MULBERRY COACHELLA POOL PARTY

Mulberry always seems to throw the best parties! Here's some snaps from their Coachella pool party in Palm Springs the other day, where Kasabian and Wild Belles performed to a crowd of gorge celebs decked out in Mulberry threadz... But where was Lana Del Rey or Olivia Palermo? Del Rey has a new (surprisingly demure bowling-style) bag out in her honour and Palermo never misses a Mulberry do? Oh well, Kate Bosworth was there in spades so I guess that kind of makes up for their absence.

Here's an awkward photo of Emma Watson shamelessly over-accessorising that cute playsuit. I've always had a hunch that Emma has horrific personal style and counters it with a good stylist. BUT WHERE WAS SHE TODAY, EH?

Omnipresent Bosworth.

Cute-as-a-button Lily Collins with Emma Watson again. I mean, even if she just took off the cardigan and the belt, surely that would make this a million times better, right?

I love Lily Collins.

Bikini-clad beautiful person.

Collins and Bosworth posing their wee hearts out. Bos could do with toning it down a tad. Still, loving those lime-green earrings. Pop!

Dree Hemingway needs her roots doing but it's cool cos she's wearing a distractingly-gorgeous dress/top and skirt so you hardly notice really.

Cara Delevingne working the I-just-fell-out-of-bed-and-shoved-my-washing-pile-back-on look. WARNING, do not re-create unless you are a model. Consequences are disastrous, trust me.

Tali Lennox looking smugly chic, if only it wasn't for that belt. Yee-Haa! By the way, do any of you follow Tali on Twitter? She says some SPECTACULARLY STUPID things! Go see what I mean. Utter tubular belle.

Anyways, I'm not doing any Coachella Fashion posts or anything because I'm already sick of them and let's be honest, festival fashion never really changes. So predictable, blergh.

YES I'M BITTER I'M NOT GOING TO ANY FESTIVALS THIS YEAR, WHAT OF IT'?

RAWWWWWKSANNE!

You don't have to put on your red light... etc.

No, but seriously, I really don't want this blog to turn into a tedious captain's log of all the crap I buy on a daily/weekly/monthly basis cos let's face it, that would be pretty boring for you guys and would also make me look like a some kind of nutcase shopaholic with bags of money to burn - the latter of which, at least, is DEFINITELY not the case...

That said, I've been doing a few freelance things here and there on top of the day job and felt like treating myself to a new Mulberry bag, this time in black. My mind went from the Taylor to the Harriet to the Polly Pushlock and back again, until I realised I was overlooking a Mulberry CLASSIC: the iconic Roxanne bag.

One problem - it's been discontinued. At least I think it has, I've read a few conflicting things - one blogger said it was brought back last year for a limited time - but either way it was an absolute MUST HAVE a good few years ago but has slipped by the wayside in favour of the Alexa and Lily etc. But even Mulberry themselves hold it in the same esteem as their Bayswater classic, and there are usually a few to be found kicking around the outlet stores down south.

Once I realised this was the bag for me, I had a wee reccy on eBay and discovered someone selling a slightly battered, deliciously worn-in black leather Roxanne for only £185.

BARGAIN!

And look what arrived today!

I am so in love with this bag. It's probably not everyone's cup of tea - the brass hardware, pockets, belts and buckles mean it looks quite busy on the front but that's one of the things I love about it. The other is the fact that it's been pre-owned. I couldn't bear the thought of someone keeping such a gorgeous bag at the back of their wardrobe for years, never fully appreciating it, and because it's been used, the thick leather is buttery soft, flexible and uniquely creased. It's the kind of bag that's only going to get better with age - something I don't think I'll be able to say about it's much flimsier cousin, the Alexa, which is already starting to look slightly battered and dated...

Anyway, you get it. I love it. Here it is with me at work, just for the hell of it.

The little Mulberry trees are stamped on all the studs :)

Look, it opens!

I am SO busy at work right now.........

Argh! Sorry for the plook and massive eye bags - currently completing my second week of midnight-finishes which are NOT kind to the skin/eyes/soul.

But yeah. I love this bag. Sorry to, like, shove it all in yer faces. Basically my point is next time you're in the mood to splurge consider some pre-loved designer ware, in particular Mulberry. When the bags are of this high quality and have such lasting appeal, you can't really go wrong.

MULBERRY LOVES SCOTLAND

Y'all know how much I bang on about Mulberry, right? Well, last week I was very kindly invited to a fabulous event at the Mulberry store in Ingram Street in Glasgow - Mulberry Loves Scotland -  in celebration of the brand's Spring Summer 2012 collection. 

HOW ON EARTH could I pass up an opportunity to schmooze with press and customers alike, be wined and dined by the PR team, and spend quality time in the company of some of THE most gorgeous bags and accessories ever? I couldn't. Obviously.

What follows are about ten squillion photos and some ramblings about the collection.

Here is the lovely Carrie (stylish stylist who I work with at the Herald & Evening Times Group) looking WAY chic in her signature stripes-and-Alexa combo.

During the schmoozing and boozing in store, the lovely Jack from Mulberry HQ in London showed me a few of the stores best sellers (Bayswaters, Alexas and a particular leopard-print Evelina he couldn't keep his hands off) along with some of Spring Summer's newcomers.

Afterwards, we all trooped across Royal Exchange Sqare to the UBER posh 29 Private Members Club for wur tea. Well classy, and check out the awesome Mulberry decorations!

Animal balloon craziness.

Those OOOH! glasses were such a hoot and allowed for many hilarious photo opportunities, but I was also MASSIVELY impressed by the food! I had myself a Caesar salad, one of the nicest steaks I've EVER tasted and a scrummy pear tart. But the stand out food of the night had to be the freshly-baked bread to start. I genuinely couldn't believe bread could taste SO GOOD!

Bread deliciousness. MMM!

Um, tasty.

Spread out all over the lavish table were the sweetest wee Polaroid cameras to capture the debauchery. Here's a few of the photos we took up our end. Jack collected these up at the end of the night with a view to putting them on the official Mulberry blog - EEK! can you imagine my mug on there? Keep yer peepers peeled!

Stuffing my face. I'm so attractive, right? Wearing my red velvet Monki frock, the black version of which I am still GIVING AWAY but only until the 4th of Dec so get entering!

Oh hey there, DRUNK EYES.

Oooh bantz!

After the meal we got to leave with an animal balloon - I took the tiger which caused muchos taxi hilarity and scared the crap out my cat - a press pack and a TRULY EPIC goody bag! Here's a sneak peek at the BOOTY:

Cute, individual press pack canvas bag. Ooh, I say!

Lookbook made to look like a ice-cream wafer. UM, awesome.

General contents including all the relevant lookbooks, some more OOOH glasses, leather friendship bracelet, sticks of Mulberry rock, stickers and a stunning Mulberry scarf featuring the cutest embroidered doodles.

Like, WOW.

Some of my favourite bags from the accessories lookbook.

Please note in particular the pale pink Alexa and leopard-print Bayswater. I'm in love.

Absolutely adore that first outfit on the left - yes to shimmering metallics for next summer!

Some more favourites from Spring Summer 12, described by Mulberry as "inspired by the Great British summer and seaside shenanigans; donkey rides, ice-cream on the beach, sparkling pier lights and kiss-me-quick chic. Our new season is oh-so English, from the of ‘Carry On Camping’ to the quirky English habit of enduring the beach no matter the weather, raincoats and nostalgic fun all! Add plenty of eclectic Mulberry charm and wit, luxe detailing, signature season prints and strong layered silhouettes for our most bonkers and beautiful season yet!

Most bonkers and beautiful season yet? Couldn't agree more, Mulberry!

I'm really glad that Mulberry decided to host an event up here. As a quintessentially English name, it shows great brand initiative and integrity by branching out and making key press connections north of the border. After all, we are AWFY FOND of a Heritage label in Bonnie Scotland, and it's important for us all to get behind BRITISH fashion so the immense amount of talent we harbour in this country can continue to make an impact on a global stage.

And when the pieces are as expertly-crafted, luxurious, innovative and easy on the eyes as Mulberry's world-renowned accessories and garments are, it's not a hard task!

Thanks to the PRs, 29 Members Club Glasgow and Mulberry Ingram St Glasgow for an awesome evening.

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