Sweater Dress – H&M // Fuchsia Coat – BCBGeneration // Belt – Valentino // Ankle Boots – Sarah Flint // Bag – Salvatore Ferragamo
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Dress – & Other Stories // Espadrilles – Castaner // Felt Hat – Etsy // Bag – Miu Miu
Top – Ann Taylor // Jeans – Levis // Sandals – Calvin Klein // Bag – Lousi Vuitton // Sunglasses – Valentino
Lilac T Shirt – Mango // Linen Pants – Club Monaco [SOLD OUT – Similar] // White Sandals – Dolce Vita // Sunglasses – Prada // Bag – Louis Vuitton
I have been using the Mulberry bayswater tote in the color Oak for more than 8 months now and I think its a good time to share my honest opinion and also tell you whether its worth your money or not.
I bought this bag before thanks giving last year and I have been actively using it now, so lets see how it rates.
Mulberry was founded in 1971 and is a UK based luxury brand. The bags are also manufactured in UK. So, obviously, the brand has its presence for 50 years now, so I am pretty sure they have good knowledge about there products and how to make the best ones.
What instantly stood out to me is that they stand for bags made to last. Its their claim, and honestly when it comes to a work tote, or a travel tote, I was looking for something that will last for a while.
Moreover, Mulberry supports and is working towards improving climate conditions with zero emission focus. Read more about it here. And as someone who values what we leave behind for our future, I really want to see more fashion brands get on board that.
I wanted a versatile bag that I can take to work, travel and for random errands as well. I usually don’t carry tote bags, its not my style. So, they are used purely for functional purposes. That is why I wanted a bag that I can wear with any colored outfits and any style of outfits.
But more importantly, I wanted something in decent size. I actually went to the store to try on the bag before pulling the trigger. Even if you are shopping online, sometimes trying it on physically helps a lot.
The color of the Bayswater bag I picked is called oak, but it looks Cognac to me. The interior lining in almost black, navy blue. And I bought it for $900 + tax which is almost a $1000.
It might seem cheap for regular luxury shopper, but its still a lot of money.
Mind you that any style of tote bag is a bit narrower at the bottom and wider at the top. But the measurements are taken of the base because that is where you keep your stuff.
Below are the measurements:
This is the biggest question you would ask specially if you are buying this tote for work. And this is also where most of us go wrong. When we think of a 15 inch laptop, its not the width or height of the laptop.
Its actually the diagonal measurements of the screen. Now, I own a 16 inch MacBook Pro and here are the measurements.
The outer shell is made of soft cow grained leather. The leather looks stiff but its actually really soft but sturdy. And the grained leather is treated to protect it from stains and abrasion. I love how the grained leather looks so rich and luxurious in the cognac color. It looks like almost double the price.
The inner shell is suede leather in almost darkest blue. I am honestly glad that its not black because it would have been a big contrast.
There is a lighter shade of stitching detail that elevates the bag. I have been using the bag for sometime, and I have not seen any loose stitching so, its really made well.
Mulberry bags in general have a bohemian and cozy rich vibe to them. They look like they have a classic style and can be worn comfortably with diverse styles of outfits. And the Mulberry Bayswater tote definitely speaks for it. The band around the front of the bag adds more detail and elevates the plain tote style of the bag.
I have been looking for a tote bag for a while and the bayswater bag, just spoke to me. That is why I kept going back to it over and over again. You would usually see a logo or color contrast or prints in most luxury totes, but the Mulberry bayswater tote bag looks very different from all of them.
It has the simplistic design but it also has a well thought through design that separates it from all designer bags. And the grained leather just adds more luxury to it. I love how amazing the whole thing is and if I had to go back, I will buy this bag in another color for sure.
I have been using this bag since last year Thanksgiving where I took the bag to a trip to Egypt. So, I packed this bag like anything, shoved it in to Shelves and racks. I have thrown it into hotel rooms without much care or thinking of what I have put in it. And I was pleasantly surprised that it stood the test of all of that.
You know when you head for a trip, you are not really focused on how your luxury products are doing, but you want them to work their hardest. And this bag will not disappoint you at all.
I have also taken it to Work trip where I have walked miles carrying my laptop, charger and all of that. And there was no issue with the material sagging or the handles getting impacted.
I wanted to point this out and highlight it. That is why it gets its own section. Handle height is key factor to a good tote bag that you can stuff items in without worrying whether you can carry to on your shoulders.
This was one big functionality, that I never paid attention to while purchasing any of my earlier bags and I always ended up disliking the bag I chose. But the Mulberry Bayswater tote bag with 10 1/4 inch handle drop is perfect for me. I can stuff and make the bag wide and still be able to carry it with ease.
The thickness of the straps also help adjust the weight, so carrying it on your shoulders is not as painful.
Depending on your personal style, you might want to pick a neutral tone bag or pick a colorful one. But I have to say its so hard to decide with this bag, because they really do a great job with picking right shade combinations that will elevate this bag. So, I am sharing some of my favorite options.
You can always buy them directly from the Mulberry website. But here are some of my favorite online stores to shop it from –
But the best value for money you will get from shopping from Nordstrom because you can apply for Nordy plan, do double points and get a gift card for yourself to shop for something else. Isn’t that awesome.
Sharing some of my favorite colors that you will love.
Cut Out Dress – & Other Stories [SOLD OUT – Shop Similar] // Sandals – Dolce Vita // Handbag – Miu Miu // Sunglasses – Jimmy Choo [MEGA DISCOUNT]
Dress – Mango // Sandals – Stuart Weitzman // Bag – Salvatore Ferragamo // Sunglasses – Dior [SOLD OUT]
Denim Shirt – Loft // Wide Leg Jeans – Loft // Check Cropped Blazer – Ann Taylor // Espadrilles – Castaner // Sunglasses – Chloe // Bag – Chloe
Puff Sleeve Blouse – Ann Taylor // Tiered Maxi Skirt – Boden // Pink Short Coat – Mango // Black Espadrilles – Castaner // Sunglasses – Valentino // Bag – Louis Vuitton
