Are those real? If they look too good to be true, they probably are. Step by step, increase your knock-off know-how. Here are some tips to tell if your prized pouch is the real deal, or just a top-notch knock-off.

Step 1: Location, location, location: Buy from a department store, not online retailers like eBay, which offer designer goodies at discount prices. Rarely will bona fide designs be on sale. Authentic bags are also not sold at purse parties. If you're really in the mood for a discount, try designer outlet stores like Coach or OFF 5TH, Saks Fifth Avenue's discount outlet, which offer designer bags from seasons past.

Step 2: Check the digits: Most authentic totes have either a control card or control number on the inside, as well as a certificate of authenticity. The number on the tag or control card should match the number printed on the lining. If you can, register your bag.

Step 3: The touch, the feel of faux: You should be able to tell the difference between a real designer and an impostor by touching the bag and feeling the softness of the leather or suede. Fakes tend to feel more like plastic. Also, check out the weight of the bag, as leather and suede are heavier on the real thing.

Step 4: Details, details, details: Little details such as quality and color can be telltale signs of a faux. According to Loreen Chapman, a Macy’s handbag expert, you can often tell an authentic bag from a fake by the lining and stitching. She says fakes sometimes have threads hanging from them or fraying in the corners. Genuine bags are also often lined with fabric with the brand’s specific logo or monogram on it. The fabric and the lining should be able to withstand more wear and tear if the purse is real. On a reproduction, the stitching may not be completely straight, or may be a different color. Even the color of the outside of the bag may be a little off.

Step 5: Check the logo: Always pay attention to the pattern of printed monogram styles. Sometimes instead of a "C" for Coach, you may see a "G" or an "O." Burberry might have an "S" on the end. Or you might see an "LX" instead of an "LV" for Louis Vuitton. And while the patterns may sometimes be correct, they may be inverted, or the letters in the monograms may not connect where they would on the real thing.

Step 6: Check out the hardware: Hardware is important. On knock-offs, the hardware tends to be oversized. For instance, the trademark name-plate may be huge on a knock-off. Many authentic designs also have details such as a logo or letter on the zippers and clasps.