When it comes to British heritage handbag brands, few are as memorable as Mulberry. Uniting Kate Moss and Kate Middleton, as well as a long list of Brit It-girls including Sienna Miller and Alexa Chung, the Somerset-born brand has been a signifier of British style for more than five decades. Launched in 1971 by founder Roger Saul at his kitchen table in Somerset, the British countryside is still at the heart of the brand’s DNA, referenced in the tree logo and equestrian design details.
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“For any home counties princess with the requisite lifestyle, a Mulberry bag was the only 18th birthday present to be presented with in the 2010s. From the capacious classicism of the Bayswater to the compact Lily – a perfect fit for your Blackberry and Clinique Chubby Stick – your choice of Mulberry spoke volumes,” wrote ’s shopping editor Joy Montgomery back in 2024.
Indeed, for a lot of young women, a Mulberry bag marked a first foray into luxury handbags. It was more attainable than some of its French and Italian counterparts, but with enough fashion currency to feel like a proper investment. The Bayswater, Alexa and Roxanne marked a very particular era of British style, when skinny jeans, ballet flats, oversized sunglasses and a slightly battered leather handbag slung over one shoulder became a uniform of sorts.
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Nowadays, as the archive seems to be a source of inspiration for every brand, the Mulberry handbags we all remember have found a new generation of fans. Earlier this year, to mark the brand’s 55th anniversary, Mulberry launched a limited-edition capsule collection featuring 55 one-of-one bags made from surplus and sample materials found in the Mulberry archives. Ranging from nostalgic leopard print and pony hair to metallics and shiny embossed crocodile, all the bags sold out in under 10 minutes.
Plenty is happening at the house in this anniversary year. In March 2026, Mulberry announced the appointment of Christopher Kane as the brand’s creative director, marking the return of ready-to-wear after a six-year hiatus. Kane’s first Mulberry collection is set to debut in September, with the collection made shoppable from January 2027. It makes the current moment particularly viable for investing in a piece of Mulberry’s archive before its next chapter under Kane begins.
If you are thinking of buying a Mulberry handbag, below we explain the different styles and why each is so popular. Keep reading for a guide to the most-loved Mulberry handbags, with details about why we rate them.
The Bayswater is a Mulberry classic that you might associate with the Noughties It-crowd. It launched in 2003, but more than 20 years later remains just as popular – this is certainly a style with longevity. It has a simple, streamlined shape, curved top handle and a postman lock on the flap. Kate Moss and Meghan Markle are just two of the A-Listers who have been photographed with a black Bayswater tucked in their elbow.
The cross-body Alexa satchel was first launched in January 2010, designed for Alexa Chung, who in the Noughties was often photographed with a vintage Mulberry Elkington briefcase. In 2020, the brand re-released the Alexa, with some conscious updates: it is made with leather from gold-standard, environmentally accredited tanneries and crafted at the brand’s carbon-neutral UK factories. “The Alexa still feels unique and relevant; it’s both laid-back and luxurious, and when coupled with the new sustainable updates, it ensures that it still feels very modern,” Mulberry CEO Thierry Andretta told British at the time of the relaunch.
Mini Leather Snake Print Alexa Cross-Body Bag
If you’re drawn to a more understated silhouette, the Boston is worth considering. With its clean, elongated shape and minimalist design, it feels particularly current right now as sleek east-west styles are trending. The Boston comes in two sizes, with the larger version comfortably fitting a small laptop, while the smaller is the perfect over-the-shoulder size. It has already been embraced by It-girls, including Emma Roberts, Tish Weinstock, Sarah Harris and Shopping’s own Naomi Smart. Colour options range from classic black and chalk to bright oak, fern green and rich brown suede.
First introduced in 2004, the Roxanne quickly became one of Mulberry’s most recognisable silhouettes of the early 2000s. Defined by its relaxed, slouchy hobo shape and distinctive double front pockets, the bag perfectly captured the boho-chic aesthetic of the era. It was also notable for its hardware detailing, with chunky buckles and straps adding a slightly rugged edge to the heritage leather handbag. The Roxanne’s laid-back feel means it’s the kind of bag that only gets better with age, as the leather softens and the shape gets slouchier – you can find great versions of the Roxanne on resale sites, too.
Mini Roxanne Oxblood High Shine Leather
The Amberley is a favourite of the Princess of Wales, as she has worn several different styles on her royal engagements. This style is inspired by the British countryside, with equestrian hardware and a satchel shape. It is a refined choice, but comes in lots of different colours such as green, poplin blue and sunset.
The Lily is the perfect on-the-go choice, as it comes with a minimalist silhouette and a delicate chain strap, a simple rectangular shape and the iconic postman’s lock. This style was first added to the Mulberry lineup in 2010 and remains a hero design. In 2022, Mulberry made a Lily Zero collection, with the bags made from carbon-neutral leather and created in the carbon-neutral factory in Somerset, and offsetting all elements of production, packaging and transportation. An investment you can feel good about buying.
Lily Apple Red Waxed Snake Print
Launched as part of the autumn/winter 2019 collection, the Iris is a laidback tote with a braided top handle and magnetic lock closure. Also featuring a removable shoulder strap, it’s the kind of bag that you can grab and go, whether you’re using it as a stylish accompaniment to a cocktail dress or simply need something to store your purse in while popping to the shops. Both classic and contemporary, it will slot in smoothly with the rest of your wardrobe.
The Darley is the kind of bag that can swiftly take an outfit up a notch. Its purse-like structure and detachable chain strap make it ideal for pairing with summer dresses or evening attire. Plus, it’s sleek enough to slide into a larger tote for when you need to keep your valuables safe and separate from other big-bag essentials. The Darley celebrates Mulberry’s iconic postman lock and is made from lightly finished grained leather that will work hard to protect the quality of the fabric for years to come.
It’s rare to find a bag that’s both big enough for a day out and small enough to avoid becoming a nuisance as evening draws in. As luck would have it, Mulberry’s Islington bag is just that. Whether you wear it over your shoulder or across your body, the Islington (named after North London’s bustling hub) is designed for 24-hour use. The belt fastening, complete with a postman lock, adds a classic touch, while the bucket-shaped design is roomy enough for plenty of everyday essentials.
Drawing inspiration from the Mulberry archives, the Hackney is a soft-structured bag with a relaxed silhouette. It features a snap clasp and classic Mulberry tree rivet detailing. Made from leather or suede, and arriving in small and large iterations, it imbues a laidback, bohemian aesthetic.
Shopping pre-loved bags directly from the Mulberry website is one of the safest ways to source authentic second-hand pieces from the label. Every item is carefully authenticated and expertly refurbished by the artisans at the brand’s Somerset repairs centre. You’ll find unique designs from limited one-off drops – like the Mulberry X Ahluwalia Portobello tote – alongside timeless icons such as the Bayswater and the Alexa. Of course, other second-hand platforms such as eBay and Vinted are also great places to look – just be sure to select listings that include an authenticity guarantee to avoid the risk of purchasing a counterfeit.
