Strathberry East/West Bag - My Honest Review
Hello everyone! Happy weekend!
So, as I promised on my Instagram a few days ago, today, I want to finally share a detailed review of the East/West bag from Strathberry. It's the fourth handbag I decided to keep after my big closet declutter - I already wrote a review of my work bag, backpack, and crossbody purse here. Now I want to share my honest opinion about the most elegant option I own, and I hope today's post will be helpful for those thinking about adding this iconic model to their collection as well.
Strathberry is an Edinburgh-based brand specializing in luxury leather goods, founded in 2013 by husband-and-wife team Guy and Leeanne Hundleby. Their products are handcrafted in Spain using only the finest ethically sourced Spanish leathers and finishes. I also appreciate the Strathberry brand's sustainable approach to fashion and responsible practices. Their bags are produced in limited runs and designed to be cherished for years to come.
Although I discovered the brand in 2018, I got my first handbag more than three years later and decided on the East/West Mini model. I wanted to order it earlier, however - after Meghan Markle was spotted in Edinburgh (February'18, here) carrying this model in bottled green to match her navy and green tartan plaid coat, this bag became very popular and sold out almost everywhere. And when it comes to handbags, I always follow my intuition and personal style when adding a new purse to my collection. But – there are two women whose outfits I just love to look at when I'm trying to find new inspiration – Meghan Markle and Kelly Rutherford. I can not even tell how many unique handbag brands I discovered because of these ladies! Strathberry, DeMellier, Aspinal of London, Polene Paris, Cuyana - all these brands have become some of my favorites over the last few years and have proven that you don't need big designer labels to build a beautiful and timeless handbag collection.
So, when I finally became the happy owner of an East/West purse, I was delighted with the quality and design! The bag came beautifully wrapped in an aesthetic dust bag made of organic cotton and an elegant black cardboard box with a Strathberry logo (tissue paper and the box are fully recyclable). It was a really enjoyable unboxing experience! Still, I didn't share it on my Instagram or blog too much because I try to avoid sharing opinions about more pricey items before trying them out for at least a few months. Simply, on social media, everything might look beautiful, but then comes real life, and whether such a purchase will work for us depends on many factors, such as our lifestyle, quality expectations, etc.
As for the East/West Mini bag, I fell in love with the design and knew I wanted to add it to my collection. But I tried to style it with a couple of outfits and realized it was a little bit too small for me, so I switched the size to the classic one and stepped back from my ‘fashion comfort zone’ by ordering a bottled green color instead of black.
If you also live in Germany, the great thing about Strathberry is that their designs are available on the Zalando website, where the shipping and returns are free. It really helps to make a thoughtful decision about such a purchase because the brand is quite pricy, and it's great to have an opportunity to try out different options before deciding on a specific size and color.
In today's review, I share my experience after ordering this handbag from the original Strathberry store, so unfortunately, I'm not able to say if there will be any differences (for example, in the packaging) if you decide to buy this bag at Zalando (or Nordstrom, Shopbop, etc.). However, I want to point out that this review is not sponsored by Strathberry or any of the online stores I mention in this post. As some of you might know, I decided to quit Instagram partnerships almost two years ago, and this spring, I'll also be closing my main IG account - @ewelinakanty. And as for the blog, I only use affiliated links here - for now, it's the only way you can support the work I put into creating my content. I'll let you guys know if anything changes in this topic, but as I mentioned, today's bag review is not sponsored, and I hope it will be helpful for those of you who are looking for something a bit different, with a pop of color, etc.
So now, let's move on to the East/West bag details:
Color.
As I mentioned, I decided on smooth leather in a bottled green color, and I'm happy with my choice. But not because it's the most famous model from their collection or because Meghan Markle has worn it. Simply, it's just the most beautiful shade of green I could imagine, it works perfectly with the rest of my closet, and it was nice to finally add a pop of color to my small handbag collection. Still, when buying a purse in color other than black or neutral, I recommend always opting for something that harmonizes with your wardrobe. Personally, I decided on a deep, muted green shade because, in my opinion, it works well with black, navy, cream, ivory, and caramel, and these are the colors that my wardrobe mainly consists of. What I also like about Strathberry is that the color looks the same in real life as on the photos from their official website - it's not khaki or petrol blue shade - it's just an actual bottled green color with pale gold hardware, black edge paint, green stitching, and beige lining.
Design
The East/West model is a classic example of a structured bag with a top flap closure - it's composed of separate leather panels strategically stitched together to create a boxy shape. When it comes to dimensions, here are the details:
Depth: 9cm (3.5")
Width: 23cm (9.1")
Height: 16cm (6.3")
The bag has four metal eyelets for sliding the chain strap, a magnetic closure (hidden under the leather), and the front bar, which is Strathberry signature but also helps keep the bag closed and secured. It has no metal studs at the bottom, but because of the edge paint, there is no chance of damaging the leather when putting the bag directly on the chair, floor, etc.
Regarding the East/West model's design, I'm just amazed at how versatile this bag is! Of course, it's not my first choice when I'm in a rush or have planned many activities for the day, but still, I'm very impressed with how pleasant it is to carry this bag and how easy it is to dress it up or down.
It looks fabulous with more official outfits - this design is very sophisticated and eye-catching. But personally, my favorite way to style it is by pairing it with monochromatic outfits (trousers, sweaters, and coats in a similar color palette) or with jeans, a white shirt, and sneakers. Also, it's a great vacation bag - especially if you decide on a mini version (for me, it turned out to be too small, but I still think it's the perfect size to take you seamlessly from day to evening wear and it won't take up much space in your suitcase). Because of its versatility, you can style it with linen dresses, shorts, cute summer tops, or even joggers and sweatshirts while traveling. It might also become your go-to option for a date, dinner, concert, family event, etc.
Leather
Moving on to the most crucial part - the quality of the leather. When I was ordering the East/West bag, it was available in two options, smooth leather or leather with an embossed croc finish. I decided on soft leather because it's more versatile and not shiny. The croc effect looks lovely on the website, but I'm afraid I would use a bag with such a finish only during autumn/winter months (in my opinion, such bags usually look heavier due to their texture).
Even though my option is not a very textured leather, I'm pleased with its quality and how the leather has lasted over the course of time so far. I admit it becomes softer with every use and might wrinkle around the metal parts (eyelets and the front bar), but it doesn't bother me, especially since, so far, this doesn't affect the bag's shape. I can also tell that the front metal bar leaves a slight mark on the leather flap, but again, since it's part of the closure which holds this top flap in place, I'm not complaining.
About the scratches - you can tell I'm a huge fan of handbags made of smooth leather, and over the past few years, I've learned how to care for them properly so that they always look neat and serve me for years. But the truth is - when buying a handbag made of delicate, smooth leather, you must accept that you will scratch it sooner or later. Of course, sometimes this can be due to poor quality and thin materials, but sometimes it's just bad luck. So you have two options. You can carry and enjoy the handbag you bought. Or, you can hide it in your closet and worry about every scratch. I remember when in the past, I mainly collected bags made of saffiano leather because I hoped they would last longer. And yes, they were durable, but to be honest, I didn't really like such a leather finish - it was glossy, stiff, and sometimes looked and felt like plastic. Now, all the handbags I own are made of grained leather (that is still very soft) or smooth leather, and even though I have some scratches, I genuinely enjoy my little collection, and I would not replace it with anything else. To be sure that my purses will last longer, I always store them properly - I use handbag shapers/cotton dust bags and clean them after each season using a cleaner and lotion dedicated to delicate leather. And when it comes to my East/West handbag from Strathberry, I can't complain about its quality. The leather is soft but still quite thick, the craftsmanship is really on point, and I can tell they paid a lot of attention to the details, like stitching, edge paint, lining, etc.
Hardware and logo
When choosing the hardware, I decided on a gold option. It's a champagne/pale gold shade. It might be a bit too yellowish for some people, but this color is great for me because it goes lovely with bottled green leather. The chain strap is pretty long, so you can wear the East/West model as a shoulder purse or crossbody bag.
Single strap drop: 53cm (20.9")
Double strap drop: 29cm (11.4")
The rounded chain has a woven texture, so it feels really nice on the shoulder. It's not heavy, and I find it very comfortable for everyday use. The front bar is also made of metal and has the same shade of gold. It's also the only part of the hardware where I noticed small areas when the gold has come off a bit. But for now, it's nothing super visible, and I can't complain because I touch that part every time I open and close the bag. However, the chain still looks brand new, and if the gold on the front bar will not hold as well as on the chain, it will be entirely understandable for me because, as I said, it's part of the closure. Regarding the logo, the bag has a small Strathberry mark on the front part that is also gold and very discreet.
Interior
The East/West model has a soft microfibre lining in light beige. It feels very luxurious and might look like real suede, but because it's not genuine leather, it makes the bag not as heavy - the bag's weight is 650g. If there's one thing I'd personally change about the design of an East/West bag, it's the color of the lining – it's beautiful, but something darker like navy blue or bottled green would be easier to clean. The bag has two compartments and one small slip pocket, and here's a short list of items I'm able to fit into it:
big wallet
sunglasses with etui
iPhone 13 Pro Max
the small make-up bag where I put lip balm, pressed powder with a mirror, small perfume
tissue
AirPods
keys with etui
The East/West Model
On My Wishlist
Price
The current price for the East/West model is €655 ($775), and the mini version cost €545 ($645). So, the brand is definitely on the pricy side, but the good news is that it's possible to find their bags on sale. When writing today's review, I checked out a few online stores (Nordstrom, Shopbop, Saks Fifth Avenue, Zalando) and the official Strathberry website and found a lot of options with 20-25% off.
If you asked me if the East/West bag is worth its price, my answer would be - as for the price point, this specific model exceeded my expectations, not just in its quality but also in its design. Because let's be honest - there are a lot of new brands on the market that offer quality and sustainable handbags for more affordable prices. They often point out that they provide a luxury product for less, but the problem is that all these bags look very similar. And I don't know if you agree with me, but I feel like it's easy to buy a quality bag these days for a reasonable price, but it's more challenging to find a model that will be well-made and unique by its design. That's the reason I'm happy I discovered Strathberry. It's one of these brands where creativity meets quality - their bags are different but still very timeless, and I think it's an excellent option for those who are looking for something luxurious yet unique but don't want to spend thousands. Also, when discussing the Strathberry price point, we can't forget that it's still a niche brand. Their products are not mass-produced; each piece takes some of the world's most talented artisans at least 20 hours to meticulously craft by hand.
I really hope today's review of the East/West bag (with all its pros and cons) was helpful for you! From my side, I can tell that even though this famous model is my first Strathberry bag, it won't be the last one. I've been eyeing a few styles and small accessories from their online store for a while now, and I hope to add some of them to my collection in the future.
*This post is not sponsored, but it does contain affiliate links.