After heading to the thrift store, Kristen Boelen almost left dismayed by the lack of bargains, until she took a second glance at a leather bag that caught her eye. It was instantly clear that she’d struck gold.
Boelen, 37, was wandering around the thrift store in Napa, California and for the most part, it seemed empty. She’d only got a few items in her cart and told Newsweek that she was “feeling frustrated” by the lack of treasures.
But before heading home, she looked through the items in her cart to see what was worth buying. She almost didn’t check the gray handbag in the pile, but something compelled her to give it a second look.
Needless to say, she’s so glad she did.
“I see dupes of these bags all the time—there was actually a Target version right next to it—but something about this one stood out,” Boelen said. “The leather slouched beautifully, the dark hardware looked really nice, and when I picked it up, I noticed the weight. I could tell it was real leather and well-made, so I put it in my cart to inspect later.
“I opened the bag and saw the Bottega Veneta debossed logo in the leather—my mouth literally dropped. The suede interior was one of the softest leathers I’ve ever felt. I always judge leather quality by the interior; it tells you everything,” she continued.
Even after analyzing the bag thoroughly, Boelen struggled to believe it could be real Bottega Veneta. The more she looked, she thought it could be genuine, but Boelen was “second-guessing everything.”
But at just $8, she couldn’t resist buying it and finding out after.
Boelen ran the bag through Google Lens and found the same style of bag on Vestiaire Collective (a platform to buy and sell second-hand luxury goods). That also helped her find out about the originality certified tag that each bag includes, and where to find it. When she checked her thrifted find, lo and behold, there was the originality tag.
“It’s in ridiculously good condition. There is barely any wear at all. I was shocked—especially since the leather is so supple,” Boelen said.
She continued: “Usually items like this are pulled for online auctions, but Bottega’s branding is so discreet that it was likely missed. I just got incredibly lucky.”
After buying the bag, Boelen sent photos of the bag to Authentic Detective who confirmed that it’s a real Bottega Veneta ‘Olimpia’ bag. Used versions of the ‘Olimpia’ bag can sell for anywhere between $700 to $1,400 online, so Boelen’s $8 purchase was a real bargain.
Boelen often shares her thrifting finds on social media (@lunchbreakthrift on TikTok and Instagram), and of course she couldn’t resist sharing this one. A video of the moment she realized it was a real Bottega Veneta bag has gone viral with over 663,900 views on TikTok and 748,000 views on Instagram.
Alongside the video, the caption reads: “Apologies for ever saying my thrift is garbage. Check the bag. Always check the bag.”
The response to the video is beyond anything Boelen expected, as she told Newsweek that it’s been like “a million virtual high fives.” Plenty of people took the comments to praise her discovery, while others shared details of their own amazing thrift store finds.
Boelen said: “There are always some haters and doubters, but for the most part, people were very excited and celebrated with me. It’s funny how one small decision—like stopping by the thrift that day—can turn into something so huge. You really never know what you’re going to find.”
Among the hundreds of comments on social media, one TikTok user wrote: “Honestly the quality shows even through the camera!”
Another person replied: “The thrift gods heard you and stepped it up.”
While one comment reads: “Wow! I know you were riding that thrift high for a minute.”
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