28 Nov Radley Man
Radley Man – Part One
Introduced on 1st November 2011, the Radley Man line is Radleys first foray into bags for gentlemen. The bags themselves use Radley’s high quality leather and fittings.
The Radley Man brand was launched with 3 distinct lines, Banbury, Belvedere, and Hampton.
An excerpt taken from the Radley Press release of the launch explaining the 3 lines:
Banbury
A casual collection inspired by festivals but with a luxury twist, the Banbury is for a man who prefers a cool and relaxed wardrobe. Using nappa leather to create that graininess suitable for the outdoors, it features handcrafted x whip stitching down the front to resemble a weave and antique brass hardware to bring together the whole theme, while bright red internal compartments bring that splash of uniqueness. The collection is available in chocolate brown and ginger tan.
Belvedere
Inspired by AW11’s Regalia trend, Belvedere is designed for the refined and sophisticated gentleman. Created using smooth mid-shine leather to produce its formal look, it features handcrafted x whip stitching on the corners of the lower piping as shown on the fronts of each bag. The choice of brightly coloured hanging tags helps bring out each man’s personality. The Belvedere range is available in black and chocolate brown.
Hampton
Lightweight, durable and smart, The Hampton range is inspired by travel. Created with smooth SL leather and combined with smart nylon to give it a contemporary modern, sporty feel. Each piece features handcrafted whip stitching on the front of the straps and the sides of the shoulder holder to give it a subtle but decorative touch. The collection is available in black with matching leather trim or grey with a brown leather trim.
Today…
Hampton has since been retired, and two new lines have been added, Chatsworth and Gosford, both of which are available in Black and Tan variants. Banbury is no longer produced in ginger tan, moorland has replaced it.
So you know, all the lines are available in the following colours:
- Banbury : Bitter chocolate and Moorland Green
- Belvedere : Bitter chocolate and Black
- Chatsworth : Black and Tan
- Gosford : Black and Tan
Now lets get to the bags themselves, and since these are man bags, we are going to list them by function, not style.
Briefcases
The briefcases show a good example of the different styles of the 4 ranges. Get one of these and make a strong statement about yourself.
Banbury
Bitter chocolate Moorland Interior view
Belvedere
Bitter chocolate Black Interior view
Belvedere Top Handle
Bitter chocolate Black Interior view
Chatsworth
Black Tan Interior view
Gosford
Black Tan Interior view
The briefcases range from £199.00 to £229.00 and are available from Radley online here
Messenger Bags
The quintessential man bag, perfect for both work and everyday use. With plenty of room in the bag itself, stylish looks and easy to carry, this is the handy bag for every man to have.
Chatsworth Small Messenger bag
Chatsworth Medium Messenger bag
Gosford Medium Messenger bag
Banbury Medium Messenger bag
Belvedere Medium Messenger bag
Banbury Large Messenger bag
Messenger bags are by far the handiest bag to carry and a must for every man. The bags range from £139.00 to £189.00 and are available from Radley online here.
Holdalls
For the traveler in you, or just for those trips to the gym, you may as well do it in style with a Radley Man Holdall. Perfect for business trips or a weekend away.
Belvedere Medium Holdall
Gosford Large Holdall
Banbury Large Holdall
Chatsworth Large Holdall
These travel essentials are available from Radley Online here and range from £249.00 to £299.00
Man bags in review.
Well, having had a good look at the bags themselves, we have to say the Radley quality just shines through. From the quirky off-coloured tags, to the lining, it’s easy to tell these are well made, well thought out designs. The briefcases are classy looking, and not dull in comparison to the majority of briefcases. The messenger bags are comfortable to wear, and are roomy enough for every man’s needs. As for the Holdalls, we love the robust construction, and they are just ideal size wise For a trip.
The leather quality is as great as expected for Radley. The rippled effect of the Banbury line and the soft soft leather of the Gosford line make these two lines stand out, but having said that both the Belvedere and Chatsworth are also objects of desire.
In short, we love these, Personally our favourites are the Gosford medium tan messenger bag, the Belvedere Bitter Chocolate Briefcase and either of the Banbury moorland or Chatsworth tan holdalls, we just can’t decide between them.
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