A woman who paid just £4 for a Louis Vuitton handbag that she found in a charity shop was floored when she realised how much the item was actually worth
You can discover some genuine steals in charity shops if you’re savvy about it. Charity shopping is unpredictable, as you never know what pieces have been donated to each outlet. The stock on offer in one location will be completely different to the shop further along the high street, and whilst one might be packed with rubbish, another could be concealing gems.
If you’re fortunate, you might even stumble upon designer pieces in charity shops that have been donated by individuals who no longer need them, and you can purchase them at a fraction of their retail price. This is what occurred to one woman on social media who was stunned when she discovered a Louis Vuitton bag in a charity shop for merely £4.
Holly Wood, from Manchester, frequently shares charity shop and Vinted finds on her TikTok account, and recently uploaded a video in which she revealed the “gorgeous” red patent leather bag she unearthed in a local charity shop.
The bag displayed a pattern of the Louis Vuitton logo embossed throughout, and had a small gold lock attached, as well as gold detailing on the buckles that connected the straps to the body of the bag.
The psychology coach said: “Look how beautiful it is – it doesn’t look like it’s ever been used. It’s in fantastic condition and for four quid, I’m not going to baulk at that at all because what a great bag for autumn [or] winter. [It has] a couple of scuffs along the bottom, which I think is quite normal – I might be able to buff those out.”
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In her video, Holly voiced worries that she suspected the bag might not be genuine, and appealed to her viewers for any advice on how to confirm if the item was an authentic Louis Vuitton bag.
The mother-of-two did mention she noticed several indicators that led her to believe the bag was real, including the Louis Vuitton branding in various crucial spots, such as on the leather tab inside and on the zip. However, Holly pointed out she couldn’t locate a serial number printed inside the bag, which left her uncertain about its authenticity.
If the bag is legitimate, Holly could have stumbled upon the charity shop discovery of the year. On websites specialising in reselling luxury goods, versions of the bag are being advertised for between £975 and £1,159 – meaning that Holly’s £4 find was an absolute bargain.
Viewers of Holly’s video rushed to share their reactions, with many assuring her that even if the bag turns out not to be a genuine Louis Vuitton piece, she still managed to snag a “lovely” bag at a steal of a price.
One individual commented: “Gorg gorg gorg. It looks lovely even if it isn’t genuine. Faaaaaabulous colour. You go, girl, keep finding these awesome bargains. Love watching your hauls.”
Another chimed in: “It’s a stunning bag, regardless of if it’s real or not. What a brilliant find, lucky lady!” A third commented: “[At] four pounds, it’s a bargain. I love that. It’s got to be a keeper whether it’s real or not.”
Holly frequently uncovers fantastic bargains in charity shops around Manchester, having previously declared she’d stumbled upon the “find of the century” when she snagged a pair of Stella McCartney shoes worth £325 for a mere £10.
Holly exclaimed: “I’ve never thrifted anything like this. The brand is next level. Look at these absolute freaking beauties. They’re Stella McCartney. Stella McCartney. They still have the tag, the original tag on the bottom.
“They don’t look like they’ve ever been worn. They look like they’ve been in someone’s wardrobe. £325, they were originally sold for. As you can see there, I got them for a tenner.”
