Mulberry launched the Alexa style a year or so ago, and while I love the way it looks, I wasn’t sold on the practicality of this style. Like the Proenza Schouler PS1 and the Hermès Kelly, it has a top handle attached to the flap instead of anchored to both sides of the bag, which means the flap closure hardware has to support the entire weight of the bag. In addition, the first season Alexas were made of soft buffalo leather lined with fabric. While I adore soft leather, it didn’t seem sturdy enough to support a structured style, and the bags sometimes looked saggy and droopy.
This season, Mulberry has apparently rethought the slouchy Alexa, and now this style is available in a thicker napa lambskin with a suede lining. The thickness of the leather reminds me of the original Darwin leather that made the Mulberry Bayswater an instant classic. Alexa borrowed some details from the shape of the Bayswater, but it’s a bit smaller and lighter and has a messenger strap that is actually long enough to fit me crossbody.
The best part about this Alexa, though, is the color and texture of the leather. Pumpkin is not a true orange, but has more orange undertones than Oak. Depending on the light, it ranges from a rich rust to a softer shade. And…did I mention the texture of the large grain napa? It’s soft and bubbly and lovely to touch, and it makes each bag individual and unique. The brushed brass hardware is a little brighter than Mulberry’s antique metalwork, but it’s not shiny or glossy. The braided handle is padded and comfortable to carry by hand, but not quite long enough to work well carried in the crook of the arm.
My one complaint about this bag is my original concern: practicality. The front buckled straps have concealed magnet closures, and they help support the weight of the bag, but they are a bit fiddly to deal with on a daily basis. And when carried by the handle, the weight of the bag does rest on the postman’s lock closure. It’s a very sturdy piece of hardware and it’s quite securely attached, but if there’s too much stuff in the bag (for example, when I add an umbrella to my usual items) it makes the flap wrinkle up somewhat. The look of the gentle slouch doesn’t bother me, I just want the lovely Alexa to last me a long time.