Radley Handbags

[budgetmom]

Hi all, I'm considering to buy a radley bag for this Christmas sale. Is it worth the money? Im after the Beaufort Large tote bag... whats your opinion?
( I was reading the comments on radley handbag threads here on mumsnet and there's a lot of dislike for their bags and no new threads on Radley bags...)

The mumsnet snobbiness around Radleys makes me laugh. I have always said that Radleys are good bags.

Over the last few weeks I have had to use crutches and realised that none of my bags were practical with crutches so popped into tk maxx to find a bag. I ended up with a beautiful tan cross body bag, which cost me £60, and I was very happy with my purchase. After 2 weeks, I saw that the bottom of the bag had a logo on it, and it was a Radley. I didn't go screaming and dumping the bag straight away! In fact I had realised after I bought it that I did already have a cross body bag, it is a Proenza Schouler one (cost about £800) - rather embarrassing I forgot about it as its a gorgeous bag, however, I have carried on using my Radley. When I looked it up, I realised that John Lewis sell the Radley bag for £99 and it's supposed to come with the dog tag. Looks like I got me a tk maxx bargain! Hope you enjoy your bag OP.

I love mine- lasted years. Have about five all bought for me as Christmas presents so very lucky! They are well made and my leather cross body one going strong five years on, if a little scuffed on the leather. Am on second purse, first one lasted five years.

And I like the dog!

DH has bought me a Radley clutch bag for Christmas from eBay because it looks vintage & goes with the dress I'm wearing. You're telling me they're sort of designer?

I find a lot of Radley too twee for me but I'm on my third Radley cross body bag. Really well made and functional, and no scottie tags.

I have other Radley accessories, umbrella, phone case, change purse, fold up shopping bags galore etc. As I have always had real scottie dogs, people keep buying me them.

I think they have done a lot to improve their design and lose their naff reputation recently.

I bought my fashionable little sister (23) a powder blue one for her birthday (not to my taste but there you go!). She loves it!

Radley bags are good quality and last well. The one you are considering OP looks perfect for work IMO.

I'm scratching my head to think of a single handbag brand where I consider that all of the different styles are equally nice. It's nuts to say that a bag is nice or stylish purely on brand alone.

I have the Thurloe, it was on sale recently. It's beautiful, roomy and doesn't have the dog.

1. Do you like the bag? 2. Is it well made? 3. Can you afford it? 4. Do YOU like it?

If so, buy it. Bollocks to the branding.

At the moment it seems to be Michael Kors bags everywhere, next year it will be another name.

I simply don't understand handbag snobbery. SinglePringle has it occurred to you that most people don't want statement handbags? Like me they just want something practical that doesn't fall apart after a few weeks.

I am completely oblivious to what brand of handbag other people have. Owning a designer bag is not something I aspire to because it isn't important to me.

This sounds like reverse snobbery, but it really isn't. It's just not something I care about. If anything, I judge people who judge what handbags other women carry.

I think people should think less about brand names and more about their own opinion. If you like something, then that is good enough. It doesn't matter if the woman sitting next to you on the train approves of your taste.
Personally, I think Radley are pretty good quality and last well, so if your bags tend to take a battering, then you could do a lot worse than a Radley.

My current fav brand is Coach. Their bags are also excellent quality and they have very good sales.

Another vote for the radley bag

I have this one £120 in the JL sale a few years back

www.kapplanroofing.com/radley-bags/radley-border-large-cross-body-bags-sale-online.html

It's worn used and still looks lovely. I have no idea who would say they are chavvy. I've never heard of that till today. They are verypopular. I'd say Michael Kors bags are more 'common' now - as in I see more of them than Radleys. End of the day, who cares and who is really that high up in the world of fashion on these boards.

If you like it, buy it :)

I have the be

I have the de Beauvoir tote in Grey and really like it. It's great for work, can fit in a lap top and is still neat. I tends to be my 'go to' bag for work - more so than my Bayswater which weighs a tonne and doesn't fit over my shoulder - as it's practical and really well made. I also have 2 pocket essentials totes, which I think are better made than the long champs le pilage bags. I think radley are well made classic bags. They might not set the fashion world on fire but they're good value for money. If you font like the dog tags, take them off! I also have a couple of fossil bags and always remove the key from those, as don't like that either. If you like the bag OP, then get it!

Ah someone mentioned Michael Kors. Again my other handbag bug bear. MK bags are basically decent quality copies of designer bags (why no one has sued them is a mystery). If you can't afford the designer version, why wouldn't you get an MK bag and who cares if everyone has got it? I say this because 2 of my most useful bags are my jetset (I have a medium for hanging out with the kids on the weekend) and a large which I use as a travel bag for family holidays. Each one is like a tardis just perfect for family days.

Another here who agrees that Radley bags are beautifully made and last for ages and ages.

I mentioned it! And I have one! Don't care at all whether they are seen as common or chavvy. All handbags copy each other. My MK one is actually pretty decent, has lasted amazingly (it's over 5years old), holds everything I need and is a good back up to the Radly for when I need more space.

I'm aware people don't like them, but I didn't buy it for them

So many lovely comments thanks all. But it's funny to see someone say they dont like it coz the design is neat n prissy ...I would rather have a neat n muted design than tge brand name printed all over ( each to their own)...I was bit confused coz I hav never owned a radley...n was intrigued by some of the comment in other threads..

I have several in different styles and colours and I love them.

On my commute I see loads of women with Radleys so they are very popular. I also see loads of women carrying bags that I think are minging but I wouldn't presume to tell them that as I'm not a knob.