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This post features a review on my Strathberry East West Bag.
As I’m sitting at a café writing this post, my tried-and-true Strathberry East West Bag is right next to my laptop.
Over the past four years, I’ve gotten four color variations of this same style in the mini version. These versatile bags have come with me to work, errands, events, to special occasions, and everything in between!
As someone who loves handbags, I know that each one that I bring into my collection has to be functional and easy to go with different outfits.
I’ve used this Strathberry East West bag many, many times before and wanted to truly get a sense of how it feels before sharing my honest thoughts.
Note: I have the mini versions of this bag but these details still apply to the larger size version. The main difference between the two is that the larger one fits more inside. To be exact, it’s five centimeters (two inches) longer in width and four centimeters (1.57 inches) taller.
So many people have been seen wearing Strathberry bags before, including the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, Katie Holmes, Vanessa Hudgens, Margot Robbie, and more.
If you’re on the fence about whether or not this Strathberry bag is worth it, read on for all the details you need to know.
Note: Strathberry sent me their East West bags as a gift and this post may use affiliate links, but all opinions and recommendations are my own (as always).
Shop The Story: Strathberry East West Bags
(Mini Version)
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About Strathberry
Strathberry was started in 2013 by a husband-and-wife team Guy and Leeanne Hundleby. It’s an Edinburgh-based brand that specializes in luxury leather goods. In addition to their handbags, they also carry wallets, jewelry, and cashmere scarves and wraps.
I first heard about the brand in 2021 and have met some of their team members a few times who have always been so friendly.
Where did the brand’s name come from? According to Hundleby on their website, she says, “With the name Strathberry, we really wanted to honour our Scottish roots and named the brand after the word Strath, meaning wide river valley in Scots. In the past, berries were used to dye the traditional Scottish fabric and materials. This is where Strathberry comes from.”
Unboxing: Strathberry East West Mini Bag
I was so excited each time my Strathberry bag arrived in the mail. It comes in a chic black box and the bag is tucked inside tissue paper and a dust bag that doubles as a little reusable tote bag.
Although the box and bag were smaller than I expected, I’m happy with the overall size of the mini version. Over the years, I’ve carried it so many times and it stores my essentials: wallet, keys, headphones, and lipstick. It’s still pretty small and doesn’t fit much else but I usually also bring a tote bag with me when I’m out anyway and put other items like my phone and laptop in there.
Personally, I like the aesthetic of smaller bags more so that’s why I chose the mini version. But the Strathberry East West Bag also comes in a larger original size that does fit most phones and more items.
Design Elements
What I love about the Strathberry East West Bag is how versatile it is for an everyday look or to go with evening wear.
The iconic silhouette is effortlessly elegant and looks luxurious without any flashy logos.
This bag is a best-selling silhouette for the Scottish brand, and I can see why. It’s well made with the highest quality materials, and the two sizes come in a variety of colors.
The style is classic, yet trendy. Over the years, it’s been a popular bag and I have a feeling it will continue to be for a long time.
The design features the brand’s signature Strathberry Music Bar as a functional closure that’s super easy to open and close. Fun fact: this was inspired by leather sheet music folios of musicians and performers.
There are two internal compartments that make organization easy. I usually put my wallet in the inner part and keys and a lipstick in the outer part.
As for the lightweight chain strap, I love that it’s gold in color to match with my jewelry. Some styles come with a silver chain if that’s more your style.
It’s also convenient that you can wear this bag as a crossbody bag for hands-free ease or as a shoulder bag.
Colors
The brand frequently switches up their colors for the East West Bag (mini and original) to keep it fresh. There are usually the classic ones always available (Vanilla, Black, White, Bottle Green, and the Croc-Embossed versions).
Most of the ones I’ve gotten were part of that season’s collection which makes it special. My absolute favorite is a Lace Lilac version. I also have a green one with floral embroidery, a color block one that fits the autumn aesthetic with brown and orange tones, and the classic Croc-Embossed Leather Bottle Green one.
Shop The Story: Strathberry East West Bags
(Original Size / Larger Version)
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Craftsmanship
After using this bag a lot throughout four years, I can say that the quality holds up. The calf leather doesn’t scratch easily and I haven’t had any issues with it.
Each Strathberry is made with up to 80 pattern pieces of premium leather, and has over 2,000 stitches. They’re designed in Scotland and hand-finished by expert leather artisans in the mountain regions of Spain.
Price And Value
Now, let’s talk about the price point. The Strathberry East West Mini is $645 and the original size is $775 (may vary depending on the color/materials).
In my opinion, I think it’s a great mid-price luxury bag that feels upscale. If you use it as much as I do, then you’ll definitely get the value considering cost per wear!
For someone who’s always on the go living in New York City, I always look for pieces — whether it be clothes, shoes, or a bag — that’s functional, stylish, and can easily transition from day to night. And to me, this bag checks all of those boxes.
It’s still an investment, so consider how this bag fits for your personal taste and lifestyle. Think about how often you’ll use it and where you’ll wear it.
Pros And Cons
Pros: Benefits of this bag
- It’s a classic style you can use for years and years
- Versatile design that can be dressed up or down
- Made with the highest standards of craftsmanship
- Could be worn as a crossbody bag or a shoulder bag
- It comes in a mini and larger size
- Different colors to choose from
- Supports a sustainable brand that creates products in small batches
Cons: Potential drawbacks to consider
- It’s considered mid-priced for a luxury bag but still an investment
- The croc-embossed style is slightly stiff at first (needs to break in a bit)
- Some of the colors and designs are limited-edition (if you see a rare color you love in this style, I recommend you get it before it’s gone!)
- The mini size stores essentials but doesn’t fit too much (the original size fits more)
Shop More Strathberry Styles
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Final Thoughts: Strathberry East West Handbag
Overall, the Strathberry East West bag is the only bag I own in several colors. My collection of these four bags always sits on the top shelf of my handbag closet because I love them that much.
Are they worth it? Considering the amount of times I’ve worn them, I’d say they are worth the price per wear. So many people from friends to strangers on the street have complimented this bag and asked me where it’s from.
After I got this style, I also got the brand’s Mosaic Nano Bag and Nano Tote Bag.
But whether it’s worth it really depends on your personal style and how often you’ll use it.
If this is your first bag from Strathberry, I’d recommend to go with a neutral shade like the Vanilla, Brown, or Black so you can easily match with different outfits and get a feel of how you like it!
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