Looking for a handbag: Radley...ever acceptable?

[LambChopsMcGee]

Hiya.
So I know there's some anti Radley feeling on here and I get that the little crossbody bags with the dog (while I think they are cute) aren't exactly fasion. But I am looking for a new, nice bag to celebrate getting a new job (and to reduce the need to carry a tote as well as my little leather bag (11 inch Cambridge satchel...in purple, if that gives an idea of me).

So I have seen this:

www.radley.co.uk/smith-street-large-flapover-grab-bag-64207-853d61/

Thoughts? I like it in pink and think it looks practical and smart. I just wonder whether the Radley hate is such that when people clock it is from there it will undo the nice look. I mean to a large extent I don't GAF what people think, but this is all about dressing up for a new fancier job, so it does matter to me a bit.

Other one I am looking at is this:

www.lkbennett.com/Collections/Handbags/Catrina-Saffiano-Tote-Bag/p/BTCATRINASAFFIANOLEATHERGreyMist

Any opinions welcome. Or suggestions for similar bags. Spending the cost of these ones is a big purchase for me, so I'm not in Mulberry land, I'm afraid!

[Hamsolo]

I really like the shape of that Radley bag, and I prefer the colour choices too. However, I have stumbled into this section by mistake so mine might not be the opinion you're after

[Redken24]

That is a nice Radley bag 😍

[Maudlinmaud]

Nice. Not into the usual Radleys but that one is lovely. My go to affordable non designer is fiorelli and this season they have been smashing it.

[GeekyWombat]

I don't get the Radley hate on here. I've had a nice brown leather Radley big enough for my work laptop and it's lasted well and looks great I think.

I love the Radley you've got there, I'd choose it over the LKB cause of the flap I think.

[LambChopsMcGee]

Thanks guys. I don't get the Radley hate either, really. I guess I just wanted to check I wasn't thinking of spending the most I ever I have on a bag on something that sent a secret signal to fashionable types that i was out of touch or something. I know i should just go with what I like, but.

[toriah]

i think you should choose what you like the most, whatever brand. Have you seen these? Fits the price point, and are good quality.

www.modalu.com/shop/pippacollection.html

Go with your favourite.

[rosie1959]

Looks a great bag to me I have quite a few Radley bags and they wear very well
MN is the only place that seems to have an aversion to Radleys Get the bag you like who cares what anyone else thinks

[AngelicaSchuylerChurch]

Very nice. Remove the scottie dog tag and you'd never know it was Radley! It looks a lot more expensive.

[Tumilnaughts]

I have two Radley bags and adore them. They wear well and come in bright colours, which I love. Screw all the Radley haters, get it if you like it.

[Maudlinmaud]

Now getting ads for Radley. . Very tempting and it's almost pay day.

[jenthelaugh]

I don't get the issue with Radley?! I have a Radley purse.
My mum has a bag very similar to the one you're looking at from Radley which she carries her laptop and all of her work things in and it's great quality and very pretty.

[HopefullyDothButterNoParsnips]

I really like it. Great choice.

[GeekyWombat]

If you have an outlet place near you with a Radley shop it's always worth a look too. I've found some lovely handbags for £40-60 originally priced up to £300!

[LittleCandle]

I love Radleys (I named a cat Radley) but as I said on another thread about them the other day, why do you care what anyone else thinks? If you like it, then buy it.

[AvoidingCallenetics]

I really like the Radley bag too. I think they are very good quality, which is important in a work bag that's going to be used a lot.
I don't get the Radley hate either. Their designs are just as nice as many much more expensive designer bag.

[LambChopsMcGee]

I agree LittleCandle and generally I wouldn't care what anyone thinks. Part of me though feels I am playing dress ups getting this job and needing to dress for the office (moving from a very casual small company) so I want to get it right. I'm pretty casual and tend to lean a bit hipster/odd sometimes and I am also not from the UK and sometimes I think it shows...so if I am going to do "office smart" I want to do it right. I should have more courage though, you're right.

Those bags are lovely toriah! I can get over them being named after Pippa, even! haha.

[Oldraver]

I dont get the Radley angst either...not everyone can afford or even want to spend Mulberry money..

I like both of the bags...were you wanting a bright colour ? Radley did a lovely blue star bag in winter.

Do you have an local outlet ? Radley's at good discount. I recently got a bright orange one for around £50

[LambChopsMcGee]

I don't know about outlets... I'm in London and I don't drive, are there any around these parts? Otherwise I'll keep an eye out for a sale.

I do like bright colours, yes. I know maybe it's more...I dunno...classically classy to do dark neutral colours but it's not very me. I'm getting better at picking one colourful item at a time though rather than looking too much like a children's entertainer...

I agree, nothing against Mulberry lovers but for me if I had a grand burning a hole in my pocket it would be a holiday rather than a bag, but then I know if I told my mum I was looking at one that cost £250 she'd say the same thing and think I was mad. Everyone's different!

[LambChopsMcGee]

Oh! Just seen it is on sale!





Hmm. Can I justify it when my new salary won't hit till September... eek

[PickAChew]

My radley bag has stood up to a couple of years of abuse, now. Well worth the money.

I love that they have so many pockets.

[jenthelaugh]

Yes you absolutely can justify it because it's reduced by nearly £60 and when are you going to find a better deal than that?!?

[TheSnorkMaidenReturns]

Oh dear, going against the grain here!

I really don't think Radley is worth the money. I've had two Radley bags. On an expensive leather work bag. The zip broke within a few months and they refused to repair it.

Several years later I bought a bag from a range they still sell. A crucial strap broke within six months. This time they did replace the bag as it was such a new range they knew it shouldn't be faulty. But they gave me a lot of grief. I really like my replaced bag (and its many pockets ) but I'm not sure I'll shop there again.

I don't buy fashion but I do expect things to last. I had my first Le Pliage bag for about fifteen years before replacing it as it was scruffy - but the handles, zip and press studs never broke despite been treated far more harshly than the Radley bags were.

[LambChopsMcGee]

Hmm.
that is interesting to hear.

TBH the place I have bought the most handbags (three, I think) is Clarks, and they have lasted really well. Maybe that tells you how fashion I am, but I like them. I get most of my shoes there too, they fit really well. (I'm 32, for the record, not sure why that's relevant).

I liked the look of this one

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Talara-Star/p/261260890000

It's very confusing. Sometimes I feel like it was a lot easier when it was "i'll go to town and look at bags" rather than browsing online all the time!

[GeekyWombat]

Of course you can justify it! Especially as if you use Quidco you'll effectively get another 5% off in cash back www.quidco.com/radley/

Nearest outlets to London I think will be Ashford or Braintree, both a train ride away.

The Clarks one is nice but I prefer the colour of the Radley one and if I was buying it I'd want to see the compartments - I use public transport a lot and hate everything in a bag getting a bit damp at the edges in a downpour, so I like a flap over.

[LambChopsMcGee]

So I tend to umm and ahhh about these things for ages. And I'm glad I did because this bag then got reduced by 50%, with another 10% at checkout. So. Finally bought it.

Thanks for all your input, guys.

I feel there should be a hangbag emoticon but maybe that's not the world I want to live in