Remember When Every Celebrity Carried This Handbag? 20 Years On, Its Update Is Just As Chic

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.

Unlike most of fashion's celebrity-endorsed items or trends, the Bayswater is one with longevity. No surprise then, that Mulberry redesigned the classic with a contemporary touch. Enter, the Soft Bayswater Bag. Much like it's predecessor in that it features a flap closure as well as panel detailing that connects to the shoulder straps, the slouchier design deviates from the original in subtle ways that bring it firmly into 2025.

Shop: Mulberry's Soft Bayswater Bag

Available in a regular roomy design as well as a smaller iteration, Mulberry's Soft Bayswater bag leans heavily into this season's trending bag styles with a subtle elongated shape reminiscent of the Alaïa’s popular Le Teckel bag which went viral last year. Finished with tassels on the side panels for a playful touch, the bag is finished with a minimal foil embossed logo that fits better into 2025's quiet luxury narratives. The missing postman's lock closure marks the most significant shift away from the original design; as do the elongated straps that make it easier to carry the bag on your shoulder as well as the crook of your arm.

While the larger tote is available in classic shades such as navy and tan, the Small Soft Bayswater is rendered in seven delectable colourways including a stand out emerald green and burgundy black cherry shade.

Shop: Mulberry's Small Soft Bayswater Bag

Given the original Bayswater has hardly wavered in popularity 20 years after its first appearance, we predict the Soft Bayswater is well on its way to becoming a best-seller, 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 classic 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.

Shop: Mulberry's Bayswater Bag

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.

Main image credits: ©Instagram/@jeanettemadsen @pepamack

Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter. But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.