Vintage Mulberry bags, yay or nay?

[SparkIehoof]

I had loads of them about 15/20 years ago and sold most of them, very reluctantly, over the years to fund various stuff. I've just been looking through my wardrobe and have rediscovered my black Alana which I couldn't bear to part with but haven't used for about ten years. I've bunged a cross body strap on her and I've fallen in love all over again.

To my eyes, worn cross body she looks fresh and stylish. Am I however kidding myself - will I look dated and old fashioned rather than coolly retro?

I've also got a Rosemary (small Roxanne), which I'm also eyeing up afresh. I'd wear that cross body too.

Do I need to step away from the decades old bags or no?!

Alana

...and Rosemary!

I still like them! But even if I didn’t I would say just wear them if you love them.

The leather and craftsmanship is far far superior to Mulberry now.

I had a Mulberry bag bought in 1989 revived a couple of years ago by Mulberry, for around £90. The craftsman took a couple of months to do it but told me he loved working with these old bags. It's much commented on and admired.

Here

It’s a shoulder bag - photo doesn’t really show that.

I think they look a very dated style, not quite in the vintage era yet. Reminds me of the period in 2005ish with huge circular belts with lots of gold poppers on etc. But if you love them that's all that matters.

Wear it if you like it. It's far superior to the Mulberry bags we have now, which I wouldn't consider luxury anymore given the quality.

They’re done for me as a brand personally. Too 90s and not glossy enough for now. They’re kind of not classic enough but not fashionable enough so kind of lost in the middle. There’s lots of other brands who do both classic and high fashion much better now in terms of quality and style.

Please can you direct me to one of the classic brands? I would like a 'pre-loved' classic, but very decent handbag and am utterly clueless.

Agree with @InsidiousRasperry that A) it really doesn't matter what people on MN decide is stylish / 'in' atm. And B) the quality on old Mulberry bags is so much better than a lot of the recent stuff I've seen. So I'd go with yay (although, full disclosure, Mulberry bags aren't really my style, but they never were - it's nothing to do with how they've dated)

This is beautiful!

I've got loads of older Mulberry bags and The Bridge bags all in soft conker brown leather I love them! I love how the age beautifully I use leather balm regularly to keep them supple.
I'm not a fan of shiny perfect or obvious branding as a look, but many are.
If you love them use them.

The Alana is a lovely bag. But for the love of god- don't say "she".....

They are actually very cool right now. They have exactly the right look for the 2000s fashions

They're coming back! Alexa Chung was spotted with her old Roxanne recently. The reason this registered with me is that I have lots of old Mulberry bags - the old tooled leather beauties. I can't wait to dig them out again

These two are particular favourites - an oak tooled leather Bayswater, and a multicoloured Prairie (not my photos - I'm too lazy to go upstairs right now!)

Definitely get them out and use them, the leather was so much better than it is now. I have an oak Rosemary that I still use semi-regularly. Years ago I had an Emmy which was the larger version of the Alana but I sold that as it was just too big for me (same with the two Roxannes that I sold) but the Rosemary and Alana are the perfect size.

They’re very much of their time but if you like them use them! I’ve got an oak leather mitzy hobo that I still use, an Alexa and another one I’ve forgotten the name of. Still in great condition and I wouldn’t care if anyone thought they should be done with.

I think that style of bag is coming back with the retro thing so it works.

if you love it, wear it. There’s always something a bit glam about an older bag.

Gorgeous bags. Wear them!

www.vogue.co.uk/article/vintage-mulberry-bags

Wear it and enjoy it! That era was so great for Mulberry. Good quality and decent prices. I have an old Bayswater and a Roxanne that I’d have no qualms about getting out of storage. The only problem is how heavy they are!

I have a number of scotch grain mulberry bags from the 1990's. They still look like new and I love using them.

Bayswater is a classic! Old mulberries have a lovely look, they weather really well and become true vintage. I still very much like this brand, I don't think they're lost in the middle...

www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/best-mulberry-handbags