Marvelous Mulberry

I'm a very bad blogger - I've been a bit AWOL what with house move prep, work, hosting last ever house party, the hangover from hell.

On Sunday morning, the fashion glitterati flocked to the show that promised theatre, imagination and fun - Mulberry.  The ever-so-British brand has been on quite a journey.  I grew up surrounded by my mother's Mulberry bags - simple, premium, reliable.  But Creative Director Emma Hill has injected colour, humour and playfulness into the label and put it firmly on the fashion map with bags that create waiting lists, hype and pure lust.  Every show and party is a feast for the eyes with witty little details that make women swoon.

To invite the fashion press to the Autumn Winter show, 

Mulberry sent out giant gold keys as invitations.

 

Inspired by Where The Wild Things Are, the show was packed with fur - glorious, 

shaggy, over the top fur.  The collection was heavy with texture, with a splash of bright 

autumnal orange and I love the chunky scarves tucked into skinny belts.  

Makes me want to skip Summer and go straight into next Autumn. 

The Mulberry Monster

For the ultimate fashion read indulge in Mulberry The Book, a celebration of the brand for its 40th Anniversary.  I got this for my last birthday and it's become a bookshelf favourite.

Click here to buy

Has Anyone Seen This Bag?

Why is it that girls have SO much to carry, yet you see boys on the tube and on the street with no baggage what so ever?  A mere wallet in the pocket is all they need, and sometimes a man bag (I can hardly bring myself to utter the word 'rucksack'...shudder).  Do they not have carefully planned and home made lunches to carry in carefully chosen tupperware, or big leather diaries which must be consulted in order to plan our existence!?  Obviously not.  What a simple life.

My beloved  Mulberry Tillie tote  houses a multitude of 'life essentials':

current book - current magazine - current nail varnish in case of chips - makeup bag - purse - Lotil lipbalm x7

Blackberry - iPod - lighter x3 - lunch - sometimes a spare outfit if I'm going out after work - passport - oyster

....and so it continues............

And whilst men wonder care free with non-aching arms, girls often have to 'double up'.  Handbag + respectable shopping bag which has probably been saved for such occasions because we wouldn't be seen dead holding a carrier bag unless for grocery shopping.  These poor bags get battered, worn and broken and so I bought my very own sturdy 'spare bag' from uber-fabulous website alphabetbags.com

They offer initialed and slogan baring canvas shoppers as well as more recently added purses, card holders and wash bags.  Ok, so I pretty much want the whole range.  But I sensibly restrained and opted for a black tote with 'C' in white.  I shortened the long shoulder straps because I like to carry bags on my fore arm.  My housemate would ask to borrow it to return clothes that didn't suit, to which she was met with the reply 'But your name doesn't  start with a 'C'?' ...Apparently these details don't concern all people.

She was practical, she was chic, she was well-travelled....and then she was gone.  She disappeared and has never been found (and I don't even think the aforementioned housemate has her).  So until I can bring myself to re-purchase, I send this question into cyber space:

Has anyone seen this bag?

x

A quick trip to Italy

Tomorrow I fly to Italy on a one night work trip.  Pulling together my travel kit as I brush up on some (very shaky) Italian.  

My Mulberry weekend bag.  Bought by my parents 20 years ago as part of a set, this bag was 'borrowed' and has been all over the place.  Lightweight yet luxurious, looks  better with age and the perfect size for a short break. 

Aspinal of London gave me these leather luggage tags during my first job and they add a final flourish to luggage.  Also something to spot easily on the luggage carousel amongst the sea of black suitcases. 

Must not forget.  Must not forget.  Must not forget.

If I had the necessary funds I'd be taking this Anya Hindmarch travel bag.  Her little 'Touch Down' and 'Take Off' embossed gold slogans turn a clear and black wash bag into a LUST-have piece.

click here to buy and make me jealous

And here's my capsule work trip wardrobe.  Yes, I like a statement necklace.

Ciao! xx