Remember the heady days of the mid-late noughties when, instead of poring over Instagram or TikTok (ironically now a virtual space awash with references to this time), we all anxiously awaited the latest paparazzi photographs of Kate Moss and Sienna Miller? Ah, the good old days. Among the UGG boots and low-slung belts was one particular accessory that felt ubiquitous among the coolest girls of the moment: a Mulberry Bayswater bag, which is, alarmingly, now 20 years old.
Launched in 2003, the roomy shoulder bag is really the original of all It bags, having been consistently spotted on the likes of Alexa Chung, Sienna Miller, Blake Lively, Meghan Markle, Gemma Arterton and Eva Longoria, to name a few. But it was, of course, Kate Moss who really helped the bag to become enshrined in fashion history, with her vast collection of Bayswater bags regularly nestled in the crook of her arm. Not all at once, obviously.
www.mulberry.com
The classic Bayswater shape but realised in a beautiful, classic blue, this is a contemporary update on Mulberry's best-seller.
Unlike most of fashion's celebrity-endorsed items or trends, the Bayswater is one with longevity. 20 years after its first appearance, it continues to be Mulberry's best-selling bag, both new and as part of Mulberry's Exchange programme.
This allows you to exchange your own Mulberry bag for credit to put towards a new one. There's a pre-loved edit, too, where you can find some of the label's most beloved styles for a fraction of the usual retail price. But if its a Bayswater you're after here, you'll need to hone your shopping skills; even on the pre-loved platform, Mulberry can't keep up with demand for this top handle tote.
Really, this all goes to show that it's not hyperbolic to suggest that a handbag can sometimes be a wiser investment than a house. Economics aside, it's also just the perfect excuse to remind ourselves of Alexa's over-the-knee socks, Kate's Bella Freud jumper and Blake Lively at any point on the set of Gossip Girl.
