Below: Unveiling...the most exciting part of getting parcels:-) Brown box within the carton box...
Below: Beautiful Mulberry Giftbox in sturdy cardboard and magnetic flap closure...
Below: Freed from the box!
Below: The beauty of Mulberry Large Bayswater in different views!
Below: The true makings of a brand NEW bag, metal feet unscratched, corners unworn:-P
Below: Even the protective plastic film for metal parts are intact...this is what you really call BRAND NEW!
Below: Size comparison for the new Large Bayswater and Piccadilly
Mulberry Large Bayswater In Chocolate (FOR SALE: Email me to enquire. Never used!)
Once upon a few weeks ago...remember I told you guys about the Mulberry Website Preview Sale thru this post? Well, I hope some of you took advantage of the preview sale. It was too good a chance to bag great Mulberry deals. I was 'powerless':-P I did not escape unscathed by the huge temptation of the low low prices this online sale has offered.:-) So after over 2 weeks of verification and delivery, the 'fruit' of my sinful shopping spree arrived. Here lies the aftermath of succumbing to temptation on the fateful boxing day in 2008:-P A big brown carton box containing a beautiful Mulberry special gift box.
Hurray! I finally got my order of the very timeless, incredibly versatile, definitely drool worthy, Mulberry Large Bayswater Bag in Chocolate. Maybe some of you do not agree...but for me, this is one bag that has been lingering on my bag radar for the longest time. My last few moments of shopping spree year 2008 has to be precise, I need to get only things that I want, things that will last, things that are of exceptional value. Cos' come 2009, I am having a new year resolution of cutting down on shopping and concentrating on other things in life that I need to build upon:-) Hence, I want to buy only classic styles that will have longevity.
My good retail Karma (usually very rewarding except for that 'unfortunate' bag incident) has bore me results. I stumbled upon the preview sale post on purseforum.com and coincidentally found out the Large Bayswater bag is on sale and in classic colours that always eludes markdown fate. I was exceptionally thrilled! And on the afternoon of boxing day, I did check out the Mulberry Boutique in Hilton Hotel, Singapore, tried the bag, still in love but discover it was only 20% off retail price of SGD $2199 at the store. I knew I had to order online as UK pounds was at its lowest exchange rate in decades and Mulberry.com ships worldwide!
After braving the crowded streets of 'boxing day' Orchard Road, I arrived home and sit in front of my computer ready to succumb to temptation. Maybe it was some alarm triggering syndrome in me for overspending that I hesitated for a few hours while constantly monitoring the depleting numbers of Large Bayswater available for sale online. My heart was beating and skipping a beat when I start to see the Black colour gone, then Oak colour vanished while chocolate colour reduced in numbers faster and faster. I must act quickly. I must not missed out the chance to buy this bag at such an incredible price. (You guys will know the reason of my hesitation in a later post:-P More mystery to come!). Finally I sorted out my thoughts and as fast as that 'man' in ridiculous red undies and cape, I keyed in the necessary 'Magic' Visa Card details and secure myself the greatest bargain for 2008...my very own Mulberry Large Bayswater Bag! A toast to good bargains!
Why do I like this bag? In comparison to Piccadilly Bag which is a bigger version of this design, the Large Bayswater is perfect in size to not be cumbersome for day-to-day use. In fashion, a difference of a few centimeters change the proportions and twist the whole usability aspect of a design. So even when the difference between the 2 similar bags are minimal, somehow the Large Bayswater with its slightly longer handles and shorter width becomes so right. Lined with suede and featuring adjustable internal straps, zipped and open internal pockets, it is roomy and much more light-weight. The classic colour of chocolate is rich and very versatile. I miss out on the black (which is my first choice, sold out when I went online to buy) so I fall back onto my second love, which is chocolate colour. Oak colour may be beautiful and lacking in my bag family, but considering the light colour gets stained and handles will darken over time (which I most dislike), I chose Chocolate to avoid these issues. I even did a checklist on my bag collection's colour ratio to rationalise if I should still get chocolate colour. In the end, I think I made a very good decision. Chocolate Bayswater is stunning and very timeless while being very representative of the Mulberry brand.
(Update: I gave Mulberry Hilton Hotel a call to check on actual Large Bayswater price there...it's SGD $2199 and not SGD $2056 as I listed last night. Memory loss...hahaha. And apparently, the 20% discount promotion is over. Read the comments section on what sort of charges you will be expecting when buying online from www.mulberry.com)