Cher x Sweet Pink Tote
Thursday, April 14th, 2011 | 79 Comments 
Recently I was shocked, SHOCKED, 
to see Sweet on the shelves of Maruichi’s! It was the latest issue WITH CHER BAG!! I’m never so lucky!!!! 
It includes the original Cher brand logo too. 
I have nearly all of the Cher bag designs. 
I’m only missing a select few and I’m including the Cher Shore Store eco bag design in that! 
TADA!!! 
Most of these I owe to my friend who sent the magazines/collection books as gifts. 
I also have the large and medium original bags I bought at the Harajuku store~~~ 
Bought a pricey 
cashmere sweater and was able to buy the bags because of that too. I love the sweater too of course 
My first original store eco-bag was a double purchase from a legit auction with Karme back in 2008. It was balls out expensive 
because the sellers have to BUY something at Cher before they can even buy the bags! 
So they must recoup their losses.
You can buy both sizes when checking out. So I did and gave the large size to my friend as a thank you gift 
Since I already owned one from the auction earlier in the year.
Some background on Cher bags in case you’re new to me and my multiple-year obsession.
Some years ago Rinka, a then already long time idol of mine, shopped at Cher. She loaded up their Cher brand logo eco bags with goodies and posted it on her blog. This was during the time Eco bags were booming and laws were being passed charging for store plastic bags (which my area does now too.)
OK OK so everybody wanted the cheap 8$ Cher bag!!! Soon the demand was TOO HIGH so Cher stores passed a rule saying you could only buy the bags if you purchased another item first. Cher goods are imported and VERY expensive! Like minimum 50$. And still limit to 2 (1 large, 1 medium) per customer. 
So they teamed up with magazines like Sweet and Spring to offer free varied versions of their original bag!! They also released the bags with every Cher brand collection mook (magazine + book) they produced!! 
They’re still very popular! Even last September I spotted dozens of the latest freebie black version (which I don’t have.) Also spotted a few of the 30th anniversary editions baby blue rope mini bags too still.
When I went in 2008 though, the original and free versions were on every arm. It was insane.
There are also non-tote popular Cher items like small pouches, mirrors, シュシュ, and yearly planners! These are typically free items with magazines too.
Alot of people have asked me before, how to know if they’re buying a legit bag online. Short & simple. If you’re trying to buy the REAL Cher store version of the bag it will:
1) Be expensive! At least 50$. If it’s being sold at like $20 it’s a replica. 
The only place you can get the original bag is IN-STORE. They do not sell them separately online. So the auction should list a receipt from the Cher store to help verify it’s legit.
2) Have an oatmeal colored background and NOT white. A lot of replicas have the logo on starch white or off white. The actual bags are oatmeal in color, canvas material, with the logo in dark blue and deep red. And be weary of the logo’s spacing and font. Also the bag’s size.
There are just so, so many replicas out there of, not only the original design, but of even the freebie designs too. So be careful It’s best to just try & buy a magazine that’s offering a special design
Jenny posted at 8:07 pm ; Thursday
TAGS: cher, mags, rinka
79 Comments »
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Jenny
DO WANT your collection D: That new one is love!!
Haahaa thanks! Yea it’s nice because it’s the first large soft vinyl version so it’ll keep its shape better because the canvas ones all look like dropping teardrops with the amount of crap I carry with me xDDD
I NEVER KNEW U HAD SO MANY!
i like the largest size
darn now i want it too hahaha
Hahahaa the big one is HUUGE! I love it, you can carry a medium sized dog in it if you need! I used to get comments from strangers, “Oh I LOVE big bags too!” hahahahaaa
Thanks for the background info, lol, I really didn’t know it was Rinka who made Cher bag super popular even though I’ve known Cher for quite a while.
Well, smart marketing… I don’t know whether I’ll have the chance to own a Cher bag one day. Sigh… it’s really cute and convenient but hard to get for people overseas….
I understand. It’s still difficult to get here too especially a few years ago (the bags came out in 07 I believe) when even ebay hardly ever sold magazines that contained the freebie versions.
Wow, thanks for the info! I had look up Cher bags after seeing yours, on ebay and they were cheap, but NOW I know why. I love to know the backgrounds on things, so thanks!
Oh yes, replica’s are made by the hundreds now, I bet they’re easy to get xDD They were starting to really come out in 08 =_=;
I remember your obsession with cher bags! I think they’re really cute but personally, I’m not much of a fan of eco bags because they don’t have zippers and divider pockets inside for me to put and organize my stuff together. But the new pink one is really cute~
It probably helps that I don’t have loose items in my bag. I’m a super crazy neat freak and have 2 pouches full of smaller pouches full of all the items I use daily! Even my wallet is inside a pouch! Nothing’s loose so I can easily find anything at any time xD
wow your Cher collection is amazing!
Thank you Lissy :3
Whoa that’s a ton of cher bags! I actually have 2 of the shore bags since 2 people got me the same magazines lol.
JEALOUS~~~ I like the Cher Shore designs
There are so many counterfeit bags, I haven’t had the balls to buy brand name bags online yet, but you seem to know your stuff.
Awesome bag! The print is adorable.
Oh do you mean across the board like Chanel and Fendi bags too?! SOOO TRUUUUE~ I was really surprised to see SO many fake Cher bags come out, because it’s like this super tiny brand with a few stores in Japan x_x;;;
YAY!!! Now we have the same bag!!!!
)
(and, as much as you’re gonna hate me for it, I have the black one too :X It was the first magazine freebie I ever got! Someday, when I’ve decided to go throw out some of my bags, I promise it’s yours!
This post actually cleared up a LOT of questions I had. Once I started reading your blog and saw the difference in the original cher logo and the one on the bag I had, I was like, “Oh no, do I own a fake? :[”
Haahaa it’s OK, I don’t hate you! I thought about buying the issue on ebay when it came out but felt like a glutton LOL!
Oh you didn’t think your black one was a fake did you? Oh awful! Because it certainly is not
! Cher LOVES (of course, free advertising) how popular their freebie bags are 
Your collection is AWESOME ~ I was able to pick up the denim one with their magazine last summer when I was in HK! I still use it as my makeup baggg!
Loveee itt! 
Oh the denim ones are so cute! I use the denim pouch every day in whichever bag I’m using to store purse stuff!
i do love cher bag , but it’s difficult to find in indonesia , i got one from “Sweet” magazine
That’s great! Hey, Cher bag is a Cher bag is a Cher bag free magazine design or not! The issues with those bags sell out QUICKLY! It’s still lucky to have it!
yes , i wish i still can get another cher bag
I was fortunate enough to get the original in-store bags (large and medium) on my trip to japan last year. me and my friend had to LINE UP! and we couldn’t figure out why! turns out they were having some sort of limited edition bag being given to a select few people…i think. everything in that store wasss expensive! but worth it, theyre so unique in toronto (canada). a little bit before that, a friend of mine (who knew i loved them) brought a mook for me from japan when he visited here (the blue one with the blue bag and mini original bag). such a sweetheart!
and thats my cher story
. i also want to mention that it was you who intro’d them to me as I’ve been following your blog for quite some time. so thanks!
Oh wow I wonder if I know the bag you’re talking about, hmm hmmm. I know back in 07~09 lines formed nearly every day to get into the tiny little store. When I went it was like a weekday afternoon but still crazzzzzzzzzy crowded! Ah and it really is pricey right!? Like your eyes fall out from sticker shock. But it’s good quality too. I’m interested, what did you get!? I wanted to buy just a t-shirt (cheap!) but they didn’t fit me at the time (failboat.) hahaha
Ah thank you for sharing your Cher story!!! I like hearing about others’ visit to the store and so on! I can’t believe you’ve been such a long time reader :OOOO TY TY m._.m
LOL nevermind I see the dress you got on your blog! cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute!
oh yes i never update my blog, thats major failboat. oh laziness
. yes! it must be, what, 5 years? something like that. sorry i don’t comment often. your blog has really grown! thanks for writing. i was introduced to rinka, cher and bath salts because of you and now love them!
Omg luckyyy!~ Also what is weird is that literally not even an hour before you posted this I was looking online for these bags (since my birthday is coming up) and I was like “Wahhh I want one soo bad but I also don’t want to end up buying a fake one!” Haha it is like you read my mind
But yess ahh I am so jeal, I want one the most! 
I am going to look around for a magazine that offers one like you suggested. Or just look around online for the blue/red/white one. But yes! Now that exams are over it will be my new mission 
I love totes! I am totally addicted haha!
AH GOOD LUCK!!! I think the pink one should still be available with Sweet issues on ebay or something
It’s a nice color and semi-vinyl material so it keeps its shape! Good size too!
Whaaa I mean totes AND eco bags haha ^^;;
Colorful collection ♥! WoW! You have lots of them =D!
I also bought this Sweet issue! Well, actually, my friend from Tokyo was coming to Buenos Aires and I asked her If she could bring me this issue ヽ(´ー｀)ノ! Loved the pinky Cher♥ eco bag and this month issue =3!
I also have the original tote =3! You can match it with almost everything =D!! What is more, my love for Cher also started because of Rinka (and I got to know your blog because of that ☆ﾐ).
Good remark about the replicas! I also noticed the color difference in some online auctions!
xoxo
Awe yea, bag twins then xD Hope you enjoy it! It’s a nice issue too
I completely agree with the original tote! I wasn’t sure if it was just my love for it but I felt it matched everything too!
I love these bags so much. Surprisingly mine held up in the wash pretty well. Very happy about that since the tan ones show dirt/makeup so easily. u_u
They do don’t they!? I always use hand wash cycle one mine & lie flat to dry but I’m still always worried the logo will wear off haahaa~ SO PRECIOUS!
OMG, I ENVY YOUR BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION T^T !!!
always enjoy reading your blog, thanks for the post !
Ah thanks Momo I appreciate that xDv
Woah, you really have every single design!! xD That’s awesome.
Almost… almost *tear* ;___; Haahaa
Wow! Lots of information and GOOD to know!! I love the CHER brand, I think it’s great! I don’t own any, but I simply adore the design! When I see it, now I will think of you haha~
You are awesome to have so many!! I want to collect Cecil McBee ones from the magazines haha~so far, only one lol
Hahaha you think of me!? Why thank you
! Ah Cecil McBee! They do totes and pouches often too! I have a few tiny totes from them from magazines 
Be careful, soon you’ll have more than you’ll know what to do with, huuur xD
You are the one that influenced me to get a Cher bag…haha! I only have the giant original one, and the black one from one of the Sweet’s!
Those are 2 good ones to have xD! The black one is the same size as the original medium!
Wow! Such cute collection!
I used to love to buy magazines with cute freebies too
but lately those magazines are getting really expensive though
Anna Sui’s rose scented make up are really nice!! ^^
They are quite pricey especially if you’re buying them imported. I think this one was 18$ at my local store ;_;
Is it the latest issue of Sweet that it’s in?!? *must rush to buy*
I only have the denim cher bag that came with the small makeup bag, because my bf was able to buy it when he went to Japan…!! It’s so hard to come by the real thing here in Toronto, whereas I see fakes everywhere in Asian malls…!! =O
It was April’s so last month’s but it’s probably still around on ebay and whatnot!! http://tkj.jp/sweet/2011Apr/
I want to steal your collection!!
Nuuuuuuuuuuuu *guards with life*
I love your collection! I think these bags are really cute.
But wow, I didn’t know they made replica’s LOL. I wasn’t aware they were so popular 
I don’t use tote-bags so much though. Not really sure why, I’m more of a handbag person, the kind with little pockets and an outside pocket preferably.
Yeah I think there’s a great divide between classic purse users and tote bag users because, though I have a few nice purses, I use totes 80% of the time.
Hi jenny!!!
i’ve been snooping on your blog for a loooong time and i love your cher bags.
I bought one before on ebay, but from your guidelines I’m not sure if mine is real or not >.
Sorry msg got cut off :S here’s the link. it seems authentic since it comes w/the magazine but since it’s so chep i’m not really sure :S if you have time please take a look? thanks!
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Sweet-April-2011-Japanese-Magazine-w-Cher-Tote-/180653944867?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0fd07023
or
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Japan-Fashion-Namie-Amuro-Sweet-Magazine-4-2011-April-/250795868967?pt=Magazines&hash=item3a64994327
Oh yeah this is buying the magazine so there’s not a question if it’s legit. You only have to worry if you’re trying to buy JUST a bag especially the original bag
thanks!!!
omg I knew that the Cher bags were hard to get/expensive but didn’t know they were THAT expensive!! -dies- +$50??!! wowwww. And to be so popular as to have the Cher stores say you have to buy an item from their store before being able to buy the ecobags….. that’s just amazing and shows how freaking amazing the bags are
I didn’t know Cher stuff was imported - so where is the brand based then? I saw a bunch of fake ones this past summer in HK but they were of really cheap quality which was why I didn’t get any =.=
Yea what’s sad is how cheap the actual bags are! $8.00 to purchase!! But the store itself is so costly so their rule shoots up the price, plus crazy high demand. Cher is a Japan-only Store with just 3 store locations. They import clothes in the way Urban Outfitters & Anthropologie import their clothes. Same situation really.
i’m like m! i didn’t know you had so many! O_O
but it is a nice collection
so i’m glad you have something consistently pretty to look at and hoard~ :3
Yea a lot of these I use the mini bags more and drop those into bigger bags I’m using so I can easily switch out purses day to day~~
Wow, it never occurred to me how expensive the bags are. I knew from your previous entries that it was limited, but wow, they have a pretty smart marketing plan! Now, if only the American magazines will give away good freebies and get printed on good paper, then maybe the industry will survive longer.
Yea all I ever got from US mags were dabs of lipstick on paper samples and maxi pads. Way to go US =__=;;
I think i haven’t told you before but you, Jen, was the one that introduce me to Cher! And I started collecting and buying the mooks. So thank you! =)
I saw this light pink one at Kinokuniya and was contemplating if I should get it. I love their orange one which I didn’t get.
Idk. If I pass my the store again, and it is still available, I might just get it.
Awe I’m touched!! Well this color is very nice though unlike the canvas orange one this one is soft vinyl
Let me know if you get it!
Your collection is wow. The bags are cute but $50. That’s really pricey. At least its a special gift in magazines
Yea the freebies in the magazines is the cheaper way to go than trying to grab an original store only bag.
You really have me wanting a Cher bag now!
Your collection is very cute–I think my favorite is the peach+white one.
For anyone else who doesn’t have a store around that doesn’t sell Japanese magazines and mooks, you might want to check out kinokuniya’s online store. Example:
https://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/wshoseaohb.cgi?W-NIPS=998357473X&AREA=02&LANG=E
Flutterscape could be a good place to look for mooks/magazines too, and if no one’s selling what you want you can request it.
Yea I know a few ppl who request special orders from them
Amazon Japan has authentic Cher bags for sale. I have their shore bags. They’re so nice to tote around!
I like the laid back look of the Shore store’s bags~~~
I really should get more of these bags~ I love the logo (I’m huge on bags with print all over them). I’d always wondered about these bags since I always see girls with them but never really knew where they were getting them (aside from magazines). Thanks for the information!
Yes, I LOVE logo/print bags too :3!
Thanks for this info on these bags! They’re so stylish…I’d love to have one but until I can grab a freebee from a mag somewhere it’s impossible. But I’ll keep trying xD
Wow look at that collection
I love collecting items like that. You must be pretty proud of being able to accumulate so many of the items 
Awesome collection! I have only 1/3 of what you have
The Cher print is so cool that some lady stopped me and asked where I got the bag from because her daughter’s name is Cher
I love your collection^-^
but does all cher bags(that sells for $20range) all fake?
this person is selling for 23-24 but looks like real..like what you had described…….I would love to get my hands on the bag! ㅠㅠ
My description of fake Cher only applied to the original oatmeal, red & blue logo bags.
Really all that matters is how you feel about it. Does it have to be real in order for you to be happy with it? Are you looking at getting one of the “original in-store only bags?” If so, for me, the only way to know is to see the Cher Store receipt posted along side the bag. If it’s a freebie magazine bag you’re looking at then it could possibly be sold for that cheap because magazines are cheap & the bags were free.
Can you tell if those are fake or not?
http://cgi.ebay.com/CHER-Japan-LARGE-BLUE-Handbag-TOTE-Shoulder-BAG-SALES-/140560510112?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item20ba0f2ca0
http://cgi.ebay.com/CHER-Japan-vintage-LARGE-Beige-Handbag-TOTE-BAG-SALES-/140560487038?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item20ba0ed27e
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Cher-Beige-Purple-LARGE-Hangbag-Tote-Bag-sale-/110589062755?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item19bf9f2e63
This one looks too white to be the real original store only bag and for the price too - http://cgi.ebay.com/CHER-Japan-vintage-LARGE-Beige-Handbag-TOTE-BAG-SALES-/140560487038?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item20ba0ed27e
The other two are free from magazines so they are probably real.
Can you tell if it is fake or not?
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Cher-Beige-Purple-LARGE-Hangbag-Tote-Bag-sale-/110589062755?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item19bf9f2e63
http://cgi.ebay.com/CHER-Japan-vintage-LARGE-Beige-Handbag-TOTE-BAG-SALES-/140560487038?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item20ba0ed27e
http://cgi.ebay.com/CHER-Japan-LARGE-BLUE-Handbag-TOTE-Shoulder-BAG-SALES-/140560510112?pt=US_CSA_WH_Handbags&hash=item20ba0f2ca0
if you don’t mind can you post the measurement for that bag (cm):width, length……please?
I also got the original (white, blue, red) but the measurement is different from my other bags that i have::blue & purple (they are also in large)