To buy a Mulberry bag?

[catlover1987]

So I was recently promoted at work and got a pretty decent (5k) rise. The backdated pay for 2 months plus my Christmas bonus means I will be able to afford my much coveted mulberry bag.

I'm not normally in to labels and don't own anything designer but I love these beautiful bags and have wanted one my whole adult life. BUT I just don't know if I can part with the best part of £1000. Would you? (We have some savings already, no debt and my DH is fine with it.)

Buy it
Why do people face to look at things as an investment ?
If it will bring a smile to your face and you can afford it , do it

If you can afford it then buy it.

I have several and they are lovely bags which age well. I haven't bought one recently though as I'm finding they have got less classic and more blingy which isn't my style.

If it makes you happy and you'll get lots of use from it then go for it! I love my Mulberry Bayswater, I've had it a few years now and it's been my go to bag since I bought it. I ensured I bought a style/colour that I could get lots of use from after deciding a smaller size would be too small for daily use

You don't have to justify it to anyone. Everything apart from the very basic, cheapest food clothing and shelter can be considered a waste of money by someone else.

I agree one should buy the bag that makes one happy but I wanted to counterbalance the "Do it because it'll last forever" comments. I know how I felt when my £636 bag didn't last as well as my £150 Fossil ones.

Do it! Not the same experience but upon some post-grad completion I gained a similar pay rise and treated myself to a pair of louboutins. I only wear them very occasionally but get such satisfaction when I do.

I have a small collection of Mulberry bags - I love the brand. They look great new and age really well.

I often buy from Naughtipidgins Nest which is an online shop run by a lovely woman who sells new and pre-owned designer bags... not just Mulberry. If you buy from her you can be sure that you'll receive an authentic bag and it will arrive beautifully packaged. I bought a brand new Bayswater recently from her for significantly less than shop price.

Wow, I didn't expect so many replies! Thanks to everyone that's posted. The general consensus is that I should go for it so I think I'm going to buy one. Thanks to those who mentioned the possible sales on black Friday. I had forgotten this was coming up so will wait until then, and see if there's any deals. It is the Bayswater I'm after. I'm in Glasgow so unfortunately not near an outlet.

To the few people that said I'd be mad to spend that on a bag - that is exactly why I started this thread! A little part of me does wonder if it is crazy. I'm usually so careful with money. But it would be lovely to have something I could look at and use to remind me of all the hard work and studying I put in to get me here, and I know I would use it.

I'm surprised (and a bit sad) to hear the quality isn't as good as it used to be. One of the reasons I wanted a Mulberry specifically was that I watched a documentary years ago about how they were made. It was a factory in the UK and the craftsmanship was so impressive. They really looked built to last. That does put me off somewhat...

I had a Bayswater about 8 years ago and I love it. My mum bought one almost the same as mine 2 years ago..... It was £300 more for the same bag, and hers has already had to go back for repairs twice, whereas mine never has.

I have a Bayswater and I use it every day. It's nearly 2 years old and it pretty perfect condition, despite the fact I throw it around and am very careless with it.

Apologies if this has already been said, i love Mulberry and own two bags. I get mine in the boxing day sale. Bayswater £620 and alexa £660.

Makes it a little more bearable to part with the cash :)

I read recently that Mulberry profits had gone down the last few years so they are now concentrating on making good quality bags and have also stopped putting the prices up- thank goodness.

I'm just like you OP in that I don't buy designer things at all but I do have 2 mulberry bags. I've had them over 10 years and they are still absolutley perfect. I use one of them almost everyday- it's certainly paid for it's self many times over.

Buy your bag, dont feel guilty, it really will last for many years.

I did the same a few months ago in similar circumstances, Cat.

I got mine (ox blood Bayswater) in Frasers and got £25 in points back.

I use it every day and I love it plus I think the quality is fantastic.

A number of year back I won a competition at work and it was for £1000 of house of Fraser vouchers. My friends were like that's it get your mulberry bag!! At first I found it hard and thought I would buy a few new towels but then my boss literally forced me to spend it on myself. So well I dug a bit deeper and bought two Mulberry bags. I use them a lot.

Be careful which leather you choose.

Not all Mulberry bags are designed for everyday use. I have a fabulous Bayswater but it's too delicate for daily use. My Mabel and Alexa bags though are bombproof as is my Ledbury. The rest I only use occasionally.

Buy it, but make sure you don't leave it on the floor of an aeroplane unless you have puke protection

Congrats on the promotion!

Love my Bayswater and Bayswater tote. I don't keep in a bag carry to work gym shops don't protect from adverse weather and carry heavy loads in tote (gym shoes and laptop). Not one defect after loads of use and I still love it. Previously was sooo annoyed at threading linings and fraying edges of £70 leather bags from high street stores that lose their shape. buy enjoy and use use use.

If you can afford it yes - but why not try for a Chanel or even Hermes. Both labels have more cachet (imo) but then if the Mulberry one is the bag you like get it. Will it be available after Christmas for 20% off?

So it's interesting to see that now their profits have dropped they pretty much admit they've been ripping off customers with lower quality/higher priced bags. Would hate to have been taken for a mug by them in recent years.

The cost isn't the issue, it's the fact they've been mugging off customers and that every third woman in the city has one. Give it another 10 years and they'll have entered mid 90s overkill Burberry territory.

I'd get something a little more discreet but top quality or if you want the brand cachet go for the Chanel or Hermes.

Mulberry is NOT comparable to Chanel or Hermes price wise.

Mulberry Bayswater = £950
Hermes Birkin = £5310 (for smallest size)
Chanel classic flap = £3990 (for medium size)

it's simply not a case of adding a bit more into the pot.

I always wondering if anyone apart from the really rich buys a bag for £1,000s! Unless you have spare 1000s it seems really extravagant considering that it is just something you put your stuff in.

Do it! You've worked hard for your promotion, so reward yourself for it.

I treated myself to a Longines watch after a promotion. Best thing was I was hmming and aahing, and the next time I walked past the shop, the exact watch I was coveting had been reduced by a third. I took it as a sign and bought it on the spot.

I have two, both have the brass postman's lock with key and both have broken. Not through excessive use either as I rotate my bags. To get the get them repaired you have to traipse all the way to the shop where they check if they are genuine (they are) before you pay for them to send them away to be repaired.

Google, broken locks on Mulberry bags.

On a quality point of few NO don't do it.

I love mulberry! They tend not to participate in Black Friday type sales but the actual sale starts on Boxing Day.

You know you can phone and order from the outlets too as long as it's not a sub?

If it makes you happy and you can afford it, why not? I bought an Alexa after losing 3 stone in weight and the cost made my eyes water but I don't regret it!!