RAF SIMONS - Shoes: Astro "Pocket" Shoes

Here are some comparison photos of a fake, and an authentic pair of Raf Simons' 'Astro' pocket sneakers. The real ones are in high demand and retail for around $725. They come in several colors of leather. Below is the black patent leather version. With the authentic kicks going for such high prices the fakes might be lookin' pretty good to you, but don't give in. Pictures can be deceiving. If you study them carefully it quickly becomes apparent that the quality of the fakes is crap. For those who appreciate quality and design, it's worth hunting for the real thing.

Example (click to enlarge):

In the above profile view you can see some of the minor differences in the lines of the stitching on the side. Also note the difference in shape as it wraps around the back. You can see the difference in the toe of the sole too.

Example (click to enlarge):

The rubber toe cap of the fake has a flatter edge, whereas the authentic pair has a more rounded profile.

Example (click to enlarge):

Example (click to enlarge):

When looking down on the shoes it is apparent that the real shoes have a more pointed shape, in comparison the the more rounded toe of the fakes. And, the stitching at the base of the tongue is lower on the authentic pair.

Example (click to enlarge):

The zipper on the back of the pocket should be silver, not golden. If you enlarge the image above you can also see the difference in the zipper toggle. However, not all of the fakes have gold zippers. Some do have silver ones.

Example (click to enlarge):

The above example shoes how many of the fake straps vary from the authentic ones. The fakes are slightly wider with a narrower fabric edge. It also appears that the hi-top part of this fake is straight, instead of at an angle like the real ones.

Example (click to enlarge):

Some of the fake versions of these shoes are made without the double tongue (but be aware that there are better fakes that have the double tongue). The authentic 'Astro' shoes have two tongues that attach together with a rectangular patch of Velcro at the top. The fake above is stitched wrong, with a half-inch between the stitching and the edge of the tongue. The fakes I've seen that do have the double tongue have more rounded corners on the outer tongue than the relatively squared corners of the authentic shoes.

Example (click to enlarge):

Example (click to enlarge):

Here is an example of what the inside of the tongue should look like. Below that is a photo of the embossed "Raf Simons" logo that should be stamped on the insole of the shoe.

Example (click to enlarge):

Lastly, check the box. If the box is fake, chances are the shoes are fake too. The Raf Simons box should be a dark gray color made out of a flat cardboard (not corrugated). It should have a small glossy black logo on each end, and it should be blank on the top, bottom and other two sides.

RICK OWENS - Shoes: ss08 Creatch Hi-Tops

On the 'most wanted' list of many guys this year are these leather hi-tops from Rick Owens' spring/summer 2008 collection. However, the $1,200+ price tag can be a little hard on the wallet, so, a lot of guys turn to eBay and other online sources in search of a bargain. Because Rick Owens is more of a niche label, unknown to the average Joe on the street, people often assume it isn't faked. Well, there are knock-offs of just about every label out there, and the more underground the label, the more money the counterfeiters can get for the fakes, simply because people assume they're real.

Example (click to enlarge):

They don't look bad at a glance but the fakes are, of course, poor quality and not worth the $200-600 they sell for. The real ones should last you a lifetime. In this first photo you can see the difference in the sole, the shape of the toe, and the shape and distance between the stripes. Also, note that the authentic shoe has thinner laces.

Example (click to enlarge):

Here is a close-up of the toe. You can see how the rubber part of the sole is molded differently. The cap of the toe on the fake recedes farther back than the authentic one.

Example (click to enlarge):

This detail shot of the side illustrates the difference in the quality of the stitching. Note how some of the fake's stitches are different sizes, and how they don't follow the curve of the leather very well. You can also see how the stitched rectangle is more squared and shifted on the fake shoe. There are also variances in the shape and proportions of the leather pieces throughout the shoe.

Example (click to enlarge):

The authentic kicks have a silver zipper vs. this fakes' copper colored zipper. The zipper itself is also a different shape. The real one is a bit longer and skinnier. The size should be printed on the leather flap inside the zipper (in this case they are a euro size 42).

Example (click to enlarge):

There are different varieties of fakes out there, the one above does have a silver zipper but it doesn't have the correct toggle. The fakes tend to use cheap hardware (such as generic zippers). Sometimes they mold their own but it is usually a very poor casting. In this comparison you can see the difference in the shape of the toggle better.

Example (click to enlarge):

Example (click to enlarge):
This is the patch on the back side of the tongue. Compare the width of the patch to the black tab above it in the first set. The real tab is wider than the patch. However, some fakes are correctly proportioned, as demonstrated in the second set. In both examples the stitching across the black tab varies from the original.

Example (click to enlarge):

Last, but not least, the insole. Notice a difference? Yeah, you guessed it, they didn't bother to stamp the Rick Owens logo in these fakes, which makes it a little easier to export them without alerting customs agents. The real ones also have a serrated edge along part of the insole.

As with all knock-offs remember that the fakes can vary, and there may be more than one factory/company producing the knock-offs. As a result some fakes may look more real than others. Use your best judgment and follow my 'hunting basics.'

DSQUARED - Shoes: Real v. Fake Comparison Photos

DIOR HOMME - Shoes: CD Logos

Example (click to enlarge):

Most Dior Homme sneakers have an embossed "CD" (christian dior) logo on the back of the shoe. This, again, concerns quality. The logo should be deeply embossed with clean smooth edges.

DIOR HOMME - Shoes: The Rubber Sole Logo

Dior Homme sneakers have a "DIOR HOMME" logo on the rubber sole, on the outer side of each shoe. Many of the fake logos are spelled out as one word; "DIORHOMME." The original shoes have a small space between the words.

Example (click to enlarge):

Above is an example of a fake logo with no space in comparison to the authentic logo with the space. You can also note the poor construction quality of the fake shoes in contrast to the real shoes. Oftentimes, the fakes have uneven stitching, poorly cut leather, and uneven rubber soles with rubber excess on the edges (as seen above).

Example (click to enlarge):

Here is a close up view. This fake shoe has the rubber indented around the logo. The authentic shoes should have the logo with no sign of stamping. Please keep in mind that there are a lot of fake Dior Homme shoes that have this logo done 'properly' so always check the other "points of interest" to determine authenticity. Although, if you do see this logo printed improperly it is a dead giveaway.