I’m going to say “Radley bags” and if you are familiar with the brand, what’s the first thing that pops into your head?
Might it be something adorable like this?
Or might it be something a little more understated but with a touch of whimsy and cute factor, like this?
Either style you prefer, the little Scottish Terrier will probably be the first thing to pop into your head. I used to think the same too and because I don’t do cute very well, I used to not pay much attention to the brand. That was until I hopped into the Radley store in their home base in London last year and picked myself up a wallet that did NOT feature the ubiquitous scottie. Interest piqued, I just picked up yet another item from Radley, that surprise, surprise, does NOT feature the little scottie at all, and in a satchel design I had been wanting! I’m on a bag ban, but I got an offer too good to resist (20% off store wide last week for just 1 day) – gotta be good after this 😛
For those unfamiliar to the brand, Radley is a brand of fashion accessories – bags, wallets, pouches, keychains, umbrellas (!) – from Britain. Their logo is the adorable little Scottish Terrier that appears in unexpected ways on their accessories. I’ve got some pictures of their bags below.
The indulgence I got is the Radley Grosvenor Satchel in Tan, which I’m told, is one of the designs/lines carried only in Radley stores and online (under Radley Exclusives), not at Radley counters. That’s not the reason I got it. I got it really because it was just such a perfect satchel for me in such a perfect colour! I wonder if I can blame this impulsive purchase on the friend I went proxy shopping for 😛
The Grosvenor Medium Satchel or Medium Flapover Bag is a great size for toting around on weekends or even to work. I’m trying to wean myself off carrying huge heavy bags that contain everything including the kitchen sink (or what feels like the kitchen sink). It hits right at the bum (gad! I look fat – stupid angles *so I believe* :P) and fits, to my surprise, my wallet, keys, a little makeup pouch and my camera. There are 2 flap pockets in the front and one at the back and the main flap closes with a magnetic closure, all of which suits me fine. The only thing that tells you its a Radley is the metal embossed tag and the embossing on the back. Its an otherwise understated lovely well made tan satchel in lovely soft leather, with lots of hidden compartments. Love! 😀
The downside of me telling you this is that Tan isn’t available anymore at the sole Radley boutique at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. There is another similar one in black still available when I was there last week though… if you might be interested for instance… 😉 Or there are quite a few other cross body satchels in other designs too.
Radley Boutique Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
The Grosvenor satchel also comes in a larger size that you can see in the window. I found it too awkward on me, but if what you want is an everyday bag you can take to work, that looks good and is of lovely leather, do give it a look. I like how the leather feels in this line – its more pliable 🙂
Or you could just as easily get lost in the Radley Wall of Bags.
Radley Wall of Bags at Radley boutique Kuala Lumpur
Did you see anything you fancy? 🙂 You might have spotted the LimeHouse design in blue suede (middle bottom) and you can view some real photos of it here 😉 These are the latest designs from the Spring-Summer 2011 collection.
I must confess to feeling a little surprised at how understated Radley bags look. You don’t get any loud logos or monogram and their Scottie logo is just oh so cute anyway, you won’t mind toting that one around! I did realize that most of the hangtags are detachable. A friend has the Radley Pocket Bag in black as shown above and removed the blue Scottie hangtag because they thought it too cute. I’ve seen that Pocket Bag make an appearance on many occasions and although it looks small and flat, it fits water bottles, travel documents, a scarf and a few knick-knacks picked up along the way. And to top it all off, remains looking sleek, flat and chic. Makes me want one every time I see it 😛
Here are some shots of the bags as worn by the models so you have an idea how it looks on, and also the designs I liked.
The Port of Call handheld tote in the middle is super cute in real life. Pictures don’t do it justice. I personally wouldn’t carry it, but I can appreciate cute stuff! 😀
Either one of these bags would do nicely for a working girl – roomy enough to put lots of stuff into yet not gigantic. I’m so over gigantic bags that wear me more than I wear them! These are simple yet cute.
Part of the reason I did not get the large Grosvenor satchel is because it does not transform into a cross body bag the way the Medium one does, but it can hold loads. You can loop up the strap of the Medium Satchel to turn it into a shoulder bag so its really a 2-in-1 design. I also liked the cut out design on the Queen’s Park hobo. The tone on tone design is understated yet exudes some character.
Price-wise, I’d say this is mid-priced for leather bags. I don’t quite classify it as luxury, as it does not have the long history that goes with luxury brands (Radley was founded in 1998) and I won’t consider this high end either. I personally find it reasonably affordable.
Many of the bags available are priced at about RM800 and under and wallets are about RM400 or so for the larger ones. I’ve done my comparison to the UK prices at today’s exchange of RM5- £1 and found the mark-up bearable – Between RM50-100 for those I ran comparisons for. The pricier ranges are the Radley Exclusive lines which are boutique or web store only. I find them less “cute” and less embellished and I’ll be honest, not many will like how simple they look. The quality of the leather however feels excellent and having done the circuit, I’d now rather pay RM800 for a good quality leather bag than RM2000 for designer canvas. Believe me, I’ve been there, done that and lived to tell the tale 😛
Oh I couldn’t share the news about the discount earlier because I wasn’t aware of it till it was too late, and it was a one day only thing. I will share future sales news on the MWS Facebook page and Twitter or you could also get onto the Radley Malaysia Facebook page too so you don’t miss out.
Do you own anything by Radley of London? Are you saving up for one or has your eye been caught by anything on the Wall of Bags above? Its always worth saving up for a good leather bag. Take it from me, I know! 😉
Paris B
The sole Radley Boutique in Malaysia for now is at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. I’ve seen a counter at Robinsons at The Gardens but am unsure of other locations. The Grosvenor Medium Satchel was RM1020 before 20% discount and £185 in the UK.
Isabel says
April 17, 2011 at 9:28 amThat tan Grosvenor is beautiful! The colour is indeed perfect. I’ve been wanting the Grosvernor for ages and keep peeking at the site to look at it. I like how the butter yellow looks on the site but I don’t think it’s a colour I’d actually choose if I were to purchase it.
I’m a huge fan of Radley. I think their products are well made, understated but still has a unique flavour of its own. And unlike some more expensive brands, it isn’t stamped all over with brand logo so that I feel like I’m a walking advertisement for the brand.
Congrats on your new purchase!
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 10:04 amThank you Isabel. I was captivated by the yellow one too! But I already own a yellow bag but no tan (strange but true!) So tan was a good choice for me. I agree with you about Radley bags too. They aren’t out there, but they are well made and relatively affordable and that’s important!
Sam says
April 17, 2011 at 9:34 amI don’t own anything by Radley, but now I really want to! The Pocket Bag would be great for work and I heart the satchel. Enjoy your purchase, it’s gorgeous!
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 10:04 amThank you Sam, I am! 😉 The Pocket bag comes in a few sizes and the larger sizes are really quite practical. I am constantly surprised at how much it can fit.
giddy tigress says
April 17, 2011 at 9:49 amDid a quick lookup – and saw the same satchel in Ivory, which is quite nice too!
You’ve got me hooked…I’m yearning for one too now! 🙂
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 10:05 amOops! 😉 I didn’t see the Medium sized one in Ivory but they have the larger one in Ivory and its really really nice! Just have to be a little careful but otherwise it goes with everything
xin says
April 17, 2011 at 11:02 amSuch cute satchel! And it loots looks very dirt resistance. I try to be cautious with the mine for the fear of scratching it.
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 10:06 amAh yes Suede is like that 😉 Its easy to clean leather so I’m usually not too fussed, so long as I don’t get stains on it. It did get some rain recently but dried right off 😀
synical says
April 17, 2011 at 11:50 amBack when I was shopping around for a cross body bag, I had looked at Radley, but the Pocket bag wasn’t for me (ended up with a Kate Spade I got off eBay – way cheaper :P).
My cousin bought a bag (the Pilkington, I think cos the name reminded me of idiot Karl Pilkington) for work at the 1U counter (or corner, rather) with a 30% discount. Decent prices for cute, understated leather bags, but a bit too cute for myself.
There are also counters at 1U’s Parkson and Isetan KLCC… that I can think of.
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 10:08 amThanks for the counter list! 😀 Most of the designs are too cute even for me too (I always thought Radley was just about those cutesy bags) but some of the new ones are so much more practical looking 😀 Enjoy the Kate Spade! I like Kate Spade… their colours are gorgeous!
yuki says
April 17, 2011 at 12:20 pmGosh I love Radley bags!! They’re mostly leather and are much cheaper than other designer handbags like Coach etc…. They’re sooo cute too!! I like the one you got!! So tempted to get it… hehehe… might ask my cousin over in UK to help me get one~~ during sales period, preferably 🙂
AND yes, they mark up the price… terrible… I first fell in love with Radley bags back in 2009 when I saw them in Robinsons!!!
yuki says
April 17, 2011 at 12:30 pmoh, did I mention that I love their lining?? The cloth they use inside are so nice 🙂 some are really cute!!!
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 10:09 amYes yes! I love how they are fully leather yet don’t come with too hefty a pricetag like Coach which I’ve realized is now quite poorly made since they went mass market. The older Coach leathers and workmanship was much better. The price mark up locally isn’t too bad, to be honest. I’ve seen worse. And yes, their lining! I forgot to mention it, but each bag has a different sort of fabric and its nice sturdy cotton and not some crappy nylon that we see more and more these days.
Sweetspring says
April 17, 2011 at 12:22 pmCan I say I’m IN LOVE.. wow the bags look good.
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 10:09 amFeel free to say it! 😉 Yes they do look awesome 😀
Hanny says
April 17, 2011 at 1:54 pmI love the lil terrier!! ^.^
I’m now looking for a bag that is stylish and huge enough for me to tote my laptop around… >.< Any ideas?
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 10:10 amIf you ask me, I’d use a backpack for a laptop – its the most ergonomic way to carry it. Anything else will weigh you down.
Lisa says
April 17, 2011 at 3:07 pmYou’ve got me in a fix again. I dig satchel bags especially in tan too. I’ve managed to not succumb to one of your previous red satchel writeup but this I like, can’t say no.Every aspect is cute. The size, colour, details. The medium black looks good too. Is the leather shiny? It seems to be in the picture posted. Btw, can the strap be adjusted?
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 10:11 amAiyee! Did I hatch a lemming Lisa? 😉 The leather isn’t shiny. Its smooth with a bit of a sheen, but not overly smooth as to be shiny. The strap if worn cross body cannot be adjusted. It can be looped back to turn it into a shoulder bag but that’s about it.
Shay says
April 17, 2011 at 5:32 pmNice and simple. 🙂
I don’t like large bags as well these days. Unknowingly, we just dump everything we think we need to fill in the bag. But its bad for our shoulders.
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 10:12 amPrecisely! I always feel the need to fill a large bag or it doesn’t sit up nicely. Then I wonder why I have backaches 😛
Connie De Alwis says
April 17, 2011 at 11:55 pmThat’s such a great looking bag! I’m jealous 🙁 Been bag shopping for the past few days because I realized that good looking cheap bags only last 3 weeks. blargh!
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 10:14 amTell you what Connie, set aside a bit of money every month from your paycheck and get yourself a good leather bag. I’ve gone through what you’re going through now and I always end up spending more money at the end of the day. Better to just spend a little more and get something that’ll last and look good! 😉
shuaddict says
April 18, 2011 at 8:02 amThe Grosvenor Satchel is lovely! I’ve always wanted a Radley bag, mostly because it’s something in my sort of style. I like the ones that don’t have much embroidery and embellishments so are the very ‘boring’ classic styles. I do have to ask how does the leather hold up and are they soft? Some of the bags like the boxy Terrier-embellished ones seem quite hard. Thanks.
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 10:16 amMe too! I go for the more streamlined designs. Some of the bags are of softer leather, but some of the framed or shaped bags are stiffer and don’t hold as much even if they might be bigger. My personal preference is for something softer. This is really my first Radley so I cannot quite say if it will hold up with a lot of abuse. But I don’t abuse my bags and I do clean and care for them and store them nicely so most bags don’t fall apart on me, unless they are really crappy to start with 🙂
Jo says
April 18, 2011 at 10:46 amOmigosh I love your bag!! I’ve been on the lookout for a crossbody bag (yes in a decent size!) and most of the ones I like are awfully pricey… but this is gorgeous! Love the colour. Oh no…. (cos I’m on a bag ban too!!)
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 11:04 amI know exactly how you feel Jo! When I slipped this one on, I knew it was “the one” 😀 Most of the other ones I like are wayyy off the budget too! Being on a bag ban sucks doesn’t it? 😛
Jo says
April 18, 2011 at 3:45 pmSucks major! Hey I tried to look it up online but can’t seem to find the model that you got. Help?
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 3:46 pmIts this one http://www.radley.co.uk/Product/28182_Grosvenor_Radley_Exclusives_Handbags.aspx but for some reason, Tan is not a colour offered online, just Ivory, Red, Green and Black. Tan might have been an older colour.
beetrice says
April 18, 2011 at 11:24 amkekeke…don’t blame me! *looks innocent* – can we split the blame since everyone got something? :p
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 3:30 pmWell Xin was as much to blame haha! 😀
Shen says
April 18, 2011 at 12:35 pmMe likey your satchel!!! 🙂 It’s so pretty!! 🙂
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 3:31 pmThanks Shen! I am loving it a lot too! 😀
Esther says
April 18, 2011 at 2:33 pmOMG Dear Paris, first The Cambridge Satchel and now the Radley… thanks for introducing us to all these brands which are not so boringly common like LVs and Guccis 🙂 I want the Radley Grosvenor Satchel too 🙂
ParisB says
April 18, 2011 at 3:33 pmTeehee… I do like my designer but these days, I’m into something fresher and these are, at least, not everywhere right? 😀 Glad you are enjoying these little brands and I’ll try to bring more news of these and less of the regular designers 😉 Try taking a look at your local Radley or online and see if they have it in a colour you might like – I’m really eyeing the red one but we don’t have them here.