Gucci shoes are some of the most widely imitated shoes on the market. Before buying a pair of Gucci shoes online, make sure that you are not accidentally investing in a fake. Browse the guidelines below for tips on how to avoid a cheap imitation of the Gucci brand.

What to look for on the inside of a genuine Gucci shoe : Each authentic Gucci shoe is given an eight digit serial number that is stamped on the shoe's leather lining. All serial numbers are exactly eight digits long, so count before you buy! This serial number should be discreet; it is usually placed on the inside of the shoe next to the shoe size. The “Gucci” brand should be stamped inside the shoe on the heel. Next to the brand name should be a stamp saying “Made in Italy”. Both of these stamps should be easily visible. As always, make sure that the stamps have been applied in a quality manner (i.e., they are well aligned, the brand name is spelled correctly, etc.). A genuine designer shoe will almost never cover up the designer name, so if for some reason the “Gucci” stamp is cut off or obscured, chances are the shoe is a fake. Finally, Gucci shoes are lined with leather. The vendor of a genuine Gucci shoe will be aware of this fact.

What to look for on the sole of a genuine Gucci shoe: The sole of an authentic Gucci shoe should be leather. Again, an honest vendor should be able to easily answer any of these sorts of questions. In fact, a good way to test the waters if you are suspicious is to ask a series of detailed questions regarding the shoes you want to buy (make sure you know the correct answers!) and then see how your vendor responds.

The soles of Gucci shoes vary with gender. Women's Gucci shoes will have the words “Gucci” and “Made in Italy” stamped on the bottom of the shoe. A man's Gucci shoe may be stamped, or it may have a silver plate engraved with the brand name.

What to look for in the packaging of a genuine Gucci shoe: Genuine Gucci shoes usually come in dark brown dust bags. The bags are printed with the “double G” logo. The shoebox is also a dark brown and should have the word “Gucci” embossed on its lid. The lettering should be silver.