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

Guibert hardly advertises, and my bags are less than £500. How much do you think I'm spending?

I'm certainly not buying into the luxury bag market. Where did I say was? At this point, you're just looking for an argument.

Interesting how should I be spending my money? I'm also on holiday in Thailand, is that also a waste of money?

I adore Mulberry bags (but wouldn’t trust that style of strap on the Mulberry you mentioned)… personally I believe they (Mulberry) stand the test of time and mine will go to my Daughters and Grandaughters ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Have had to check out Loewe bags though - still love Mulberry ! But each to their own 👍

Looks cheap and dated. Get the one you really want as you will not have “bag peace” with this one.

I would love a little bio on each person with an opinion on Mulberry bags.
Age
Job
Where they generally buy their clothes from so we can get a picture of them

It would be interesting to see who likes them and who doesn't.

Happy to oblige…

Late 30s
Public sector management
Clothes tend to be from Zara/River Island with the occasional foray into young and cheap stuff from Shein or PLT
What I don’t spend on clothes I make up for in expensive bags, sunglasses and jewellery…

Certainly! - After you.....

@Ratherstandonacliffandsetfiretomyself and are you pro or anti mulberry? I'm thinking pro

Sorry yes realised I should have said that. I have quite a few but bought my first after some compensation for a serious car accident and never looked back

@LadyPoison
Mid 50s
Now not working. But was in events management
Wear a mixture of high end brands Theory, Vince, Rag & Bone, Ganni. Sezanne
Some mid level designer like Burberry & Max Mara
Some high street Cos, Massimo Dutti

Carry Bottega Venetia, LV, Goyard, Loewe

Find mulberry heavy, dated and pedestrian

Ok!

Late 50s

Silversmith

Don’t have a fancy lifestyle now out here in the country so it’s jeans, leggings and jumpers mostly from the supermarket as I’m likely to ruin them in the studio or out with the dogs and I really hate buying clothes. The rare times I do dress up it’s mostly vintage Jaeger mixed with current pieces from Disturbia and Killstar. There’s some vintage Jenny Packham in the wardrobe too from before she was well known.

Jewellery is always my own make.

Handbags are vintage Mulberry, vintage LV and an assortment of handmade artisan leather bags from small crafters. Shoes are mostly Russell and Bromley if I’m not in my Muckboots. I have a couple of pairs of “designer” heels in a classic design which come out every couple of years or so.

Not a fan of the current Mulberry styles and quality at all.

Ok here goes

late 30s
banking
clothes a lot of toteme, raey, frankie shop, the fold, everlane. Burberry for coats.

I find mulberry overpriced and a bit naff. For the price point you could get something properly cool (Miu Miu) or go up a bit in budget and get something classic like a Chanel or YSL. They don’t lose their value so you can sell them on after.

I have a few Mulberrys from my 20s and they are gathering dust in the wardrobe. Can’t sell them, no one wants them.

Same (except that, sadly, I am not retired).

Interesting
among the lot I live near they wouldn’t be seen dead in a Miu. Unluckily for me I would be but don’t have the ££ at the moment

Quoting myself here but meant to add that I do have other bags than mulberry too, I use them as my day bags but also have Chanel, YSL, Prada and a vintage LV x Takashi Murakami that I refuse to part with despite it now being worth a fortune.

I’m very much small town born and bred where barely anyone has anything with designer labels, and where Michael Kors totes and Radley are still the epitome of style amongst most people. Not being snobby it’s just the truth. I love where I live but not many people could identify a label.

@MyLemonBee

late 30s
banking
clothes a lot of toteme, raey, frankie shop, the fold, everlane. Burberry for coats.

The Frankie shop is new to me. Looks interesting. Are they Scandinavian?

It's so funny about no one wanting them. I also tried to sell my alexa (bought when first released I think for £700!) Was offered £160...I actually laughed and just decided to keep it. It is gathering dust in wardrobe and I may give to charity or to a friend or relative to use. It's also interesting that the flagship store on bond street has closed down permanently. I just don't think it has the pulled it used to have...

...where Michael Kors totes and Radley are still the epitome of style amongst most people...

I never saw the appeal of the MK tote - I think they are naff. Radley is fine but just an everyday bag. My mother and her pals liked them but would remove the dog tag.

Mulberry was lovely way back when (early 1990s?). The Bayswater was desirable until I saw lots of them and actually picked one up in a shop (too heavy empty) then the styles were updated and they lost their appeal for me.
I'm not a handbag person but there are plenty of other bags that I'd choose first.

OP's linked JL bag is ok IMO, but doesn't look covetable. It might be nicer IRL

@Ireolu

Their flagship store is on Regent Street and has been for some time now.

Mulberry doesn't really have much of a resale appeal, so being offered £160 for a vintage Alexa is actually a pretty decent price. If you want, you can always trade it back in with Mulberry.

@bunnybunnybunnybunny the flagship store used to be on bond street where most other brands have their flagship stores in London. The mulberry one closed last year and the regents Street branch became flagship. As a business, it was deemed necessary to close bond street. Make of that what you want.

160 pound quote was from at least 5 years ago. Doubt I would get that now and yes I was disappointed given the price I paid.

@Ireolu

Yes, the flagship was on Bond Street but once their store on Regent's Street opened, that became the flagship. The block Mulberry was on on Bond Street is being totally renovated and it, along with Fenwicks, is being turned into a hotel. Mulberry had to move it's flagship store, and the group whom run Regent's Street offered them a better a rental rate and free refurbishment to move to Regent's Street.

I disagree re. needing to be on Bond Street, and besides, it is Old Bond Street that has a bit more cachet anyway. Mulberry just isn't that luxe anyway, and no amount of price increases is going to change this.

Anyway, and more importantly, your Alexa, like I said, Mulberry just does not have a good resale value. That said, if you put it on Vinted, you probably could still get £160 now.

Love that, thanks !

I have a few Mulberrys from my 20s and they are gathering dust in the wardrobe. Can’t sell them, no one wants them.

I might buy them! Take a couple of quick pics and stick them on here?

I would buy an Emmy if I could find one in decent enough nick but they're over 20 years old now so that's difficult!

The closure of the store had nothing to do with renovations and more to do with VAT free shopping going post brexit and overseas shoppers not being interested enough to fork out for mulberry...the regents Street store has been there since 2017 @bunnybunnybunnybunny . Bond street closed last year. Can only deduce that due to proximity this and not the one in Westfield (or wherever else) became flagship, but what do I know. But as I always say on here my opinion does not need to mean anything to anyone.

This is an interesting thread!

I love the look of the Loewe puzzle bag. OP I would hold out to get the one you want..

As for Mulberry - I agree with posters saying its had its day. I bought a beautiful mustard yellow selby with snakeskin handle in a mulberry outlet a couple of years ago. It's a nice bag but ive only used it a handful of times. Can't really pinpoint why. It's heavy to use.

I'm early 50s
Work in a creative field
I wear ME+EM, The Fold, Sandro, Maje, Whistles, ba&sh, Isabel Marant

I have Miu Miu, Isabel Marant, ba&sh, Maje & Ally Cappelino & small artisan maker bags. I have no great desire for chanel etc as they don't fit my lifestyle