I saw quite a few people in NYC rocking the Mulberry Suede Bayswater bag. And each time I saw it I fell in love with it more. Everyone was carrying the grey version (color officially is sludge). What I did not know is that Mulberry offers four glorious suede colors in their suede croc print Baywater. And the problem for me is that I love them all!

Colors include sludge, emerald, chocolate, and violet for the Mulberry Suede Bayswaters. Each color is amazing in its own right and the price is still one that I find completely doable. I prefer this Bayswater over the leather version. The stamped croc gives such a nice touch to the suede and the bag comes to life with the croc pattern.

Now we get to the colors. I actually think I am going to get one of these bags, not just talk about it. So the color is important. I am not much of a brown bag girl, but this is a chocolate suede that looks delicious. The green is rich and regal. The violet is not as much my style. And the grey plays it safe but will work with most outfits and looks. What do you think about the color? Buy via Mulberry online or through Net A Porter for $995.

We’ve covered the Mulberry Mitzy Hobo before, and we generally try not to repeat bags, but I can’t help but be totally obsessed with the ultra-deep blue cracked finish that Mulberry has debuted for Fall 2009.

I wear so much black that I’ve sort of shied away from navy blue accessories, even though the combination of the two can be super glam when done correctly. As with anything, it’s hard to find exactly the right bag.

But I think that the steely, silvery undertones on this bag make it a perfect option to pair with black and dark grey. In fact, the handle itself is black, which should make the color combination a fairly obvious way to style it. The shiny finish makes the color all the more vibrant, which is the perfect way to incorporate navy into an already dark outfit. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $895.

So it is time for fall colors and wardrobes to be brought out of hiding. South Florida is full of bright eye-catching colors all spring and summer, and while they work mostly year around, I still like to bring out my fall bags. I absolutely adore gray in my wardrobe. As I was going through my closet I noticed a lack of gray bags. WHAT? I do not own many gray bags? Actually, unless I have a stash of handbags hiding in my imaginary closet, I am nearly gray-bag-less. And that is oddly shocking to me.

The hunt for a new gray bag begins. You will be seeing many gray bags in the upcoming weeks, so I apologize in advance for those of you that dislike gray bags. Gray bag option number one, the Mulberry Suede Bayswater with a light gray crocodile stamped finish.

The Mulberry Bayswater continues to be a coveted design from Mulberry and in the handbag world. The double top handles and simple box shaped body is gives a classy and clean vibe. But you all know the Baywater, lets delve further into this rendition.

Suede is always hard to to keep clean. But gray is a great color option on a suede bag. The corners will wear more easily, which on some bags actually gives a bit of character rather than looking unkempt. I adore seeing crocodile stamped leather, Yves Saint Laurent perfects it. The large stamping on this Bayswater adds an extra dimension. Overall, this is a great design, a great version of the design, and the price comes in under $1000. Buy through Net A Porter for $995.

My hunt for a new gray bag has only just begun…

Does the Bayswater look like a Hermes Birkin, did it intend to look like a Birkin, why would you buy this if you wanted a Birkin, is this a copy? Every single one of those questions gets picked apart by a handful of people time and time again, but the the Mulberry Bayswater remains a staple piece.

Frankly, the resemblance is merely that, a resemblance. The Mulberry Bayswater is a staple piece, a simple black bag with double top handles. But there is less structure to this bag, it feels and looks more casual than a Birkin. And then there is the price, which is astoundingly under $900, which compared to other handbag prices is ridiculously low. Of all the Mulberry bags, this is my favorite, always has been.

So back to the Mulberry vs Hermes debate. I have no qualms saying that I feel one designer is imitating another, but for me it is just not the case. When it comes to the Baysater versus the Birkin, what do you think?

Buy via Net A Porter for $850.

This is an entirely late start to our day here at Purse Blog. Amanda was off this week as she is moving, Shannon is getting ready to move to California next week, and I am recovering from surgery. That leaves Vlad and you all know he is not much of a Purse Blog poster (though he does showcase the most amazing handbag photography!). And that is why we are way late today.

I have always had a thing for the Mulberry Bayswater. I did see a ponyhair up close and was disappointed, the body did not hold its shape very well like I imaged the Bayswater would. But leather is completely different from a thinner pony hair body and I crave seeing this bag in person. The tan Mulberry Ostrich Bayswater is offset with a gold-tone signature plaque fastening at the front. This rendition is exclusive to Net-A-Porter and one of those perfectly chic yet not overly feminine bags. It looks strong yet simple. The shape is similar to a Hermes Birkin which is a highly coveted shape. Mulberry bags have a large following and the Bayswater is their most known style. Is this the Bayswater for you? Buy through Net A Porter for $2795.

One thing that I think Mulberry does very well with their bags is that they make them completely and totally functional. They seem to consider the purpose for which the bag will be used just as much as they consider the way that the bag will look, and what they end up with is a great collection of bags that can be used every day and for a variety of purposes. All kinds of women could have these bags in their closet. I have but one gripe with this bag in particular, and it’s purely aesthetic: the straps and the pocket flaps. They’re a different material, which I like for an accent, but I wish they were smooth instead of pebbled. The pebbling really, really bugs me. A lot. Other than that, though, I think purple patent will go with a lot more than you may realize. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $795.

I wrote about another Mulberry bag with this finish a few weeks ago, and I love it so much (and so did a lot of you guys, to my everlasting surprise) that I had to bring you guys the Mulberry Ava Chain Clutch when I saw it.

Because, I mean, look at it. It’s got all the great parts of the last bag, but this time in a cute, bite-sized portion. It’s like a fun-size candy bar, but the purse version. But it’s still got the amazing, dark silver, shiny, croc-stamped leather, and I think it might go with just about any cute dress that I’ve got in my closet. And, honestly, most of the not-cute dresses I have, too (because, fess up, we all have them). And because of the finish and the color, I doubt it would show wear very quickly, making it a perfect going-out bag for a night of clubbing or barhopping. And really, I just want something-anything-made out of this material. Buy through Mulberry for $495.

So now, green. How do we feel about green? I love these sort of blue-green pieces that are featured in WWD’s story, but I fear that when the trend is translated to downmarket retailers like Forever 21, it may become more of a seafoam nightmare than I’d like. But if everyone can stick to true greens, and maybe a few blue-greens, then I’ll be happy to hop on this bandwagon along with everyone else when fall’s new stuff starts hitting shelves.

Oh, and wondering about the bags in the picture? They’re not available in those colors yet, but you can buy Mulberry’s Oversized Bayswater Clutch for $695 via Net-a-Porter. Similar Kotur snake clutches are available via Singer 22.

The Mulberry Jody Shoulder Bag makes it work rather well, though. And I think one small detail is the key – the satchel straps lock in to place with a metal and leather loop that holds them down (and folds the bag over) when not in use. And this makes all the difference. There’s no awkward flapping and sagging; instead, the bag looks like it was designed with all of its attributes taken into consideration, and the entire finished product actually LOOKS finished. It’s funny that a simple leather attachment and metal lock can change the game on bags with two carrying options, but all the other brands out there have something to learn from this bag. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $825.

This roomy Mulberry tote is perfect for your poolside essentials and will look sizzling with your Melissa Odabash bikini and Carrera aviator sunglasses. The clear double handled vinyl tote has an interior zipped pocket, interior pockets for your phone and an embossed metal Mulberry logo tag. Shop more clear beach totes here. Mulberry Ice Cream clear tote for $175 through Net-a-Porter.

Via The Find

Despite the fact that its texture is mirror-slick and not distressed like the metallics I usually prefer, the fact that they used a gunmetal silver instead of a bright, blue-based silver is really winning me over. The texture reminds me of a much less expensive, much more useful version of the Balenciaga Metallic Crocodile Wristlet we’ve talked about recently. I’d choose the Bal in a second, but since I don’t think my credit card limit is that high, the Mulberry version seems like a fun substitute that might actually hold some of my stuff. Buy through ShopBop for $1250.

  

After I first posted about the Mulberry Creased Patent Mitzy Hobo the other day, Megs received an email from Jackie at Mulberry with a link to check out the bag on their website to show that the bag is, indeed, slouchy and wonderful. And as you can see above, it is! The patent does appear to slouch quite nicely, and her assertion that ShopBop overstuffed the bag on their website does indeed seem true (and hobos get awkward-looking quickly when overstuffed). What I see above is a far lovelier bag than I wrote about yesterday, and while I still don’t adore the color, it looks a lot better here than it does in the previous photo, which appeared to have been washed out by the camera flash. So I take back all the mean things I said about how this bag was going to poke everyone in the armpit. Because it’s not.

I’ve also included a shot from their website of the regular leather Mulberry Mitzy Hobo, because I’m in love. It’s gorgeous. The leather looks thick and soft and fantastic, and I love the shape and the slouch. I owned a Mulberry bag a while back, and the leather on that one was awesome, and this one looks even better. I wish more places in Georgia carried the brand because there’s a lot of bags on their site that I have never seen before, and now I really want to scope them out in person. I’ve always been a casual Mulberry fan in the past, but I’m starting to take a more active interest. Buy through ShopBop for $695.

Mulberry Ostrich Bayswaters

Vlad and I are in NYC for the week, meeting with designers, looking at showrooms, and overeating at the best NYC joints we can find. As we have been walking around the city, I realized how true the black garb stereotype is in NYC sometimes. Granted it is rather grey and a bit cold here, but why so much black? I adore color, adore rich hues, and always want to sport a bit of a splash.

A more neutral color to opt for is blue, and my new obsession are some of the blue-hued Mulberry Ostrich Bayswaters that are exclusive to the brand new US Mulberry website. Are you as in love as I am? The three Ostrich Bayswater purses shown above are in lavender, blue, and violet ostrich leather. All are being sold on the new US website and all are exclusive to the US website. Can I decide on just one color? No. All three are stunners, able to catch attention but could still be perfect for those who like to be a little more neutrally dressed, color wise. Of course these bags will still stand out, but I am trying to compromise with those that love neutrals and blacks.

What else is the new Mulberry US site offering? A yellow ostrich Bayswater and an east-west Bayswater in pink ostrich! The yellow and pink are the colors that will always work in South Florida, so obviously I am drawn to them. The regular Bayswater size in the exclusive colors for the US website cost $3995. So for all of you living in the US, make sure to check out the new US Mulberry website and the exclusive colors on their ostrich Bayswater. Visit Mulberry online.

Mulberry bags have continued to grow and thrive, showing a huge following not only in the UK but also in the US. And actually, as I popped on the mulberry website today to see what is new, I realized that Mulberry now has a US website, where you can buy bags directly off the site. Can I get a yippee??

The new member of the Mulberry family is the fabulous Mulberry Shimmy Bags. This line has already been seen on Alexa Chung who was rocking the east-west Shimmy in taupe around London. There are three different sizes; the East-West Shimmy is £595 ($995), the Shimmy is £695 ($1195), and the Large Shimmy is £895 ($1595).

The Mulberry website will be carrying them in orange (ostrich!!), taupe, straw, sand and purple with either gunmetal hardware (like on the purple Shimmy) or pale gold hardware (like on the taupe East-West Shimmy) all gorgeous. This bag is one of those easy throw over your shoulder and go. My hope is to see one in person soon, touch it, try it on, and fall in love. The shape is very similar to a recent bag we reviewed, the Salvatore Ferragamo Carlotta Tote, which you all know I desperately adore. The prices on the Mulberry Shimmy’s are much better, staying around the $1500 range on the high side, not counting ostrich, and going down under $1000. My vote goes to the Shimmy in a super luscious shade, even the sand would be perfect for winter. Check more of the Shimmy Bags out at Mulberry online! And to the US customers, hope you are excited to see the US Mulberry site up and running.

Mulberry Shimmy is £695 ($1195)

Mulberry East-West Shimmy is £595 ($995)

Mulberry Large Shimmy is £895 ($1595)

Have you or have you not had enough of the Mulberry Bayswater Bag? Me? Personally, I love the bag. I continue to hold out buying one, contemplating exactly which version of theirs suits my liking. I am leaning toward a simple leather version, seems to go with most outfits and is not overly gaudy (like the leopard version I covered recently).

The most coveted Bayswater that I have covered; the Purple Ostrich Bayswater Net A Porter carried a while back. Talk about stunner. The bag uses my favorite color, that is perfect with my complexion, hair, and eyes, in an exotic skin on a great bag.

Now Net A Porter is attempting to reel you all in again, with the exclusive Mulberry Ostrich Bayswater in fuchsia ostrich leather. Not all of you love the look or feel of ostrich leather, but it is a texture and look that I have come to adore. The fuchsia, well it is as feminine as it comes and reminds me of the times Victoria Beckham and Eva Longoria have carried their bright pink Birkins. Does Mulberry do it for you as Hermes does it for you? Is the Mulberry Bayswater a great bag? And how about the bright hue of pink?

For me, I would prefer the purple. And again, I am still leaning toward a simple leather Bayswater, but I do say, I love all of the options. Buy through Net A Porter for $3,995.

Each tote has a noticeably different design which to me is great because that guarantees there is probably a tote out there for just about anyone! The tote to the right was designed by Kate Davis. At first glance you get a romantic vibe from the tote. I guess red does that, huh? Beyond that, the red rose on top of the black background offers a bit of softness and elegance which drew me in. Davis drew inspiration from a romantic moment she had in Rome and felt the design depicted a sense of pulling away from everyday life and focusing on romance and love. Whether romance driven or not, it is so important to be able to take a step back and simply, enjoy life and love.

Have you ever looked at those inkblot cards psychologists/psychiatrists have? Are they supposed to mean something specific? Even though trained, I find it fascinating that they are able to draw inferences from the thousands of things they could potentially hear from a given patient. Artist Paul Hosking made mirror, laser cut images that resemble the famous Rorschach inkblots. I definitely did not notice this at first glance (however thanks to the press release I am able to provide insight), but the inkblots are a portrait of the artist’s profile. The black background makes the vibrant colors pop. I could see the tote appealing to an array of people. From hipsters to psychology enthusiasts this tote is fabulous.

This next tote reminds me of my Aunt Mary Jean, the artist of the family. It’s not the design itself, but instead the first thing that came to mind when I saw the tote – “this must have been done by an artist”. For those of you artists out there, if you disagree, don’t be mad; I, in no way, have an artists eye. However, the artist behind this tote, Simon English, has made a series of six unique drawings that interweave images from his life and other drawings. This tote is brilliant. I love the individuality behind it and how each image looks separate from the others while essentially tying the entire bag together.

Artist, Phillip Jones is known for his large-scale oil paintings where he usually depicts characters he then develops over a series of works. In this tote, it is clear where his inspiration comes from – a deck of cards! The idea behind the expressively painted tote goes further, it continues the theme of fate an chance found in many of the artist’s larger oil works. I love the thought that Jones makes an effort to weave a theme throughout many facets of his work – whether it be an oil painting or a handbag, the same theme is visible. The theme behind this tote is one that influences every day life. To me, life really is a delicate balance between chance and fate. But, it really is this delicate balance that makes us all who we are today!

And last but by no means least, the tote by artist Peter Jones. I have to say, this tote is Megs’ and my favorite! I personally have always had a thing for monkeys – they are just so precious. So, when I came across this tote, I have to say, I instantly wanted it. For the most part I lug my stuff around in a tote (Megs thinks it is absolutely hideous) and I know I am due for an update. Jones takes an Andy Warhol inspired background and has the famous images of a monkey in three poses: hear no evil, speak no evil, and see no evil. The monkeys are captured fantastically against a blue backdrop. On top of everything else, notice the playful expressions on the faces – love it! Perhaps it is a good thing I’ve waited this long for a replacement.

Now that you’ve seen all five, which tote would you pick?

So, the only downside, these wonderful totes are only available for purchase from the Bond Street Store – in London, England. If you are in the area, lucky you! Either way, I think this collaboration was a tremendous success and I hope to see more like this in the future.