N° 003 — Bags
What bag is this?
A straight-on photo of the front, the hardware or the label inside is usually enough. We name the house and the line, and say so when the photo isn't.
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FIG. 02 — Inside
Read the label inside
Many houses mark a bag on the inside. These marks help date and name a bag; they don't, on their own, prove it's genuine.
- Louis Vuitton
A small stamped tab or seam inside
Date codes of letters and numbers on bags made before 2021; newer bags carry a microchip instead.
- Chanel
Serial sticker inside, with a matching card
A numbered sticker on bags made before 2021; newer bags carry a microchip.
- Hermès
Blind stamp near the strap or under the flap
A letter, sometimes in a shape, that marks the year of production.
- Gucci
Leather tag inside
A stamped “Gucci, made in Italy” tag with a style and supplier number on the back.
- Prada
Inside label and the triangle plaque
An inside fabric or leather label, often with a white authenticity card in the dust bag.
Codes and marking systems change over time. Use them to narrow the year and line; leave authentication to a specialist.
FIG. 03 — Silhouettes
Shapes that name a bag
01
Hermès Birkin vs Hermès Kelly
The Birkin has two handles and a flap held by straps; the Kelly has one handle and a more structured, trapezoid body.
02
LV Speedy vs LV Keepall
Both are barrel-shaped, but the Keepall is a travel bag — larger, with a shoulder strap — while the Speedy is a handbag.
03
Chanel Classic Flap vs Chanel Boy Bag
The Classic Flap has a CC turn-lock and a chain woven with leather; the Boy Bag has a boxier body and a push-lock clasp.
04
Lady Dior vs Dior Book Tote
The Lady Dior is a structured top-handle bag with cannage quilting and dangling D-I-O-R charms; the Book Tote is an open, embroidered tote.
FIG. 04 — Reading a bag
How to identify a bag from a picture
Bags are named by their shape first and their details second. Get the silhouette right, then let the hardware, the canvas and the label narrow it to a line.
Updated October 2026How we tested the identifier
| Clue | What it tells you | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Silhouette | The type: tote, satchel, flap bag, bucket, hobo | Overall outline, base shape, how it sits when set down |
| Handles and strap | Often the specific line | Number of handles, chain or leather strap, how they attach |
| Closure and hardware | The house and sometimes the era | Turn-locks, clasps, zip pulls, feet, engraved metal |
| Canvas or leather | The house and the collection | Monogram patterns, quilting, woven or embossed leather |
| Inside label | Brand, origin, sometimes the year | Stamped tab or sewn label inside, date codes on some houses |
01
Photograph it straight on
A front view at eye level shows the outline, the closure and the hardware together. Put the bag on a plain surface in daylight; a bag held at an angle or hanging off a shoulder hides its proportions.
02
Then the hardware, close up
Clasps, turn-locks and zip pulls are often engraved or shaped in ways only one house uses. A sharp close-up of the hardware can name a bag the front view leaves open.
03
The label inside
Many bags carry a stamped or sewn label inside, and some houses add codes that help date them. These marks help name and date a bag; on their own they do not prove it is genuine.
04
Once you know what it is
With the house and the line you can compare resale listings, see what the model has sold for and find similar bags for less. For a high-value bag, have it authenticated before you buy or sell.
FIG. 05 — Questions
Asked about this
Does it work on designer and high-street bags?
Yes — luxury houses, contemporary brands and everyday backpacks and totes. In our blind test it named 19 of 20 bags.
Can it tell if a designer bag is real?
No. It identifies the design and line, not whether a particular bag is authentic. For that, use a professional authentication service.
What photo works best?
The front, straight on, in daylight — then a close-up of the hardware or the label inside if the first answer isn't certain.