In it I described experience I recently had in an LV store where staff were not exacxtly falling over themselves to serve me, a mere male in a handbag store.

But my answer would have to be a carefully restrained -- Maybe!

Now direct, and indirect, knowledge that I use for answer to this question is pulled purely from experiences and tales recounted by others involving Louis Vuitton stores. I cannot say for certain whether or not it applies to other designer labels -- although I strongly suspect it will do!

Now at one time, store managers and assistants were held in same revered light that doctors enjoyed. What they said or reported was seen as gospel, never to be questioned, let alone doubted.

But doctors are only human, bless 'em. They, like us, make mistakes and errors in judgement. (With hours some of them have to work I'm not in least little bit surprised!)

In olden days, when a doctor advised that little Johny was suffering nothing more than a slight fever and should be fed aspirin every fours hours until he perked up, no thought of questioning diagnosis would occur to mom and dad -- even though they could see little Johny's leg was bent forwards 90 degrees at knee and he kept fainting every time someone coughed near it!

It used to be like that in stores as well.

"Good Morning Modom, may I help you?"

"Yes please, may I see new Hyanuki Messenger Bag please?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry Modom, that bag hasn't been released yet! Well, it certainly wasn't before I went on my holiday, anyway."

"Erm, isn't it one on shelves over there? The stack of three of them with sign on front saying 'Hyanuki Messnger Bag'?"

"No Modom, certainly not! It can't be or else I would have been told about it!"

Now, staff in LV stores are never allowed to give out written authenticity statements for any bags! Any at all.

If you like -- test me on this!

Go into one of their stores and buy a bag there and then. As soon as you've been handed your receipt, try asking for a note from sales assistant or manager, affirming fact that this bag is an authentic item!

They'll politely decline! (They'll also probably look at you as though you're totally bonkers, but don't worry about that, there are plenty more stores to go and buy from!)

Not because they don't doubt authenticty -- but because they aren't allowed to by company rules.

I used to think that this was because they would never be sure that letter or note of authenticity wouldn't then be copied or used to give a fake bag an incorrect "value", make it appear genuine and authentic.

And great news is that we have an abundance of options available to us these days in fight against gravity and time. Products and procedures are seemingly being developed almost daily and this really is a great time to be alive! People are definitely looking younger longer now and we certainly have science to thank for this.