altered serial stickers that block verification against Chanel’s ORLI database (because the intact number would trace to a different model or material entirely).

We recommend the following authentication services for more difficult pieces:

@leathersurgeons: Gerry Gallagher, the GOAT, who worked with Karl Lagerfeld for decades
@zeko_authentication: Deep Chanel expertise, photo authentication, and strong awareness of current counterfeit tactics

Don’t settle for a generic authentication certificate.

Buyers should feel confident buying secondhand, particularly with today’s excellent authentication resources. But given the recent prevalence of these pieces, we felt this warning was necessary.

Today, a collective of die-hard Chanel enthusiasts posted this PSA to alert buyers that things always aren’t what they seem.

🔗 in bio to the article

#chanel #chanelvintage #chanelcounterfeit”

Available now! Three new episodes featuring four incredible women making strong moves in luxury resale:
Jackie and Mailys @trendfulinc
Erica @barbeedreamhouseresale
Angie @narts_resale

Find The Closet Full of Cash Podcast on your favorite streaming platform.

The latest episode of the Closet Full of Cash podcast series, Anatomy of a Scam - Part 4 is out now wherever you listen!

Excited to be speaking on the luxury resale industry at this year’s @narts_resale conference in Tucson, Arizona! Looking forward to connecting, sharing insights, and talking about where this industry is headed. If you’ll be there, let’s connect.

New podcast episodes dropped today! Thank you @lux_jardin for being our first guest and as always, @curated_by_kira for joining along for the ride!! So much more to come….

New episode out now. Streaming now on all major podcast platforms but the first link in my bio is the fastest way to start listening! @curated_by_kira

Just in case….make sure you’re subscribed!

AI may be the buzzword of the year, and plenty of new companies are jumping on the trend, claiming to use it to scrape the internet and surface the “best deals” on the luxury bag you’ve been eyeing. The catch? What they’re really showing you isn’t a comprehensive dataset at all, it’s affiliate marketing dressed up as insight.
For my full thoughts, and to learn which platforms actually provide real resale pricing you can trust, head over to Closet FullofCash.com

Join me and @heywhatsnhu Wednesday live to learn the biggest red flags for the top luxury brands. 🔗in bio to register

Lululemon has been furiously filing lawsuits against counterfeit sellers of their active wear so this is what I find interesting. They have recently (December 2024) filed for the trademark for Lululemon Dupe. Did they get the idea from the accusations agains Nigo? Read more on the closet Full of Cash website

Just a reminder, if you Google search and either of these numbers come up, it’s a big fat 👎🏼

👀available for pre-order and yes, I got my copy!