For shame, for shame. What is the world of accessories coming to when your knockoff handbag costs as much as the real thing?
Last night, Channel 13 reported on its 10 p.m. newscast that Ana Divac, wife of former Kings star Vlade Divac, could be in big trouble for allegedly selling fake Gucci purses at her Pavilions boutique, L'Image.
And here's where the bag burst: The fakes supposedly were being sold at high-end prices. For example, a real Gucci "Penelope" bag (shown left) sells for about $1,550 at Bergdorf Goodman in New York.
I recently did a story on handbags and mentioned that knockoffs are all over the place. And women do buy them, and the designers being knocked off aren't too happy about it. Thing is, the vendors selling the bogus bags aren't asking for a mortgage payment in return for a fake Fendi.
According to the TV report, Gucci filed a civil suit against Ana early last year, telling her, as Channel 13 says, "to knock it off."
The warning must not have sunk in because now, the Sacramento District Attorney's Office is getting involved, which could mean criminal charges. As for Ana, she doesn't even live in the country anymore.
Since it opened about three years ago, L'Image Boutique has stocked its shelves with high-end cosmetics, fragrances and other goodies that customers couldn't find anywhere else in Sacramento. Fancy handbags, including Prada and Fendi, were an added bonus.
But it's no bonus - and certainly no bargain - if your Fendi is a fake and you paid the ultimate price to tote it.
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