To alter a mulberry handbag

[Sophiesmith]

My dh bought me a mulberry handbag for my birthday at the weekend. A shock. Tbh I am not that much of a handbag person and there are a million other things we could have spent the money but it was v nice of him and it is a nice bag.

BUT I like to wear bags across the body and the strap is too short. Is it reasonable to have the strap made larger- I was thinking I could take it to a shoe repair place and just get a 3" piece of leather added to the middle of the long strap.

I can't take the bag back - dh would be v offended.

do not get it altered at a shoe repair place

take it back to Mulberry and swap it - you sound totally reasonable in your post so just say the same to DH

it's not a big deal - surely he would be offended if you kept something you didn't like

I prefer across the body bags too. I have 3 Mulberry bags, all are across the body. I would not get it altered. It will affect the value of the bag and your guarantee.

Take it back and swop it for a bag you really like.

Im sooo jealous! Id love one..My street is called Mulberry Close so I told my dh I really should have one
He hasn't got the hint or money yet.

This one has a shoulder strap and long strap you can add but as I am tall it is just not long enough would be ok if I was 'normal' height! I think is called essie or effie.

DH did the same, bought me a Mullberry that I didn't think suited me. I'm only 5'2" and I felt the bag looked huge when I was carrying it. I just asked him if I minded if I swoped it.

He really didn't mind and he came with me. I've had it for 5 years now and I use it all the time. I wouldn't have used the other one half as much.

Phone up Mulberry and ask them if they do longer straps? They are usually really helpful.

Will try that, never even thought of that - ill let u know how I get on

TBH I would exchange the bag for a different style. My job is partly to do with bag manfacturing, and I think from looking at a picture of your bag then you would need to send it to a bag factory to do the kind of alteration you've suggested. It wouldn't be possible to add in a piece of leather, you would need a whole new strap. Hope you can get a solution and a bag you love, your DH sounds lovely!

Tried mulberry _ no joy, straps not done in other lengths and they don't do alterations.

I can't take it back, I be used it - took it out with me on sat night. Plus he is not really into surprises so I can't not like about the only surprise gift he has ever got me. Usually he gets me for every occasion either a bunch of flowers to Molton brown bubble bath. but as I have 3 bottle of the same stuff by the bath bought for Christmas, anniversary and Mother's Day he must have thought he would try something different.

And I do really like it it is just the strap.

Oh that's a shame. I understand why you dont want to swop it.

I think if you really want to get it altered, I would hunt down someone who works with leather and get them to make you a new strap, maybe using the Mulberry gold clips. However would they be able to get an exact colour match?

I don't think there is any harm in having a new strap made if the bag has a strap that clicks on. You can always click the old original strap back on at a later date.

I Used to wear my bags across My body when I needed hands for children, pushchairs etc. now I have spare bands, i have different types of bag.

Could you not just get a longer, non-Mulberry, strap and use that instead, possibly in a different colour if you can't get one that matches?

I actually have spare hands not bands!!!!

The Effie bag could easily have a replacement strap made, that wouldn't harm the actual bag. I love that bag!!!!!

I did this, I have a Mulberry (jody i think) that had short handles and a long strap but not long enough to go across the body. Mine was also a gift and I never used just because it was impractical.

I took it into the local show repairer and he extended the strap for me using a leather belt that he had up for sale and stitching the clasp onto it. I now use the bag all the time. Unless you are a Mulberry expert you would never know tbh.

I realise Mulberry fanatics will probably think I'm mad but it now means I use the bag all the time.

Yeah, both straps clip off that bag so just unclip them an buy a random longer strap to use with it. Don't try to alter the originals as that will just bastardise the bag.