Mulberry bags....thoughts please

[JustAnotherDayWorkingAtHome]

I have been coveting the Loewe Puzzle bag for some time now but I have decided I simply cannot and never will be able to justify the £2,400 price tag.

I have recently been looking at the Mulberry Billie, in chalk, I know it is not similar but it does look like a really nice bag and it is a third of the price tag and is the size and idea of the kind of bag I want.

I can't put my finger on it though but there is something I am just not sure about with Mulberry....will this last the test of time?

Mulberry Billie Small Classic Grain Leather Cross Body Bag, Chalk at John Lewis & Partners

If that has a little D ring on the back and another one of those straps so that it can be converted to the backpack then it’s a Cara.

I think you'll find that primary school teachers will either paying rent or will have a mortgage unless they are still living with parents, or that they have worked long enough to pay off their mortgage.

I don't know many vicars' wives but I can't see our vicar's wife wanting a Mulberry bag. I can't say I've noticed her having a handbag.

When I worked in the City, Mulberry bags were very popular, but it was pre-Covid.

It's ridiculous to say that women in specific professions definitely can't afford handbags which cost a couple of thousand pounds. It rather depends on household income in total, expenditure, general family wealth etc.

Yes, exactly, Mulberry's biggest problem is IMAGE

I have mulberry bags and loewe. But that mulberry bag is boring. It needs some hardware.

'According to average Education salaries, the average salary for a primary school teacher in the UK is £34,400 per year. This figure can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, and qualifications.'

£2000 handbag? No problem.

@LadyBird1973 you are also missing the point. Primary school teachers are educated and have a decent career. They could be giving me career advice, and I would listen!

The issue is image, branding and, marketing.

I'm not sure I am missing the point. Money aside, you're saying that women who work in certain professions are not likely to be stylish. They may or may not, but it's nothing to do with their job.

I think the image issue is that they aren't perceived as being worth the money anymore. Customers were paying for British made, high quality finish. If the customer gets the impression it's now churned out cheaply in a factory without attention to detail, they won't spend £800 on it.

OP, I do think you can do better than that particular mulberry though. Theres nothing about it that stands out - £800 is too much to spend on bland.

You want the Loewe so save up for it & get it, as you'll always wish you had.
Doesn't matter if the item you lust over is £10 or £1 billion (obviously at that price only billionaires would be buying)
As if you talk yourself into buying a substitution for what you really want you'll probably regret it.

In the meantime you could always get the very cheaper Mint Velvet version while you save up for the the Loewe

Vicars' wives and teachers... AND princesses and a-listers! 😂 Not that it matters one bit, I'm just making the point that there's nothing indicative (outside of one's head, perhaps...) of an image problem; quite the opposite.

My 13yo daughter would agree with you somewhat on Dune - her friends and her use Dune totes for school. Though on weekends, she's more of a Kurt Geiger girl.

She wants a powder pink Alexa for her 16th birthday. I just said to her that a woman on mumsnet thinks thats very passé of her, no comment just a 🙄 and a 😂 (that's my girl 😎😂).

OP I have too many Mulberry bags and all the quality is outstanding and wear very well...in fact got another one on Saturday 🤦‍♀️ the Billie however I think is a bit dull looking...there are much nicer ones....always good to keep an eye on John Lewis they often do 20% off and membership rewards which can help ease then price! Happy hunting 😊

I'd save up the money for what I really wanted.

That mint velvet bag is lovely BUT imo it needs a cross body strap 🫤

@SloaneStreetVandal are you really determined to miss the point. I'll tell my daughter that some woman on mumsnet is defending mulberry handbags like it's her family company shall i?

I was ''some woman on mumsnet'' who had money to blow on a designer bag (for a big birthday) and I looked at loads and enjoyed the search but i didn't consider mulberry.

If mocking me for not finding mulberry an attractive brand floats your boat, enjoy the sail.

I have a small puzzle abd it is genuinely the best bag. I’m not sure the new ones are worth money so try and find the original style.

I used to like mulberry. Used to.
The one that you like looks very basic. I would not pay for this bag that much. Nothing special- do not see the difference between it and lets say Russell&bromley bag.

I have a few designer bags.
One of them is toy LOEWE puzzle (can't believe how much they cost now)
got it a couple of years ago for my birthday and my advice is-

SAVE FOR LOEWE

It looks great, quality is amazing, I am getting loads of compliments- and always feel great.
Looking at the past 2 years and how many times I wore it- best money spent.

Mulberry is just very ordinary. It's a brand that is attractive to people who generally are not very fashion forward. Tbh I don't see people carrying them much around me any more. They are like Radley for people with a bit more money.

The mocking has been yours (and one or two others).
I'm not defending Mulberry so much as i'm defending posters from horrible cattiness based purely on the handbag we carry!
If 'I don't find Mulberry an attractive brand' was all you'd said, I don't imagine I'd've even replied to you.

For those who don't want to or can't afford £2.5K.for a bag, Hush have a similar style. https://www.hush-uk.com/stevie-magdot-leather-crossbody-bag-tan/010696-0475-ONE.html?fo_c=1586&fo_k=26f9353f1ffdf253152741160f477136&fo_s=fbplagb&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social-ad&utm_campaign=meta-hush_all-users_uk_purchase_bau_catalogue_120205109994040005_120205109994030005&utm_content=Facebook_Mobile_Feed&sv_tax3=Conversion&sv_cost_id=120205109994040005&fbclid=IwAR2dcE3_QRffiQ4niWjWZIoH4cC5r8wZ-1aNCcjnKyUObs3tu7_lzCp5kJE_aem_AVE9w7tIrLZUwzrMq0kBdIDn7LPb3lPgPbMBvIlgjyY6qef376GjIlUgV3GE8T9tA51WRsd8UpPa6BQtXaNEeTBD
Gosh that's a long link!
For what it's worth, £2.5K.is a huge amount for a handbag. Only you know if you can spare that & want it enough. I wouldn't let a bunch of mumsnetters talk you into it.
Also I love my Mulberries & I'm not a primary school teacher & my husband isn't a vicar. -I'm not keen on the one you linked though.
I would buy an expensive bag because you really really love it and don't let the thoughts of whether strangers will be impressed sway you.

Stevie Magdot Leather Crossbody Bag | Tan | hush (hush-uk.com)

scott-samuel.co.uk/products/leather?variant=47634560581927

Just for those who want the puzzle but can't afford .. leather copy

Thanks! It does! It’s a few years old now. I use it as a crossbody when I use it. It looks nice enough but I wouldn’t buy it again. I’d prefer something lighter.

Have you had a look at Mlouye bags? They do some structured ones which are more similar in vibe to the puzzle bag, but much much cheaper.

There's also the miu miu bao bao bags, but they aren't leather.