WORDS BY JOSEPH FURNESS
Bag brands and trends come and go, but Mulberry bags transcend seasons, years and decades. Since the early 70s, the British label has been crafting sought-after accessories; today, the brand is proud to be the largest manufacturer of luxury leather goods in the UK.
In 1971, Roger Saul founded Mulberry at his kitchen table using £500 he received from his mother. The businessman lived in Somerset, England, and he named his company after the mulberry trees he’d see every day as a child on his journey to and from school. He felt as though Mulberry was a fitting name – and the tree motif his sister designed, a fitting logo – for a brand that aimed to celebrate nature, family and good ol’ fashioned Britishness.
For over 40 years, Mulberry has been creating bags designed with the British countryside in mind. To be precise, Mulberry has sought inspiration from rural activities such as hunting, fishing and shooting. Each bag created by the Somerset-based is practical enough to be a suitable companion for these pastoral pursuits; hence, they’re also suitable for any city dwellers looking for a bag they can perennially rely on.
Here, we acquaint you with five of the most iconic Mulberry bags – including the coveted Bayswater bag – and discuss the size of each offering.
The Most Iconic Mulberry Bags
Bayswater
Undoubtedly, the most famous Mulberry bag is the Bayswater. The bag made its debut during Nicholas Knightly’s tenure at the brand (2002-2004) and has been sought-after ever since. Every Bayswater is created with love in The Rookery or The Willows – the name of Mulberry’s two Somerset-based factories.
If you’re fond of the Bayswater design but find the silhouette a tad bulky, you may be interested in investing in the smaller take on the leather accessory. Aptly named the Small Bayswater, the bag is perfect for those who are constantly on the go as it’s easy to carry and has more than enough room for your essentials – namely, your phone, charger, keys and lippy.
The Belted Bayswater is a reinterpretation of the iconic Bayswater bag, each design element is updated to complement the life of the modern individual. As the name suggests, the most notable change to the design is the belt lock that replaces the classic bag’s signature Postman Lock.
Simply put, the Belted Bayswater Satchel takes the above mentioned Belted Bayswater and transforms it into a super versatile satchel. Appropriate for work, weekend brunch and formal dates, this super sleek take on the Bayswater bag is the ideal everyday accessory.
Tote lovers, there’s even a Bayswater bag for you. Just as luxurious as the other members of the family, the Bayswater Tote is ideal for the busy bees who require a bag that’s super easy to access (new parents and city commuters, we’re looking at you).
Mulberry Bayswater Bag Dimensions (HxWxD)
The Small Bayswater
16 cm x 26 cm x 14 cm
The Bayswater
26.5 cm x 36 cm x 16.5 cm
The Bayswater Tote
28.5 cm x 35/46.5 cm x 13 cm
The Belted Bayswater
26 cm x 35 cm x 12 cm
The Belted Bayswater Satchel
19 cm x 24 cm x 7 cm
Darley
The Small Darley Shoulder Bag is one of the most, if not the most, ubiquitous bags in the Mulberry collection. And, in our opinion, it’s easy to say why it’s such a hit. The bag merges some of the most favored design elements associated with Mulberry bags – including the brand’s quintessential Postman Lock– to create a simple accessory that one can rely on.
If you happen to be that one resourceful friend who has everything one could possibly need in their bag, we suggest you add the classic-sized Mulberry Darley Shoulder Bag to your wishlist. This wardrobe staple features two wide pockets to store your must-haves, and then some; hence, it’s the perfect weekday accessory.
f the Darley Shoulder Bag suits your style, but it’s a little too much for a casual stroll in the park, a night at the cinema or any other quick trip out, it’s possible that you’ll be interested in the Mini Darley Shoulder Bag. The more compact take on the frill-free silhouette is sleek, stylish and, most importantly, super convenient.
Patently, Mulberry has a kink for turning their iconic bag silhouettes into satchels; we’re certainly not complaining as the small Darcy Satchel is a FARFETCH favorite. Complete with a voguish fabric shoulder strap and available in some of the most sophisticated colors, the Small Darley Satchel is perfect for right now.
Mulberry Darley Bag Dimensions (HxWxD)
The Mini Darley Shoulder Bag
13 cm x 19 cm x 4.5 cm
The Small Darley Shoulder Bag
16 cm x 22 cm x 8 cm
The Darley Shoulder Bag
18 cm x 28 cm x 10 cm
The Small Darley Satchel
13 cm x 17 cm x 6 cm
Iris
The Iris is the kind of bag that looks good in everybody’s hands, the type to add a touch of class to any ensemble. You can depend on the Iris to be the perfect companion to any occasion of any dress code, especially since the adjustable pull cords located on the sides of the bag allow the owner to customize its shape and volume.
Mother always said that good things come in small packages, which makes us think some may prefer the Small Iris over the original silhouette. Fortunately, the more portable take on the Iris features all of the components Mulberry fanatics love about the model – this includes the bag’s single braided handle, adjustable cords and keystone lock.
In case the Smal Iris bag isn’t quite small enough, there's always the Mini Iris. This cute-sized take on the ageless Iris design is ideal for the nonchalant amongst us who eschew bulky accessories as they prefer to travel light. Sounds like us, to be honest.
The Iris Wallet on Chain is super sleek and refined – it’s ideal for wearing from day to night as you’ll hardly ever notice it’s there. Essentially, the wearable wallet adopts aesthetic elements from the Iris bag family and uses them to create a bag suitable for winter, spring, summer and fall.
Iris Bag Size Dimensions (HxWxD)
The Iris Bag
28 cm x 34 cm x 18 cm
The Small Iris Bag
21 cm x 24 cm x 7 cm
The Mini Iris Bag
14.5 cm x 22 cm x 9.5 cm
Alexa
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the timeless Alexa bag has been around for donkey’s years, but, in fact, the Mulberry silhouette is just over ten years old. Named after long-time friend of the brand, London IT girl, Alexa Chung, the silhouette is just as multifaceted as its namesake, and almost as fetching too.
The Mini Alexa is a foolproof accessory that would look just as good on your grandma as it would on your niece. The bite-size bag is useful, suitable for all sorts of occasions and available in a slew of beautiful colors. What we're essentially trying to say is that it really is an option to consider.
The Mulberry x Alexa Chung Alexa
As part of Mulberry’s 50th-anniversary celebrations, the luxury leather goods brand collaborated with the muse behind the Alexa bag – Alexa Chung – to create the Mulberry x Alexa Chung Alexa Bag. (Please feel free to take a moment to get your head around all of that.) Essentially, the model-cum-designer-cum-presenter-cum-writer took the Mini Alexa and elevated it with unexpected textures and colors.
Mulberry Alexa Bag Dimensions (HxWxD)
The Alexa Bag
23 cm x 33 cm x 17 cm
The Mini Alexa Bag
17 cm x 22 cm x 10 cm
Millie
The Millie Tote may not look like your typical Mulberry bag, but it still does an outstanding job representing the brand’s heritage. The functional and decorative details of the bag are a credit to Mulberry’s talented team of craftsmen, and the relaxed shape of the silhouette symbolizes the British label’s effortless aesthetic.
The original Millie Tote is sizable to say the least; so, if you’re looking for a Mulberry tote that comfortably hangs from your shoulder, you may want to take a look at the Small Millie Tote. Like the classic silhouette, the smaller bag has an open top design and features decorative tassels and a woven pull closure.
The Mini Millie Tote is the most convenient of the three Mulberry Millie bags; needless to say, this is all to do with its snackable size. The handy accessory is formal enough to impress your peers and casual enough to wear all day, every day. In sum, it’s one of the most sensible Mulberry bag investments.
Millie Bag Size Dimensions (HxWxD)
The Millie Tote Bag
36 cm x 38 cm x 13 cm
The Small Millie Tote Bag
26 cm x 29 cm x 13 cm
The Mini Millie Tote Bag
20 cm x 22 cm x 11 cm