Step back in time

So I have just re-written my "about me" section and deleted the following:

I do go to sleep thinking about what to wear tomorrow. Then I wake up and have forgotten it all, putting on an outfit that has been tried and tested or something I just throw together.

The best outfits are the ones that make me feel myself. That means they have to be a bit different - who wants to look like everybody else? - yet uncomplicated enough not to rule my day. There needs to be one detail that makes me smile - yet hopefully nothing that makes people laugh out loud. Having said that, depending on who laughs I really don't mind.

Having grown up a tiny bit, I still love dressing up. I want to feel stylish and up to date but it also needs to look like it took no effort at all. "Yes, I just pulled that out of my wardrobe." Join me on my musings on wearable fashion, stumbled upon inspiration, sought after shopping spaces and random pretty bits I come across.

I  still agree with all of that, though I have to admit that getting little M dressed is probably taking up more time than choosing my own outfit these days.

Chicken or Egg?

So if you've seen my post on the Ledbury conversion, you know that I essentially took an older model bag (Ledbury) and customised it so I was able to wear it with a strap, effectively creating a Small Bayswater Satchel - hence a newer model.

You could say it's ironic (though it's really just the logic precursor) that whereas I took the SBS as an inspiration to customise the Ledbury, Mulberry took the Ledbury as the inspiration for the SBS.

So what's better? Ledbury or SBS? There's only one way to find out...

Bloomin' Lovely

I don't do mega girly* stuff. 

Don't get me wrong: I like pretty things but I don't really do pink. I don't wear (much) make up. Lots of jewellery just annoys me and I end up taking it off after an hour. (Ever tried typing with a bangle on? Or running after a child with a long necklace?)

*I apologize right now for seemingly stereotyping girls. But I do actually mean "girly". Which is different.

Anyway, I always regarded the Mulberry Lily as one of those pretty but not very practical bags. Instead of a strap you get a long chain (uncomfortable). It's small. It's delicate. Do I need to go on?

I recently had offered one to me though and whereas I still maintain that it's not the most practical bag, its prettieness is so powerful (do I even hear myself?!) that it kind of makes up for it. I'll shut up now... (Oh, and sorry for kicking you in the head.)

Pidgeon Post

I remember somebody telling me about "unboxing" on Youtube. I had never heard about it before and, in all honesty, thought it was a bit daft when he told me. Whereas I could see the value in watching online reviews, do I need to watch others open their parcel and see what they ordered?!

When I thought about it though I thought that this could be quite useful: you get to see how a specific seller/retailer wraps and packs their goods. You get to share the excitement of a parcel received. You get a quick view on said ordered item.

So when I received a parcels from Naughtipidgins Nest, a name you may know or recognise from my "trusted sellers" list, I thought that would be a prime candidate. So without much further ado, here my first ever "public" unboxing.

Oh, and a bit of a spoiler, but this is in the box:

Manbag for Girls

When I unpacked this bag in the office one of my male colleages said "Manbag?" and raised his eyebrows questioningly (is that a word?). A female colleague said "Oooh, Mulberry!" 

I'd say that pretty much sums up the Antony: classic and simple shape, practical and functional design and a shape that works for both men and women. 

So I'm going to keep my usually Bayswater-sized waffle short and to the point - just as Antony does.

Not Another "Babybag"?!

I know I've gone on about babybags a number of times and, as much as I love the idea of using a Mulberry as your full-on mum & baby bag, I have been using a Storksak for most of the time as it's lightweight, has all the compartments I want and I don't have to be precious about chucking it on the floor. My lo is 2 1/2 and we are now at a stage where I usually just pop a couple of things in whatever tote I'm carrying if we're not out for too long.

However, I had been after a Mulberry Mitzy for the longest time and though I love my Sofie Messenger, which is very similar to Mitzy Messenger, I still thought it's not quite big enough to replace the Storksak on a longer trip. So when the opportunity presented itself to have a play with a Mitzy Tote, I thought we'd try to load her up with the kind of stuff I'd want to take on a daytrip...

Step It Up

Mummy & baby bags - all Mulberry

From the top

Bayswater NVT Printed Oak

Ledbury Printed Oak

Regular del Rey Deer Brown

Small del Rey Slate Blue

Regular Alexa Soft Buffalo Black

Mini Alexa Cabbage Green

Roxanne Darwin Chocolate

Blenheim Chocolate Darwin

With a Little Grace

I love my Mulberrys. I really do. I coo over them - or others I can't afford. I think they are gorgeous. But I use them and generally think they are "just bags" (*ducks and covers*) Gorgeous (for most of the time) but they are just beautifully crafted pieces of leather. But ultimately, they are attainable - even if aspiration is still a factor.

There are certain other bags that will command respect. Admiration. Awe. And aspiration isn't even in the picture for me. In my opinion Hermes and Chanel are definitely leading the pack when it comes to creating iconic bags that are recognisable across the world - even by people who have otherwise no clue or interest in handbags.

At the very top of that has got to be the Hermes Kelly or Birkin. Waiting lists and price tags that beggar belief mean "normal" people like me will never even consider buying one. 

Of course other designers have drawn inspiration from copied the style but usually that ends in rather nasty imitations. Imagine my amazement when I came across one that was not only beautifully crafted but also - and here is the real shocker (ahem...) - from Mulberry?! Created in the late 80s or early 90s Roger Saul stole unashamedly from Hermes and delivered a bag that didn't just look like a Kelly, it was also called a Kelly. So here we go.

 The longest intro ever... enjoy!

One Last Cup of Tea - Interview with Aqila 4 of 4

The last part now. Seriously - we did eventually shut up. Or rather the camera stopped rolling. As indicated in the write up of part one, we had a room full of bags and didn't take any pictures. But in this video you get to see a few of them. So stay with us and you will be rewarded! 

And as promised in the video, Aqila's contact details!

PapillonKia  

Webshop
Facebook page

eBay Shop

  
Here the other parts of the interview: part 1, part 2, part 3.

Even More Tea and Bags - Interview with Aqila 3 of 4

This is part four* of my interview with Aqila and whereas we were talking about personal favourites, kids and the hunt for *that* LV Ramage in the first two, the next two parts are about Aqila's business - aptly timed as she has just launched her webshop PapillonKia. What set her off on her journey of making women happy? What else has she got planned? And yes, there is another pretty bag to swoon over: *that* Louis Vuitton. I'll stop now and let you watch...

*yes, I know, I say "Part 2" - that's because I did not know I'd have to split the previous video in 2 as it was too long or that this one would last so long I'd have to stop to check my front door for imminently arriving guests.

 

Find the other parts here: part 1, part 2

Festival Bag - Mud Optional

If you're like me, then you don't want to have to baby your bags. You want to know that a regular treatment with Collonil products and some reasonable care will mean that you will be able to enjoy your investment in years to come (after all, that's what you told your other half, right?!).

I don't get the pictures, where you see the likes of Kate Moss gallivanting around a festival, Mulberry Roxanne over their shoulder, looking all boho and cool. Surely, you'd expect the bag to end up somewhere in a field, maybe being rained on excessively, possibly even being covered in mud?! (Mind you, I am sure the VIP areas are a bit short on the mud.) For that occasion I'd certainly steer clear of leather. And if it had to be Mulberry I'd turn to another one of their classic finishes: Scotchgrain. Have a look below and find out more...