To say that Mulberry has had a bit of a rocky start after the departure of Stuart Vevers would be an understatement. First there was a lot of excitement over Katie Grand, editor of Pop magazine, taking over as creative director. Then she stepped down but I believe continues to consult. Now Emma Hill, who helped launched Marc by Marc Jacobs accessories heads up the design team. But after seeing the AW08-09 Mulberry presentation yesterday, it was exactly the sort of direction that I thought would follow if 
Grand had taken on the position so it's all still exciting to see as the brand is shifting and starting to cater to customers who are not yummy mummies in Notting Hill carrying their trusty and reliable oak Roxanne/Bayswater (not indicative of every Mulberry customer of course!). I missed the hourly shows they had going on but snapped some stuff anyhow...
The clothing line was described as 'non-fashion', taking a 90's cue of mismatching, layers and a certain unprettiness. All of this means that of course the effect was still highly attractive and actually... very FASHION, as opposed to 'non'. I was expecting something along the lines of Aquascutum, classic with a quirk, that sort of thing. But I found orange faux fur, baby pink tissue-like textures, a lot of fuzziness which was then prettified with sweet ruched dresses in fresh girly colours and a tiara/heart shaped glasses or two. Mulberry have cleverly taken the mixing and matching elements of what most young-ish style-obsessed girls do and applied it to the clothes.
Prada AW07-8 Muppet-esque yes.... but so right for all the voluminous textures going on for next season.
The digital print on this dress is really interesting.
Surly and slouchy poses. It's all so hard carrying a deliciously juicy coloured Mulberry bag isn't it?
This dress which comes in pink or grey was so wonderful to touch and weighty too which shows a lot of fabric has gone into it, warranting what is probably a 'Yikes' price tag.
Had to take a pic of the manbag that I wouldn't mind stealing and the thickness of these socks which goes so well with the delicate shoes.
Menswear... I want some oven mitts too...
Of course the clothes really can't be seen properly in context if there are no bags. Whilst the clothes have taken a vastly different direction, the thing that sort of makes them work as ensembles are the bags which pull them together. They have kept reissuing the classic shapes but of course in different finishes and fabrics... the Bayswater in dark blue patent leopard print and glittery fur (it all sounds a bit wack when I type it but did look far better in person....).
More of the furry stuff in a dark blue....
Repeating the success of snakeskin purple Mabel bag, they have got more colours going on here...
Then the juicy brights which were my favourite as they add a bright but not overly showy punch to the collection of clothes...
Finally, I had to gasp at the shoes which Jonathan Kelsey (his new site is quite a bit of awesomeness...) has produced in collaboration with Mulberry.... the lilac pointy brogues, the multistrapped taupe heels.... was tempted to try them on there and but for now, it remains on the 'To try on shamelessly in Harrods and Not Buy' list...(am I the only one who does that?)
