I'm so ready for my mini road trip! I forgot to mention that I'm heading to Panama City Beach for a long weekend with my husband. I'm long overdue for some R&R. I also want to take a trip to visit my family in New York. It will be a year come May. I can't believe how fast time flies. I'm going to take my new to me Prada Fairy Tote I just got in from Vestaire Collective. James Jean is the artist behind this Fairy Bag that was released in 2008. I've always wanted this bag and I finally have her 14 years later! Oh yes, I can be patient. I can do a full review if anyone is interested, but here she is!
Today, I have another Mulberry review. For reference I'm 4 feet 11 inches tall and weigh 103 lbs and usually a size 4.
In 2010, Mulberry released the Alexa bag named after Alexa Chung. She was a British model that had amazing street style and the bag quickly became a classic. It was featured on Gossip Girl and celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, and Sienna Miller carried one on their arms.
The bag was eventually discontinued in 2016. It relaunched in 2020 and is currently available in three different sizes. A mini version was introduced and I think it looks so adorable I had to see it for myself. I actually ordered this bag around the same time I purchased the Mulberry Amberley. As you know, I ended up keeping the Amberley and I'll explain why.
Visually, the mini Alexa checks all the boxes. It's a super cute mini bag, but actually fits quite a lot. The leather is pebbled but soft. There's a top handle but it also comes with a detachable crossbody strap. The two buckles are magnetic snaps which makes it a lot easier to open and close versus having to actually deal with a real working buckle. The small postman's lock is part of the bag's signature look, and ironically that is what ended up being the deal breaker for me. The turnlock is so tiny that I had a hard time getting it through the plate. It was a struggle for me to use and was not very practical.
Let's look at the details of this bag and of course, my kitty Flash has to be nosy and needs to investigate everything I'm doing. 😹
Mmmm nice leather bag you have there!
The leather is scrumptious. Pebbled and very soft. The hardware is pale gold and super shiny. These are non working buckles and closes with magnetic snaps. The braided handle makes this very easy to carry as a satchel.
The bag dimensions are 9 inches in length, 7 inches in height and 4 inches deep. The back of the bag does not have a pocket. A slip pocket on the exterior of any bag is one of the things I look for. It's great for getting your phone in and out quickly instead of having to go through the snaps and turnlock each time to access the interior of the bag.
This bag does not have any feet, if that's a feature that is important to you. Here you can see the magnetic snaps underneath the buckles. The turnlock is so small. It really should be a bit bigger in my opinion. It was hard to even grasp it between my fingers.
The inside walls of the bag is suede with the bottom portion in leather. For appearances I give this bag 5 stars. Usability and functionality I give it 2.5 stars. Major points were deducted for not having a back slip pocket and there's just too many obstacles to get through to get in and out of this bag. The quality of the bag is amazing. It gets top marks in that category. The price tag is $1200. Quite steep, but there is a lot going on for it. For the price, I give it 3 stars. That said, this bag is definitely a classic and has a lot of staying power since its release in 2010. If you're a patient person and do not mind taking a little time with the opening and closing of the bag, then this bag is for you.
The retail prices today are not what they were back in 2010. I'm a huge fan of shopping second hand and Fashionphile has some Alexa's at a fraction of the cost. There's a really nice Burgundy Medium size Alexa for $370.
That's it for me! Hope you have a wonderful start to a brand new week!
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Hi Leslie,
ReplyDeleteI like the Mulberry Amberley much better than the Mini Alexa. The former looks prettier and seems more functional. The fairy bag is so unique and I would love a review when you get the time to do it!
Have a wonderful mini road trip, Leslie! :)
Thanks Andrea! I will add the Prada Fairy bag to my list of reviews that I need to do. I really love bags, so it would be my pleasure!
DeleteThat is a pretty bag but I wouldn't like the lock closure either. The fairy illustration is stunning!
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