Illustration: Peter C. Espina/GT

A young woman hit her boyfriend in the head after discovering that the handbag he had bought abroad for her was a fake one. At the Secoo 2014 Luxury Appraisal Event, held recently in downtown Beijing, many passers-by decided to get their luxury products scrutinized for authenticity, including handbags, wrist watches, and apparel. The luxury appraisal event included a limited number of boutiques and bestsellers from the prestigious fashion capitals of Milan, New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Celebrated appraisers from both home and abroad were invited. Nowadays an increasing number of Chinese are becoming known for their overzealous purchasing of various expensive luxury items when traveling abroad or through overseas marketing agents. It seems like a necessity for these luxury enthusiasts to improve their ability to appraise these expensive products. In this way, the event was able to help create a safer shopping environment for consumers. But it was also a vivid display of an atmosphere of vanity which is prevailing among many Chinese.