Strathberry Box Crescent Review

Hello world! I recently acquired the Strathberry Box Crescent bag during their latest sample sale. I was lucky enough to receive it in perfect condition from their sample sale — no defects on the bag, hardware, or interior and the stitching is perfect. I’ve had it for about a week now, so here’s my initial thoughts on it!

Sample Sale

The Strathberry Box Crescent in black currently retails for £495 or $629 USD (select styles are currently on sale for 25% off, not inclusive of black). I was lucky enough to purchase it for £295 or about $375 USD. Typically when items are included in a sample sale, it’s because it’s a return, it might be a product with some kind of defect, it’s overstock, or it’s damaged. The sales associate that I was working with carefully examined the bag for any defects or damage on the bag and said that I must’ve just been very lucky because it seemed to be in perfect condition.

I was super happy to find that it actually does seem to be in perfect condition upon arrival. I check the alignment of the bag and hardware, the stitching, the hardware itself, the straps (because it came with two!), the interior, the corners, and anything else that I could possibly think of, so I figured that maybe I was just really lucky this time around.

The Crescent

The Crescent line from Strathberry has been something that has been on my radar for a while now. The silhouette is very unique and I think it takes some risks with the possibly obtrusive hardware and the overhanging design. I adore the curved bar instead of the straight bar that you typically see on Strathberry bags because it seemed a lot more whimsical, which I felt matched my personality a bit better.

There are a few Strathberry bags at department stores near me, but I’ve never seen the Box Crescent in person. I always take a really long time to make a purchase decision because I want to make sure that I like it, so when it popped up in the sample sale and I was able to secure an appointment, I was super excited because it’s definitely a bag that I’ve been interested about for a while. Check out my Stathberry Sample Sale experience, if you’re interested in hearing more about the process!

Size

The Box Crescent sits between the Mini Crescent and the Shoulder Crescent, which is the perfect size for someone who may not always carry a little or too much, like myself. Sometimes I find myself carrying only my phone and my card holder, while other times it feels like I’m packing for more than just one night on the town. That being said, this bag is spacious and it’s perfect for a petite frame.

I don’t have a “classic” black bag in my collection (the only black bag being the Coach Moon bag) because I’ve always found that a black bag can be quite overwhelming for someone that’s petite (I’m coming in at 5’3” or 160cm) if the bag’s just not the right size. Sometimes I feel like a black bag can make me look quit bulky and busy because I’m petite and busty; it really stands out with my wardrobe because I have a very light and colorful wardrobe, apart from a few staples. However, I felt like the Strathberry Box Crescent got it just right!

Here are the bag measurement specifications:

• Depth: 9cm (3.5″)
• Width: 21cm (8.3″)
• Height: 16cm (6.3″)
• Weight: 0.473kg (1.0lbs)
• Chain length: 90cm (35.4″)
• Chain drop: 43cm (16.9″)
• Strap length: 60cm (23.6″)
• Single strap drop: 31cm (12.2″)
• Strap width: 4cm (1.6″)

Construction

The leather on the Strathberry Box Crescent is super soft and is made of 100% Smooth calf leather with a microfiber lining. It’s got some nice leather grain and is soft to the touch, but the structure of the bag is solid and firm. It does not have a plastic-y feel that I dislike from some other contemporary brands, which is exactly what I would expect to accompany a £495 price tag. The quality of the leather is something that I have heard a lot of folks talking about for ages, so I’m not surprised to find that it’s true! That being said, I wouldn’t say that it’s exactly like Hermès Togo leather, but it’s still really good quality and I’m excited to see how it will patina over time.

From the side, it has an A-line profile where it tapers in at the top and is wider at the bottom. There is a small, partial divider at the bottom of the interior of the bag that makes it feel like an extension of a smaller bag. Along the back of the interior of the bag, there is a slip pocket that fits a passport or potential any other small valuables well. Inside of that pocket, I actually found a small quality inspection card with the inspector’s name, which was a nice little detail. The stitching on the bag is also even and well-done all along the bag.

The interior microfiber lining is soft, but it’s not my favorite, which is a personal preference. I have a toddler, so I prefer a leather interior so that I can more easily wipe something off in the case of an accident. The bag itself is very spacious. I can easily carry:

• iPhone 14 Pro
• Lip product
• Travel perfume
• Dior Saddle card holder
• Car keys
• Hand lotion

Because of the material and structure, the bag doesn’t appear bulky when you have your entire life in it. The bag itself also isn’t actually too heavy, so carrying a lot in it isn’t a concern.

The hardware on the bag is also not my favorite. While the overall hardware design is totally my style and the color is a good choice — a paler gold as opposed to a solid yellow gold — I’m not the biggest fan of the material. I believe that it’s made of metal, but it reels like an almost plastic-like or less dense material as opposed to a nice, solid metal. I was expecting something more akin to the chain strap on a YSL Envelope that uses heavier, brass hardware.

The Strathberry Box Crescent has a magnetic closure, which works like a charm. I would say that I do prefer the secure feeling of magnetic closure that have what looks like a button shape that the magnet can click into, but I’m not too concerned about it as the magnet seems quite strong.

This bag also comes with not one, but two different straps! Since it’s in between the Mini Crescent and the Shoulder Crescent, you get the best of both worlds in a chain strap and a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap allows the bag to be worn over the shoulder while the chain strap is better for crossbody. However, we all know that bags can get a little heavy and using a chain strap may not always be the best because they’re thin and can really dig in. When I was chatting with the sales associate, she showed me how the chain strap can be attached to the leather shoulder strap so that they could be combined to be stylish and comfortable while being worn crossbody, which is how I choose to carry it.

It’s a really comfortable bag to wear around crossbody, but if the straps are combined and worn on the shoulder, it can be a little long for someone that’s petite.

Final Thoughts

I’m pleasantly surprised by the Strathberry Box Crescent and would definitely recommend both this bag and this brand, especially for petite folks. It comes in a lot of different color ways, and there’s any some options with fun and different straps and interesting designs!

For the price point, I would say that you’re definitely getting what you pay for. The quality of the leather is nice and supple. The construction of the bag is good and sturdy. The design of the bag is unique and definitely eye-catching, while also being versatile for a work, evening out, or just errand-running setting. I’m surprised by how comfortable the bag is to wear, and I’m happy that I was finally able to try out Stathberry!