Very Empire-Englishwoman Abroad, it’s called the Mulberry Araline Purse – made of a very comely nappa leather, braided leather shoulder straps, cream stitching and brass hardware.

The lock on the front is a delight – it’s so old-fashioned and rare. The whole purse is very unusual in its design, and tassel-haters beware – tassels are very much in this season!

It’s beautifully designed and executed – absolutely nothing less than we would expect from Mulberry.

$595.00 

Mulberry is different to Burberry or Asprey because they are so very old-fashioned, so very dismissive of whatever it is popular fashion is dictating. They know what they like and by George, they’re sticking to it, come hell or high water.

The purse pictured is called the Blenheim — it’s in oak brown (English oak, no doubt) leather, with brass hardware and enough buckles and pouches to guarantee a good few "Oh damn I’m in a theater and I would turn off my loudly ringing phone if I knew which part of my purse it was hidden in" moments.

Anyway, I just love Mulberry. It’s <i>so</i> gloriously Enid Blyton: all jolly hockeysticks and midnight feasts and French lessons and country walks and being sent to Coventry… I probably will never be English enough to justify ownership of one of these bags, but it’s enough for me to know there are people out there who feel that Mulberry is <i>their</i> kind of purse…

Top shelf!