Think of Radley, and you're probably getting visions of brightly coloured, boxy leather bags with the distinctive doggie logo peeping back at you. The brand has certainly become a well-loved accessory stalwart, but I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking it's all a bit 'prim and proper'. The ladies I've known with Radley bags have always been smart but conservative dressers, often with an actual dog to match their luggage tags (seriously). So I was excited to hear that the label is taking a new and more adventurous direction this season, re-affirming its roots in London's alternative fashion capital, Camden Town.
For Spring/Summer 2010, the well-known styles have been all deconstructed a bit: lines softened and design experimentation ramped up. Colourful leathers still predominate, but there's more of a seaside feel, with pale slate greys, sunny yellows and candy pinks replacing the usual primaries. For the first time ever, the label has some non-leather bags too, with pretty floral fabrics and candy stripes. Even the dog motif is taking a back seat, with an option to hide him in a cute envelope charm.
I think this is a breath of new life for Radley (now called Radley London) and look forward to seeing the new range out and about from next March.
