Here’s a stodgy English brand for you – Mulberry. I saw they have a new store opening soon at The Gardens (hurrah!)
Well, they aren’t quite stodgy actually. They did score a winner with the Alexa satchel, named after Alexa Chung, British style icon (psst! Because I’m a fashion dodo, I confess I do not know who she is and had to Google this 😛 )
Anyway I know everyone loves the Alexa satchel and how gorgeous it is… and so do I. But for many reasons, mostly unknown to me, I’m drawn to the Bayswater instead.
Could it be the shape? I love bags of this shape. Remember the Prada Saffiano Lux Open Tote? It has the same shape. Many have compared this to the Hermes Birkin and it does bear a similarity.
Could it be the size? It is on the large side, and in buffalo leather, is a little slouchy which is another thing I like. Its not quite as stiff as the Prada Tote. The straps are also long enough to be slung over the shoulder. Perfect!
Or perhaps it might be because I have an affinity with the Bayswater area of London. I used to stay there so its a place I return to over and over. A bag with that name would be a lovely reminder of the place.
A Mulberry Bayswater in Oak (tan brown) is the traditional and most popular colour. Apparently, it ages very well. Me, with my penchant for coloured bags, I’m drawn to the Plum Bayswater. Likely to be a seasonal colour but its lovely in the lovely bright tropical sunshine and adds a pop of colour to outfits in the cold wintry evenings.
Being full leather with brass hardware, its on the heavy side. But not as heavy as the Alexa, to me. It also looks perfect for everyday or even to travel with because the interior fits a lot.
I think I just like it because its a “quiet” sort of bag. It doesn’t scream with logos, it softly whispers “Mulberry” and “luxury” when you do spot it, its not a crazy shape, the leather is soft, supple and beautiful and its above all, practical yet classic.
The Mulberry Bayswater. My sorta bag – drool! 🙂
Paris B
At time of writing the Mulberry Bayswater retails at about RM4200 at Suria KLCC and £695 at Selfridges or about £570+ at Heathrow.
plue says
December 5, 2010 at 9:23 ami think i saw tis in mulberry boutique! I think they make lovely bags n i’d love to own tis in tan brown tho d price,isn’t something i can afford now haha
ParisB says
December 5, 2010 at 10:50 amAh yep! The leather is divine! Come to think of it, I don’t think I own a tan brown bag. I wonder why…
plue says
December 5, 2010 at 12:54 pmlol because you love your bags colored! haha
but i guess tan brown is boring, but they are very versatile, and goes with almost anything! for me that is 😛
ParisB says
December 5, 2010 at 1:23 pmNo you’re right. Tan bags are very versatile and go with everything 🙂 I should get one 😉 and yes I love my bags cokoured but I’m told few people do so not many brands bring in the lovely bright colours 🙁
synical says
December 5, 2010 at 10:19 amI’ve heard about Mulberry and the Alexa, back when I was shopping around for a new messenger bag (the leather’s tempting, but the price less so :P)
A friend I know bought a Bayswater (for cheaper, allegedly) in Singapore; and I’ve seen Bayswater bags go on sale in the KLCC store.
Now that you mentioned it, the Bayswater DOES kinda look like the Birkin – minus the HUGE price tag and the long wait list.
Am I glad I’m not a handbag person 😛
ParisB says
December 5, 2010 at 10:51 amteehee… yep! Don’t get sucked in 😉 The Alexa is a really nice satchel but I personally think it too heavy to wear as a messenger unless you want to end up looking like Quasimodo 😛 I think the seasonal colors do go on sale. But then “sale” and “cheaper” here is pretty relative eh? 😉
synical says
December 5, 2010 at 11:38 amI was looking at the men’s messenger bags at the time, but yes, the Alexa would be too much for my wallet and my posture.
Sure, prices are relative, but I heard they’re doing away with taxes on luxury goods in Malaysia, which I’ll only believe when I see it.
ParisB says
December 5, 2010 at 12:39 pmHaha same with me! I’m not going to believe till I see it either. Personally I don’t think the big luxury brands will drop prices but maybe we won’t see a price increase either. That said my finger isn’t quite on the pulse of prices so I won’t be able to tell if prices drop or not 😛
Sam says
December 5, 2010 at 10:50 amI was reading an article about Mulberry last night…did you know there’s only one store in Australia (Sydney)? I love the Bayswater but I think the Alexa would be a good work-type bag.
Sigh, I have far too many bags already!
ParisB says
December 5, 2010 at 10:53 amGoodness! But then I’m one to talk. We only had one store here too but there’s going to be another soon – I saw the hoarding 😀 And don’t worry about having too many bags. You’re talking to one in the same dilemma herself LOL! 😆
rosejaejoong says
December 5, 2010 at 11:37 amnice bag..i think i read somewhere that mulberry collaborated with target and was thinking of getting my hands on those bags instead..:D
ParisB says
December 5, 2010 at 12:36 pmI believe there was a collaboration with Target but since we don’t have Target here I can’t say how great they are. Believe the collection is over?
rosejaejoong says
December 5, 2010 at 1:04 pmyup it’s over,but still can get it online 😀
Honey says
December 7, 2010 at 8:56 amI know of someone who has brought in some bags which are from the collaboration of Mulberry/Target. Check out the store in Bangsar Village called Wild Flowers. Not sure if she has put them up for sale already though. The shop carries brands like Lulu Australia and Dooney & Burke. Good quality bags.
xin says
December 5, 2010 at 5:20 pmCan I say I love the interior of the bag? But right now I am not sure if I would pay the price just for the interior though 😛
ParisB says
December 5, 2010 at 6:25 pmOf course you can say that, and it would be silly to pay for just the interior la 😛 Its Suede btw and quite lovely to the touch hehe…
Juan says
December 5, 2010 at 11:45 pmfor me, i love the alexa bag cos it looks rugged but when i showed it to mr husband, he prefers the bayswater. it is cheaper too. i’m still contemplating 🙂
ParisB says
December 5, 2010 at 11:49 pmTell the Mr he may feel free to get you the bag he prefers 😉 both are really nice. Am partial to the Bayswater mainly because it doesn’t weigh as much as Alexa does. I can’t imagine lugging the Alexa cross body. I’d be a hunch in no time 😛
Stephanie/Yukaeshi says
December 6, 2010 at 12:38 amThe Mulberry boutique in Gardens is already open- popped by there on Monday (29th November) 😀
I like the Alexa satchel better because I prefer sling bags, but also in plum! The leather is divine and the colour really pretty!
ParisB says
December 6, 2010 at 9:06 amOh that’s great to know that its open! I was at the Gardens in early Dec but hoarding was still up 😛 maybe they closed it for something 😛
Amex says
December 6, 2010 at 11:45 amI have the Bayswater but I hardly use it. For a ‘big’ bag, it doesn’t really store as much as one would think it would. Deceptive really. Can’t really fit in a A4 sized folder comfortably as there are straps on the side, although you can expand the bag. Then it becomes really heavy once you’ve stuffed it with all the normal indispensables. Still, it’s a lovely bag. Bought it in Singapore during a sale and it was much cheaper than what they were selling it for here.
ParisB says
December 6, 2010 at 1:41 pmYup with all that leather and hardware, it is potentially heavy. So many of my bags are like that, yet I can’t not wear a non leather bag 😀 Thanks for sharing your experience!
mtan says
May 11, 2012 at 12:13 amcan i just check — your price at heathrow, is that already less VAT? are the stores in heathrow (i notice they have in terminals 1,3,4,5) able to take off the VAT on the spot as a discount? thanks!
Paris B says
May 13, 2012 at 11:40 pmAt airports, prices are usually duty free so it’s less VAT and other applicable taxes. The stores therefore don’t take anything else off.