Spotted at the 2010 Golden Globes was Julia Roberts, sporting a short vintage black dress by YSL and a flashy neck piece by Van Cleef & Arpels. Judging by the size of the heavily studded gold medallion, I would say the subdued black outfit was a good choice to match with such a statement piece that simply screamed $$$$$! Everything else about her was also toned down, from the classic black satin clutch in her hand to the classic black patent pumps on her feet.

(Photos care of Just Jared)

Julia Roberts posing on the 2010 Golden Globe Awards red carpet

Just like Julia, we all know that the black clutch is a basic accessory every girl must have in her closet. It is the best companion to go with our LBD (little black dress) or our LBG (long black gown). And on certain occasions, the gown or dress does not even have to be black to match with the clutch.

However, because it is quite a common and basic piece of accessory, a lot of women end up sporting almost the same style of clutch. If you don’t have Julia Robert’s statement medallion and you want your black clutch to stand out instead, reinvent it by buying the woven clutch. A few good examples would be the following:

Carlo Fellini Eleanor Clutch, US$60

J. Furmani Metallic Woven Clutch, US$35

Hobo International Marbella Clutch, US$158

Here is what’s new from D&G’s collection of handbags. The D&G Straw Tote.

Three views of the D&G Dolce & Gabbana Straw Tote

Although it may look like any other straw bag, it is obvious that the new D&G Straw Tote is well made. The materials used also speak of genuine quality, from the rich leather trimming to the carefully braided straw.

Contrary to how most straw bags look like, this one does not look cheap. The tag price is not cheap either, as it is priced at US$449. Yes, we will be buying a better quality bag, but does it have to be THAT expensive? Obviously in this case, the brand name dictates the price tag.

If you have the money to spend, would you purchase this piece of accessory? Or would you be practical and buy something less expensive?

I guess for anyone who has the cash to spend and doesn’t care about the price, buying this bag will require no second thoughts. For the brand conscious, buying this bag would most likely be a must.

But for the cost conscious fashionista, this is a splurge that one can do away with in place of a steal, such as the following straw tote suggestions under US$50!

Medina Leather Trimmed Basket, US$48

Straw Studios Annie Wheatstraw Tote, US$35

Bamboo 54 Pandanus Tote Trim & Shells, US$24

Have you ever seen a posh looking native bag? Chances are your answer would be a ‘no’. But here’s one from Stuart Weitzman. It’s called the Biarritz and it is a unique combination of soft patent leather and woven raffia. Interesting blend, don’t you think?

Front view, quarter view, and side view of the Stuart Weitzman Biarritz

The unusual marriage of the two materials and the bag’s classic design make it appealing and versatile to wear. Whether you’re in the city or the country, this bag will easily blend in. You can even wear it all through out the season.

Strange but beautiful combination of patent leather and woven raffia

The Stuart Weitzman Biarritz is shaped like a bucket tote, so it is deep enough to store your essentials, but at the same time, it is small enough to carry around anywhere without being too bulky.

Classic interior of the Biarritz

The bottom of the bag has base protectors (feet), so you don’t have to worry about the black patent material getting ruined when you set the bag down.

Metal base protectors to keep the luxurious patent leather bottom from getting ruined

And as a finishing touch, Stuart Weitzman used light gold hardware marked with his initials, adding more class to the already expensive looking Biarritz.

Light gold hardware trimming marked with the designer’s initials

Are your hands now itching to get hold of a Biarritz? Well, you’re in luck! Because if you buy it at Zappos.com, it will only cost you US$320. That’s more than a 50% cut from its original price of US$650. You have to hurry though, because stocks are limited.