Some Of The Best Handbags I’ve Seen Are From This Affordable Heritage Brand – And You’ll Want Them All

When I started my first job, I remember conscientiously saving for months to buy my mum a Radley bag for her birthday. She loved the brand – I remember the Scottie dog-shaped logo on her matching purse – and I thought of it as a grown-up label, one that wasn’t necessarily for my friends or me, but something that suited my mother’s polished style. For over 25 years, Radley cultivated this dependable image but now, it has elevated its designs to entirely new heights.

It's not exactly a relaunch, rather a more contemporary approach to design. When I first saw the new iteration of Radley bags, I was taken aback by the detailed craftsmanship and incredible quality of the leathers used; these are styles which could easily be mistaken for designer bags with a four figure price tag. There are glorious new shapes which tap into current trends but which are, simultaneously, timeless – the sort of accessories you’ll wear forever, whatever your age.

The breadth of choice is also extremely impressive. These are bags designed for every facet of your life, whether you need a chic tote in which to transport your laptop or need an everyday bag for all your essentials which still feels super-stylish. There are shearling finishes, glossy shoulder styles, practical crossbody bags and even elegant backpacks – a phrase I had assumed, until now, was oxymoronic. Affordable luxury never looked so good – the highest price is £400 which is, considering the craftsmanship behind these bags, nothing short of remarkable.

In terms of my favourites, though, it’s the curved Kensal bag for every day, along with the Blake Mews, available in two sizes. For those commuting, the Fleet Street or Chancery styles have all the smarts of a glossy tote bag but with the added convenience of a crossbody bag thanks to the genius detachable strap. The pillowy clutches, meanwhile, will be all you want to take with you to every Christmas party.

To go from strength to strength after 25 years is no mean feat these days, but Radley has made it look relatively easy. As much as I love my mum, any savings I accrue will more likely be spent stocking up on these beautiful bags for myself this year. They’re just too good to give away.

Shop: The Best Radley Bags To Invest In Now

Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter. But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.