Mulberry Messenger Bag - do I or don't I?

[stringbean]

For years and years I've wanted a Mulberry messenger bag - one of the large ones. About 25 years ago I saved up and bought myself a tiny little Mulberry messenger bag - one of the Scotchgrain bags (cost about £80 which was eye-wateringly expensive to me at the time!) - and have hankered after one of the Antony bags since. However, I've always dismissed it as frivolous (and out of my price range tbh) but have just noticed there is 20% off at John Lewis and wondered if now is the time?

So, the questions is, is it worth it? Is the quality as good as it used to be? I like plain handbags without logos/bling, and a messenger style suits me well. Is there anything else out there you'd recommend instead?

Many thanks!

No!

I have hunkered after a Mulberry for years, believing them to be the "Rolls royce" of bags - thick, supple saddle like leather. Yesterday I actually went in to a Mulberry shop. I was shocked! The majority looked like synthetic leather and I picked up a big messenger bag and it was as light as a feather. I was really disappointed as I was planning on treating myself at some point.

Even my husband said he thought they were plastic, and believe me - he didn't exactly relish being dragged in to a bag shop!

The quality/feel pales in comparison to my run-of-the-mill Osprey.

I have a couple of recent mulberry bags; an Alexa and a bayswater satchel; and have none of the quality issues that get mentioned on here. I personally think of you've always wanted one and you can afford it you should get it as nothing else will live up to the experience of having exactly what you wanted, even if another bag is pragmatically as good.

Ooh yes get one , I love the larger oak one and at 20% off its a good deal

I've just ordered one from John Lewis as my graduation and Christmas present and am picking it up this afternoon.

John Lewis & Selfridges have a discount weekend, so does Debenhams. I'm not sure whether House of Fraser will too.

Are you near any of the outlets? Might be worth ringing as you'd get a much better discount.

I have a large mulberry messenger bag but it is about 8 years old so can't comment on the quality now. I use it all the time, get many compliments and I love it! So I say buy it! Designer labels are not only about the quality but also the way the label makes you feel - obviously just my opinion!

I love mulberry and have 2, which were bought about 7 years ago. They still look as new and yesterday even got a compliment about one of them, from someone who thought it was a new bag.

As far as the quality of them now is concerned, I think some of the 'fashion' styles do feel a bit cheap and flimsy. However I think the Anthony bag still feels and looks like a good solid bag. I say go for it!!

Many thanks for your replies. I think the 20% offer will only last over the weekend, so I'll need to make up my mind quickly.

A couple of things do irk me about the bag - it only has one main pocket and isn't lined (how can it not be for that price?!) but I'm prepared to overlook this as I just think it would be the right bag for me. Every other messenger bag I've looked at is either too small, too wide, too flimsy, has logos/gold buckles, straps not adjustable or too short etc - I just can't find anything I like as much.

I really like the chocolate brown one - I have an oak coloured bag in a different style/make, which is lovely - but I saw someone on the underground a while back in London with the chocolate one, and just thought it looked really nice and v understated.

Order it in case it sells out - you can always return if you change your mind. If you do have quality issues JL tend to be good at resolving these things. I don't think it would necessarily be possible to get one cheaper at an outlet. They tend to have seasonal stuff. Seconds they won't post out. Typical discount is 30%.

If you're going to splurge in a bag, good to get one that is very classic so sounds like if you have always wanted one then it wouldn't be frivolous! I have a bayswater which I could justify buying as its one of their longstanding classic styles ap not somethig you could 'go off'.

BlueLagoonz can you recommend any particular leather gel?

Yes JL are excellent if anything goes wrong. I had a Longchamp bag which started to wear at the corners after 6 months. I didn't even have the receipt, only my bank statement showing the transaction. But they sent it back to Longchamp to be repaired. They said if it wasn't done to my satisfaction, they would exchange it.

I too think you should buy it now, if you don't like it, send it back.

Well, I've bought it!! Thank you so much for your replies. Gosh, I feel vaguely nauseous at having spent so much on a BAG, but dh - lovely man that he is - has gone halves with me for my Christmas present (in part, probably, to shut me up about it ). As a number of you have pointed out, 20% off is a good deal and, if I don't like it when it arrives, I can always return it.

GypsyFloss, the leather gel recommended by Mulberry is called Collonil Leather Gel (sounds like something for constipation...) - you can get it on Amazon, so I've just ordered some. Thanks for the tip, BlueLagoonz.

Excellent thanks stringbean, I'll get some from there too.

I've gone for the smaller bag as I saw the larger one on someone the other day and although it was fab it's also just a little too big for me. I'm currently in negotiations with my frugal side as to whether the 20% I save could be used towards a matching purse :)

You'd better move quick GypsyFLoss - a few of them are out of stock already. The small Oak Antony bag is out of stock online too, so if this is the colour you have, it's just as well you got in there early

Yes it was that one, I ordered it yesterday morning and am hoping to collect it this afternoon :)

I've got the large Antony, bought it a few years ago half price in the sale. It was an amazing price compared to what they are now and I truly love it.

They had a midnight blue one last year on the mulberry site which I was lusting over, but then they put prices up and I couldn't justify it.

It really is a lovely bag, mine looks as good as ever and it must be 4 or 5 years old now.

A lot of the bags aren't lined.

Be careful with the bags - the quality isn't great. I've had several bags in for repair, some couldn't be repaired and I've found it surprising how bad the quality is. Some of the items simply aren't made to be used - wallets where the zip and other metal parts get discoloured after a couple of months, bags so delicate that they shouldn't be used much.

The quality used to be decent - my mum had scotchgrain (which isn't leather but canvas covered in plastic) and leather bags and they lasted so well. I remember my mum using one or two of the leather bags daily for 15-20 years. Some of my older bags are looking better than my new ones because the new ones are terrible quality.

The metal peels or stains very quickly, the leather tears - it's not uncommon to have the bags sent in for repair. I've got several bags with discolourations or where the leather tag inside the bag has made a mark through the bag so you can see it through the bag as a square bump.

I can only recommend buying from another brand.

To counter the points made by Vibbe, which are a bit mean as stringbean has already said she has bought her bag, I have quite a few Mulberry bags which have all been absolutely fine. Enjoy what you have bought, give it a spray and feel good that you got a great discount.

I don't think it's mean, I think it's the truth. Sorry.
I have more than 10 bags, several smaller leather items and I really think that special care needs to be taken even with some of the items that look like they can be used every day. It's also worth keeping the receipt.

But they are lovely and pretty bags and some models probably last better than others.
I don't have an Antony, so I can't say anything about that specific model.

I still use my bags and I still like them - I just think it's important to keep an eye on them as they tend to be far more sensitive to wear than they used to be.

I do recommend that you spray the bag every so often - I used to do once or twice per season.

I have a small Anthony which I have used most days for the last 2 years.

It gets flung in and out of the car, I am carting small children around, and it still looks like new. The leather is thick and heavy and the quality is excellent.

Enjoy your bag OP :)

I have a small Anthony in Blueberry which I've had for a couple of years. It still looks like new and I get compliments on it nearly every time I use it. I havnt been particularly careful with it, but think its one of the best things I've ever bought - it was a huge investment for me and I still love it! It's surprising how much you can fit in it as well.