Mulberry Handbags

Sometimes when I pick a bag to write about, I know I’m asking for trouble. I don’t mind the disagreement, though – I possess that rare and endearing quality of always thinking I’m right, no matter what (that IS endearing, right? No? Oh). So I present, without fear, the Mulberry Metallic Croc Print Bayswater. Super shiny? Yes, it is. Stamped with an exotic texture? Yes, that too. Too big to pull it off? Probably, but I really like it anyway, and you can’t convince me otherwise.

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 Mulberry rep Jackie contacted us a few days ago and asked us to take a look at their bags on their own website instead of other retailer’s, not only did I update my opinion of the Mulberry Creased Patent Mitzy Hobo, but I spent some time looking around their website at the huge number of bags that they have in their line. I had simply never realized before, and I think that it might be a brand that a lot of Americans overlook. Well, I’ve been set straight now, and any of you guys out there that are big fans of simple bags with thick leather might want to peruse their website as well. Don’t believe me? Well, take a look at the Mulberry Shimmy Tote. When I saw it, it left me (as the Brits say) gobsmacked. This thing is gorgeous. And it’s gorgeous in a totally simple, understated way. It doesn’t scream at anyone about how expensive it is, it just looks really well-made and chic. It is exactly my style, and a perfect color for the navy (although Mulberry calls it ‘purple’) trend for spring. The bag is also made of sheep leather…I’m not quite sure what that feels like, do any of you know? I’m familiar with calf, lamb, goat…but I don’t know if I’ve encountered sheep. It LOOKS very soft, though. Mulberry has sold out of it on their site, but ShopBop still has it available for $995 (although their pictures don’t do it justice). Buy through ShopBop for $995.

  

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.

At first glance, I was on board with the Mulberry Creased Patent Mitzy Hobo. I like big leather hobos, and I like Mulberry, so I didn’t give the whole thing much of a second thought. But upon further consideration…I can’t get behind this. Patent leather hobos are extremely hard to structure correctly – it’s a shape that is supposed to slouch, by definition, and patent is a material that is much more conducive to creating structure than slouch. So, strike one. Because of the apparent lack of slouch, the handle isn’t long enough. I don’t think it would be comfortable to carry on my shoulder – I’m not a fan of having leather poke me in the arm pit. Strike Two. Then, the color. Oh, the color. Mulberry calls it “Lipstick,” but I certainly don’t have any lipstick in this shade, and I don’t think I would want a bag this color, either. it’s kind of salmon-y and a little too pastel for my taste, which is the same problem I had with the last Mulberry bag I reviewed. Pastels are hard to pull off and tend to make people look either washed-out or sallow, and I think this particular color might have both effects on my skin. So, strike three, it’s out. Buy through Shop Bop for $695.

I am, more or less, on board with the Mulberry Creased Jenah Bag. It’s on-trend in several ways – it has a chain strap, it’s a flap bag, and it’s smaller than the bags that we’ve seen in the past few seasons. It’d be a great addition to a spring wardrobe to satisfy a lot of the new bag looks in one package, theoretically. But the one thing that’s stopping me is…the color. I know that a lot of people will disagree with me, because I can see where people would think it was pretty, but I just can’t do it. Pastels (and this is basically a pastel) are not good on me. I have yellow undertones in my skin, and it’s just not a particularly lovely contrast. Also, for some reason, wearing any kind of pastel makes me feel like an enormous, 5-and-a-half-foot-tall toddler. I’m willing to admit that this is probably a hangup that only I have, but until I see it in another color (a medium-to-mustard yellow would be nice, if you’re listening, Mulberry), I’ll have to pass. Buy through Shop Bop for $1195.

Bags fall into a few groups for me. First, the bags I don’t want. Then there’s bags that I might buy if they were super marked down. After that, bags I’d consider buying at a regular sale if they were in a good color. Then there’s bags that I’d buy for full price, but for some reason, never have (probably because I’m poor). The Mulberry Roxanne Polished Tote is easily one of those handbags; there’s something about it that I’ve always loved. Maybe it’s the fact that the leather is so awesome. Maybe its the bag’s ability to be simple and really NOT simple all at the same time. Maybe it’s the plethora of colors that it’s been available in over the years. Who knows. But what I do know is that the beautiful kelly green that ShopBop is carrying right now is making me long for spring. That’s extra unfortunate, because it’s supposed to be colder than it’s been in 30 years in Georgia in the next few days, but I’ll just stay in, stare at this bag, and pretend that winter thawed out long ago. Buy through ShopBop for $995.

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.

Full size images below...

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. Click here to keep on reading...

It is nothing new from designers to business executives, people love to collaborate. Maybe it all goes back to the saying, “two heads are better than one”? It doesn’t really matter why collaborations happen because I have to say, they always intrigue me – for better or for worse. There are always pairings that excite me while others make me go “hmmmm”. This time, Mulberry has collaborated with FRED (one of East London’s most influential contemporary art galleries) to design a series of artist designed, limited edition tote bags. FRED selected five British artists to reflect Mulberry’s individuality and identity. In the way any amazing collaboration should be conducted, Mulberry designers worked closely with the artists to ensure the vision at hand was captured.

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. Click here to keep reading and see the rest of the designs!