I have to admit, I don’t look to Princess Catherine for fashion inspiration all that often. It’s not that I think she doesn’t have style—on the contrary, I think she has a fantastic eye for color and fit, and I’d jump at the chance to raid her eveningwear collection. But she tends to dress in a much more polished, old-school sort of way very befitting of a royal, but less so for a New York fashion editor. There is, however, at least one item of Middleton’s that made my heart sing the moment I spotted it. So much so, in fact, that it inspired me to pick up a version of my very own. That item is, of course, the Strathberry Mosaic Nano bag. And let me tell you, it absolutely lives up to the hype.
Worth It: Kate Middleton Is Obsessed with this Scottish Handbag Brand, and So Am I
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Published Feb 14, 2025
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Abby Hepworth for PureWow
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Beyond earning the Princess’s stamp of approval (and mine), Strathberry has also found fans in Meghan Markle, Katie Holmes, Lady Gaga, Kerry Washington and Jennifer Lopez. The Scottish brand was founded in 2013 and specializes in leather handbags that straddle the line between rigidly structured and relaxed bohemian, always with its signature music bar-inspired hardware.
I can’t remember how I first became acquainted with the brand, but did already own a Strathberry shoulder bag before I spotted Middleton carrying the Mosaic Nano in December 2023. One year earlier I’d stalked numerous Strathberry styles on The RealReal before finally treating myself to a Box Crescent shoulder bag in an eggplant purple hue with bright pink trim and gold hardware. So rather than go through the usual hemming and hawing about whether or not I thought the Mosaic Nano would really be worth adding to my collection, I already knew the quality would be impeccable.
I really wouldn’t expect anything less than the best for the future Queen of England, but still, there are a lot of handbag brands out there that claim to be high quality yet affordable (at least more affordable than high-end designers like Hermés, Chanel or The Row). Not all of them can deliver on that promise, but Strathberry is an exception. The viral @tanner.leatherstein Instagram account has done multiple videos breaking down Strathberry bags to inspect the quality, including estimations on the markup, and passed his rigorous testing with flying colors. (He actually flew to Barcelona and visited the tanneries where the leather comes from to inspect the factories’ conditions and quality.) Despite the fact that my list of requirements for a handbag as definitively less rigorous, the Mosaic Nano checked all my boxes too.
Abby Hepworth
The Mosaic Nano is the ideal size for a night out or casual weekend afternoon and comfortably fits my phone, card case and keys, with additional room for other essentials like lip balm, headphones or earbuds, my passport and even my Kindle. The small-but-mighty size has made this a go-to for travel, especially because of the magnetic flap. It has enough hold to feel secure (bumping into a table corner or brushing against a column won’t cause it to suddenly pop open), but it’s still easy enough to maneuver with one hand if need be.
The top handle fits nicely over my wrist, though I can’t really hook it around my elbow. And the included crossbody strap is both adjustable and removable, giving you plenty of wear options. The leather also feels gorgeous IRL. It’s supple but not too soft, and I feel confident it will hold its shape well over the years, partly because my OG Strathberry Box Crescent bag has held up extremely well since I acquired it (secondhand, remember) in 2022. In fact, I was so impressed with the Mosaic Nano, I’ve since picked up a classic Crescent bag as well.
Abby Hepworth
Strathberry
All three Strathberry styles are ones I reach for regularly. They’re incredibly well-made, look fabulous and the sizes/shapes are so well designed, with ample room for my needments without ever feeling bulky or overly large. Using Middleton as shopping inspiration is not exactly what I’d call affordable (hence my repeated secondhand hunts), but there’s no denying she has an eye for quality pieces that are well worth the splurge.
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