Tell me, do I need a Mulberry Bayswater?

[breaktime]

I have been hunting for the perfect work bag. Must hold an ipad, notebook, headphones, wallet, snacks, etc. Take laptop home at weekends (13in but heavy). I currently have a cheap Kipling cross-body bag (A4 size) which is looking tatty and grim, and a Uniqlo soft briefcase. Kipling not really rigid enough for an Ipad anyway.

Colleague tells me that Bayswater is best as it is tough, holds loads, keeps its shape, can get rid of having two bags, lasts forever. But doesn't have any pockets (I'm addicted to the pockets on my Kipling) and not cross body (although i think I wouldn't want to take laptop in a cross-body bag, too heavy). The lighter bags tend to collapse if you stuff too much in them - something I've found with my Kipling. But I've got used to how light it is. I don't want a briefcase (too ugly). I think my ideal would be a Proenza Schouler satchel but I'm being realistic...Those Knomo bags look a bit too heavy really. I think what I like about the Bayswater is the streamlined look of it.

Do I resign myself to buying a small handbag and then a Bayswater as well? Or can I get by with just a Bayswater for work? Is there anything else I should consider before I fork out £700? Do they ever go on sale (I would want either black or oak)? Is there something like a Bayswater but with more pockets (and not too heavy).

And for those who want to exclaim about the extravagance of spending so much on a bag, my DH has got there before you so no need really :)

I've got one that I use for work and it's perfect. Quick tip, though, House of Fraser sell Mulberry and they often have 20% off everything days. I got mine for about £350 due to a combination of big sale and extra discount with a store card. I'd first coveted it at £750.

I do have a smaller Bayswater and a couple of other Mulberry bags though so am a little biased...

Surely there is something functional and nice that costs less than £700? That is a shocking amount for a bag. You are paying for the name.

I personally need a large bag too but tend to give leather a miss as it usually gets battered unless you look after it well. orla kiely does nice functional stuff and not too expensive. Still paying for a name but not as much!

You can get reductions from their discount stores at Shepton Mallet. When I went there were massive discounts.

I have looked at Orla Kiely but I don't like oilcloth - too, um, squeaky, and I'd rather pay £100s for something in leather. And her large leather bag (structured sparrow?) incredibly heavy for what it was.

Yes, you do need one. It will hold everything you need it to - ànd you can get nice soft leather pouches to hold the things your usually put in the pockets - and it will last for years. Break it down to a pence-per-use. If you use it for four years, it's less than 50p a day.

Only drawback is that it's quite heavy. Buy it in fraser's sale and enjoy.

I have one (purchased on ebay) and have to say that if you are planning on putting a lap top and ipad etc in then you might find it rather heavy to carry in your hands/ shoulder.

Saying that Mulberry have outlets including York and Bicester village and often have outlet special bayswaters that are cheaper but maybe don't have feet or a cloche.

ive got a purple and an oak bayswater, lovely bags and as long as you dont mind just the short strap then its fine for everyday use. I have a bag organiser that i just swap between bags.
No more mulberrys for me for a while as budget no longer allows. The outlet centre seems to have more unusual colours in stock and not very often the black or oak in the classic designs such as bayswater.
i find my bayswater tote more practical but it has an open top so no good for the rain etc www.johnlewis.com/231277659/Product.aspx

The Bays is incredibly heavy before you've put anything in it.... try one before you buy one!

There's a website selling discount Mulberry's including the Bayswater for about £300. It looks all above board but surely it's too good to be true? I too would covet a Bayswater.

AgentP, what are these pouches you talk of? They sound vaguely kinky when put like that...

I've looked it up and a Bayswater is 1.3kg.

this is under a kg but smaller (maybe too small) marc jacobs

This is 1.4kg blue Michael Kors (and does come in colours other than bright blue)

This is under a kg DKNY

Check out Mulberry outlets. I got my Oak Bayswater for about £360 last September at Cheshire Oaks. Perfect condition - has feet, cloche, everything.

And this is 1.2kg preppy tote

Not sure what I'm proving here other than finding a lot of nice bags on the net a porter site!

Please do not buy a Mulberry bag from a discount website. They are all fake, Mulberry only sell discounted bags directly from their 4 outlet shops, details of which can be found on their website. You can telephone them to ask about stock. They occasionally have Bayswaters but its rare. The oak tends not to go in the sale because it's such a classic but you may be lucky on a general discount day in somewhere like H of F.

It is heavy and really only hand held unless you are very slim and it may fit over your shoulder. There is one with a long strap but its more expensive.

If you can afford it go for it though, it's your money.

I have a black printed leather bayswater and i think it is the perfect work bag. The printed leather really keeps it shape.
Unfortunately, I'm not working at the moment and I find it too heavy and formal for an every day bag. I NEED the Bella Hobo - suits my lifestyle but not my bank balance much better!

I love my bayswater! Purple glacé so old now! They are heavy but seem to stand the test of time well. I would look in the sales as you are bound to find one cheaper then. Suspect Harvey nics and selfridges sales start next week(HN starts Tuesday evening instore) so you might find one there or as mentioned in frasers and John Lewis. Happy shopping!

I love my oak Bayswater. I'm not sure I could quite have brought myself to pay full price though.

I think I love it all the more because I bought it for £50 in a charity shop in barely used condition.

They are lovely bags. I have a navy metallic one and it's beautiful but I do find the postmans lock digs into my arm when I wear it over my shoulder. I tended to use my Roxanne tote or Hayden for work, though I always carry my laptop in an ugly regulation backpack as I'd rather not ruin any of my lovely bags...

I've had an oak Bayswater for a few years and hardly ever use it apart from as a flight bag in case my beautiful luggage gets me an upgrade as I find it too heavy/awkward to carry - the handles are just a bit too short. I certainly wouldn't use it for carrying a laptop around for that reason and am amazed that I see so many women in the city lugging Bayswaters around. I often have to take my laptop home from work and find a soft leather bag better as it doesn't have the extra unnecessary weight (I have a Marc Jacobs one at the mo). If you really want one though, maybe just take your laptop in a separate laptop bag? The Bayswater is ok if you don't overfill it.

ooh which marc jacobs do you have?

I have looked at the marc by marc jacobs range but none of them seem big enough to hold all my junk.

I have a proper Marc Jacobs one which I bought from the Outnet a while back (so can't link as it isn't available any more). I also used to have a Marc by Marc Jacobs one before that which was massive - both very good quality although I knackered the Marc by one as I used to strap it to the back of my bike for cycling to the station. The Outnet have a lot of nice bags, it might be worth a look there if you haven't already.

Can anyone tell me if the Mulberry store at Bicester Village has Bayswaters?

Sorry for hijack, OP. But this may benefit you too!

Ring them and they will tell you lemon

Thanks, Itsgotta :)

If you want something in a similar size to the Mulberry but less expensive, Radley (yes, I know, either love them or hate them) do the Grosvenor workbag which takes an awful lot of stuff without looking like a laptop bag. I decided that my hankering after a chocolate bayswater would have to stay unfulfilled until a point when my handbags are no longer used for todder paraphanalia and got this in the beige colour.

Bays are really heavy, I had one I bought on ebay a few years ago and sold it again as it was sooooo heavy.. (made money on it though )