Style Dilemma: Solving a Style Ethics Question

On Monday, I shared a crazy story from a friend. Short version? She found what looks to be like an Hermés scarf for sale at Target. For $14.99. So what does she do? I asked Malena Martinez, of Malena's vintage boutique, for her thoughts on the matter. I forwarded my friend's story, and here's what Malena had to say.

Well that is very strange.  It seems like we have two issues here.  . How did it get there, does she keep it, and 2. Is it real.  

I think her explanation of how it got priced at Target is likely. Maybe to quell her conscience she should go back to that target and ask if anyone reported a missing Hermés scarf. If so, find the right owner,  if not. Take good care of that and appreciate it as a special gift from the fairy fashion godmother.  

As for the authenticity there are a few points to consider...fakes generally do not have the same exact print as the real ones. For instance, I have an Hermés scarf with keys, the real one has 72, the fakes out there only have 46 keys. So explorer the photos here and see if her scarf has the right amount of bugs, monkeys, mermaids, etc.  

This scarf also has the artists name hidden in the print. Not all real scarves have this, but it is one more point to look for. Hermés Paris should also be printed, some times twice, on every scarf. The appearance of the accent over the e, and the copyright symbol can also have date the piece. And lastly, the white corner hang tag. These have been known to fall off, but if it is there, and if it says some thing other than may add to the authenticity of it. I recently had a 1977 Hermés scarf in the store that had a Neiman Marcus tag attached next to the white Hermés one, another variation on what to look for depending on the age.

So now we have an expert opinion. Change your mind from Monday? Would you keep the scarf you bought for $14.99? Would you check in with the store? Would you even have bought it in the first place?

Style Dilemma: Ethical Conundrum or Fashion Question?

A friend wrote me the other day with the strangest story. Read on. Unedited.

I'm strolling along in Target today, looking at the scarves.  THIS scarf catches my eye.  I see that it says Hermes.  I think to myself:  "Hmmm...did Hermes make a collection for Target, like Missoni?"  The tag says it is silk, and there aren't any other scarves like it on the display.  The scarf itself doesn't have a price tag, but it's on a plastic ring, so that it can hang on the display hooks, and the plastic ring has a price tag attached:  $14.99.  Well, this scarf clearly has no business being for sale in Target.

I can only assume that some poor shopper must have lost it while at Target, and a sales associate picked it up and put it with the other scarves.  So, I put it in my cart while I do some soul-searching.  If I put it back, someone else will just pick it up and buy it later, right?  I could take it up to Customer Service, and assume they will put it in the Lost & Found box, if one exists (or will someone behind the counter just keep it?).  I think:  "am I on Candid Camera?" 

 

Well, I decided to buy it.  So, now, I wonder if maybe it's a fake,  That would certainly make me feel better, knowing that someone just lost their fake $20 Hermes, and not their genuine $400 Hermes.  A quick Google search rules out the most obvious indicators that it is a fake, so it could be real. 

 

What do you make of this?  I guess I want confirmation that I didn't essentially steal this.  Do I take it as a gift from the Couture gods?  Or did I just fail an ethical test?  Arggggg!

So. What do you think? What would you have done?

I've asked my "Dealer," Malena (she of The Bag fame), of the eponymous vintage boutique in West Chester, PA, her thoughts on the matter. Check back soon to see what she has to say on the scarf's authenticity and what she might do.