Monday, May 16, 2011

The Bristol Medium Grab in Shark {Modalu Review}


My bag arrived from the UK in beautiful condition.

The Shark Bristol I ordered from Modalu London arrived today and I am delighted!

This is the bag Pippa Middleton was seen carrying as she left her hotel after the Royal Wedding. It was sold out at the time, then came briefly back in stock (when I ordered mine), and is now out of stock again but pre-ordering for late August arrival (and has been re-named The Pippa). You can pre-order here. My cost to ship to the US was 15 pounds (about $25 USD).

I can see why this bag was so popular even before this latest celebrity sighting. The handles are rounded and comfortable in the hand, a detachable shoulder strap is included, and there are three separate zippered compartments (the center one is smaller). The outer zipper compartment at the front of the bag has an interior zippered pocket on one side and two pockets to slip in a cellphone and camera/lipstick/reciepts etc. There are also two zippered compartments on the exterior front and a larger zippered compartment on the exterior back. Talk about organization. I am going to love using this bag.

The interior is lined in a woven fabric with a shell print... there are also goldtone shells on five of the zipper pulls. Nice detail. The hardware is goldtone and I really like the contrast of the black fabric of the zippers against the soft gray. It also arrived with a lovely lavender fabric storage bag and a care card.

Here are some pics:



tiny goldtone shells on the zipper pulls


from the side


the back


the bottom


the compartment with interior pockets - there are two more pocket-less compartments


close-up of the lining


the dustbag

xoxo

54 comments:

  1. So cute. I love the gray color. Can you tell me if your iPad fits in the bag? TIA-Julie

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  2. I was waiting to see what you thought of this bag...I love it! I see they've re-named it Pippa! Are they made in England? I just bought a pair of Bloch flats that would match this perfectly! :)

    Cheers!
    lottie

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  3. Its beautiful! I think I may have to order one!

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  4. Great review & pics. How long is the detachable strap? Is it long enough for crossbody?

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  5. JulieStyles - yes an ipad fits nicely - even in the smaller center compartment.
    lottie - yes! My receipt still says Bristol but I got in just before it went pre-order. I haven't found any tags that say where it was made.
    Alyssa - thanks! I wouldn't hesitate to order from them again - very nice quality.

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  6. OOOHH, was just admiring this on another blog today but was hesitant to pre-order without a review. Since it fits an iPad on top of being gorgeous, I may just get it!

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  7. Gigi - thanks. Yes - the strap has a buckle with 5 notches so adjustable... is about 41" long buckled on the center notch, plus clips.

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  8. Legallyblondemel - yes - it is a lovely bag. Nice quality, details, and plenty of room.

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  9. Gorgeous! Absolutely stunning.

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  10. When I saw the pre-order, I was tempted but wanted to see it "IRL". Very chic!

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  11. Oh, wow, I love this bag!! So gorgeous, functional, and very well made. Thank you for the photo's!!!!

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  12. The grey colour will go with everything you have in your wardrobe...and Pippa is so lovely...I wonder if her phone is ringing off the hook from interested suitors!

    A bag worthy of many shopping expeditions...I think there will be some heads turning!

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  13. lottie - I found the tag - made in India.

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  14. Kristin, Pamela, mrs,a & hostess - thanks so much for your comments! :) xo

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  15. Wow, that is a gorgeous bag. Love it!

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  16. I have been looking for a new every day bag. I have a Michael Kors now, which I love, but it is SO HEAVY. Add in a wallet, phone, sunglasses case, glasses case, various accoutrements of a woman's purse, etc. and I just can't carry that thing around anymore. Bad for posture. haha How is this one in the weight department?

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  17. Gorgeous bag and colour. I live in the UK but regularly check out your blog so it's thanks to you I knew about this bag and brand! I am leaning towards the bag in 'small', I know you got the medium but I am wondering how they compare in terms of roominess and practicality. I want a smallish everyday bag which can comfortably take all my essentials without feeling stuffed. I really wish I could get a real life review of the small.

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  18. sprite - You can see irl pics on modalu's blog. I don't know if they show the small, but that's a good place to look.

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  19. Thank you! Good to know...I try to avoid made in China.

    Cheers!
    lottie

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  20. Oh, why did I go to that website? Now that Bibi bag in mauve is winking at me... A LOT!.

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  21. ginastorm and DON - thanks!
    Kristin - I know! I put it on my little kitchen scale empty and it says about 2 lbs 4 oz.
    sprite - maybe follow the blog like Gigi suggested or check out their Twitter... I saw once where they tweeted about a blog review of a bag but I think it was the medium.
    lottie - you're welcome!
    Rose - I know... I've been eyeing the Provence Clutch myself.

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  22. After you posted this I looked around Modalu's website and the provence clutch caught my eye too. It looks fabulous!

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  23. I just got my Pippa bag today - love it (even though it's tan and not quite as gorgeous as the Shark... but almost there)... One thing I can't figure out is where the long strap is meant to clip on... are you meant to just clip it on to the small handle rings? I can't seem to find anywhere else! Thanks a million in advance =o)

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  24. sarah - yay! I would be very happy for tan too :) It is a great bag and that is such a versatile color. On the strap... that is exactly what I did - on those rings - diagonal from each other. I think I've seen it done that way on a Louis Vuitton so that seemed like the best way to me too.
    Kristin & sprite - you are welcome; glad I could help.
    Kristin - I kind of wish I had ordered the Provence with this one... I think the shipping price is the same no matter how much you order and I don't want to pay another $25!

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  25. Squeeee! This very bag arrived on my front porch last week and I LOVE it. You did a great job capturing all those fabulous details. Classic choice!

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  26. Sparrow-great blog (I just started my own blog so I'm new to the blogging world)! Just stumbled upon your site as I was investigating whether or not to purchase the black Skipton bag! Curious can you switch to US currency on the site OR do you just go through the purchasing process and pay in pounds while my Visa does all the converting?

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  27. Anne - thanks - how great - I know you'll enjoy it so much.
    Sasa - thank you! I just ordered in pounds and my credit card converted. I really like the look of the Skipton too :)

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  28. I found a few more IRL photos of the Pippa bag (in black) here: http://www.alexaheinrich.com/?p=248#more-248. I think the periwinkle lining is a nice touch.

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  29. Thats a nice looking bag - you're really making it hard not order it for myself. One thing holding me back is that I'm having trouble figuring out how big it is - can you tell me roughly what is the length and height? The Modalu site doesn't seem to say.

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  30. Real Working Mom of OC - thanks for the info!
    LilyBart - across the bottom it is about 14" x 6". Height is about 10 1/2", excluding handles.

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  31. I absolutely love this bag! I have plans to order this bag myself. :) Do you mind if I ask how tall you are? I really want to pre-order the medium grab, but I'm afraid that it will be too big for my height. Not that it should matter as I've been meaning to get a bigger handbag anyway. :)

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  32. Hmmmm interesting question Kaityln! I'm 4'11 and while I'm getting the Skipton after watching your vlog Sparrow I now want a Pippa bag too! Unfortunately you can no longer preorder the medium size Pippa but the small pippa IS available! Wondering if I should just get the small Pippa, the medium might be too big for my height? Looks like they might also come out with a red one for fall so might hold out for that.....interesting just went on their site and they no longer have the pictures up (employees were carrying various bags). One of the pictures had an employee carrying a Pippa bag in Shark-under the photo it named a shade of red Pippa that would be coming out in the fall...

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  33. This is Kaitlyn again. :) I'm having difficulties with my Blogger account and had to use my LiveJournal account to leave a comment...

    Thank you so much! I'm only 5'3", so I debating between getting the small or the medium (if and when it becomes available in again) Pippa. I saw a photo of someone (5'2") wearing the small Pippa and thought it was a perfect size, but then I saw your model photos and now am thinking the medium might not be too bad for my height after all! Decisions, decisions... :P

    I'm waiting just like you, Sasa. I'm hoping they'll have both sizes available in shark again so I can get one of them...

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  34. Kaitlyn I just took out my Michael Kors bag and did some measreuments they are EXACTLY the same as the small Pippa so I'm going to purchase it in this size-perfect for me!!!

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  35. Sasa, I would love to see some pictures when you get it! My Coach bag has similar sizing to the medium Pippa, so I might end up with that one. I'm still debating, though, so I love looking at different photos to compare the two sizes. It might help me when I'm ready to order. :P

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  36. Hi! I'm just about to purchase a medium grab in tan, and I have an important question about the shipping charge. I live in the USA, too, and I notice that Modalu charges £15 ($25)for "International world wide delivery," but in my pre-order form, the shipping charge under my subtotal says "FREE." I'm wondering if they'll charge me later, or if it really is free. You said that they charged you, so in your order form, was shipping also listed as "FREE"?

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  37. niikkiiyah - Hi! Yes, it said Free on the form and I didn't see anyone way to chose a different price for worldwide delivery -- but after I entered in all my information, they changed the shipping method to worldwide and showed a 15 pound charge.

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  38. Sparrow my bag shipped on May 31st how long did it take you to receive yours ( I'm in Toronto)? Also I emailed about fall colours and these are the ones to be released: " New colours will be available late August. There will be oyster – a darker than the Shark metallic grey, chilli -dark red and oak croc"

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  39. Sasa - thank you on the info about fall - they sound like great colors. I received my bag about two weeks after I ordered it.

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  40. Sparrow,

    So very annoyed we've been having a postal strike in Canada and I fear my bag is just sitting at the post office! Did yours come by US post once it hit the states or was it via UPS or some other shipping company? Sending an email out to Modalu to inquire as well! Hopefully the strike ends here soon and I can receive my mail!

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  41. Sasa - oh that is so frustrating. Yes, mine came via US post once it was in the US. I had to sign for it. Hope you get it soon.

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  42. bagluvah - between 2 - 2 1/2 lbs empty

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  43. Oh ok thanks for replying to my post. I'm iffy with the weight i have a back problem

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  44. Hi, I have been researching for a review on this bag and I'd like to ask if this is a versatile color for you, like you could use it in any color of your clothes. .Or you just carry this during the summer time ? Also, How are you liking the strap, do you use it or not ?And lastly, is this shark color very near to gray or white ? Many thanks and I hope to hear from you.

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  45. luckymirai - Hi! I plan to use this bag throughout the year. I do keep the strap attached and use it occasionally. Sometimes my arm gets tired and I usually carry around quite a bit of stuff :) The shark color is a beautiful gray. Just what you'd think of a shark - not too light or whitish at all - and very versatile. The bag I currently own was one of the ones that had a problem at the tannery and the color faded. I contacted Modalu (who let me know about the tannery issue) and they are replacing the bag. I had received many compliments on the original color, and like it against many colors of clothing - black, navy, pinks, white, orange... so I am absolutely thrilled with their customer services. I don't know if you've seen it, but I also did a vlog on this bag which is posted here on my blog, and have some other pictures of the bag with outfits. I took it to Denmark & Italy this summer and it was the bag I used most days. Hope this helps!

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  46. drippinjewels - a lighter gray; reminds me of a shark

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