Radley Handbags and Accessories - Truly, Radley, Deeply... (Radley Fashion Accessoires)

Member Name: westbourneplace

Product:	Radley Fashion Accessoires
Date:	03/07/08 (1100 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stunning quality & beautiful design

Disadvantages: Price can be high, but quality never comes cheap

Truly, Radley, Deeply... A Cautionary Tale

**My Story of Woe**

It all started with a a coin purse - a very small coin purse. A birthday gift. Beautiful soft black leather, with that well-known Radley scottie dog logo in hottest pink. A really striking design for such a small object, with all the quality you would expect from what is arguably England's finest accessory manufacturer. Functional, too - I could cram a surprising amount into my little purse, and there was still space on the key ring for my front door key.

A year or so on, however, and my obsession has outgrown a delightful little coin purse. Only a few weeks ago, I purchased something that most women dream about at some point in their lives: a full size Radley handbag. Thankfully, I can now fit my red Radley umbrella and my Radley compact mirror in comfortably. There's even space for my Radley leather cleaner should an accident befall us when my bag and I go on an outing.

Ladies, you have been warned. Last year I was an entirely rational being - perhaps I had a minor shoe obsession. But now I am a Radley addict. One Radley is just not enough...


**Best of the Radley Range**

Radley products are all made with real devotion: an astonishing attention to detail is evident in all of their range. Their creative and colourful designs span purses, umbrellas, sunglasses, luggage, mirrors, scarves, passport covers, key rings, luggage labels and cosmetics cases.

For brevity, however, most of this review focuses on the company's most famous product (and my latest addition): the handbag.


**Radley Design**

Radley are renown for their creative, distinctive designs. Bright red poppies, butterflies, japanese-inspired floral patterns, and even scotties lunching at a table all find their way into the Radley range. Some designs are busy, some perfectly plain - suitable for work or play. The colours equally diverse: dove grey and grassy greens, to violet shades and primrose yellow.

Each bag is handcrafted, from the finest quality materials. Expect just as much attention to have been paid to the inside of your bag as the out: most are lined with luxurious fine needlecord, matching the main colour of the bag. Your bag (or, indeed, your purse or even your cosmetic mirror) will come with its own dust bag to keep your Radley product in tip-top condition. Best of all, that little scottie tag is, of course, guaranteed to raise a smile. :)

It's also good to know that, if you fancy expanding your collection, matching items are available in some lines.


**Indulging Your Obsession**

As I am sure most of you will know, Radley products are widely available from your local department store - House of Fraser or Debenhams usually stock a good range. It is worth keeping an eye on these particular chains since the Radley range is frequently included in store-wide percentage discount sales.

Individual boutiques and luggage shops often have a better range, where you can sometimes find more unusual designs. If you are window shopping, however, Radley have a gorgeous website, which is easy to navigate and has a useful zoom function - oh the temptation! Seasonal sales can offer some healthy reductions.

Expect a large handbag (if you carry around the kitchen sink) to set you back around £250 full price. A medium-sized handbag (suitable for normal daily use) should be in the region of £120-50, with smaller bags (if you're very organised) around the £75-90 mark. The recent mini range (for high days and holidays) offers a slightly cheaper alternative, at about £50. Quality does not come cheap - sale shopping is preferable...


**My Very Own Radley**

The best of the bunch, in my humble opinion: elegant, understated, and extremely versatile.

Mine is a medium-sized over-the-shoulder tote bag. The quality of the softest black leather is shown off beautifully by a plain shaker green running stitch design around the edges of the bag. It does, of course, also feature a matching green Radley.

Why did I choose this particular bag? First, the design caught my eye - it has elegant triangular lines, and the simplicity is just so striking. Many of the designs are delightful, but clash with some outfits. My one criticism of the majority of Radley bags is that they are 'grab' bags, impossible to put over the shoulder. This particular design, however, is flexible enough to be grabbed by the hand or thrown over the shoulder with reckless abandon. It also has a zip to the main compartment (as well as two inner compartments), meaning it's possible to walk down the street without fear of someone diving for your (Radley) purse...It's stylish, yet practical.

I felt I deserved a treat. I have no shame in admitting that my bag set me back an astonishing £88. This was in House of Fraser's recent '20 per cent off everything' weekend - highly recommended, as this included all the latest designs (it was retailing on Radley's website at the time for £110). So added to my delight of a beautiful new handbag was that warm glow of getting (at least what I would consider to be) a bargain.


**A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever**

All in all, I have fallen in love with my Radley handbag - sad as that may seem. Not because I'm some sort of sad materialist, but because it is both functional and beautiful: it really does give me real pleasure.

My grandmother always used to say that a good quality pair of shoes and a nice handbag will get you anywhere. I've never liked following the latest fashion - paying a fortune for the latest accessory that is the must-have this season, and guaranteed to be passe by this time next year. Exceptional quality and beautiful design will always win the day: my Radley may not have been the cheapest handbag I've ever purchased, but I can see it serving me for many years yet.

Highly recommended.

Summary: Beautiful quality and real elegance