Jessica Alba took her daughter to dance class last Friday (April 6) and even if she was only wearing a casual outfit, she looked smart and presentable. Good style can do this for a person. What made Jessica extra chic was her woven bag.

Ralph Lauren made Jessica Alba’s bag. It is currently available in the brand’s online store:

Ralph Lauren Woven Tiffin bag

The bag, made in Italy, is made of woven calfskin. The purse has a classic style that will match any outfit. It’s a smart bag that can be carried to work as well as many other places. It has a single top handle with a removable shoulder strap. The price tag on this baby? $3500.

We love how Jessica Alba sometimes removes tags, tassels and the other accessories of her bag to make them look more sleek. With this bag, Jessica removed the hanging tag and the copper lock accent.

A similar, less luxurious bag is available in eBags.

Badgley Mischka Willow Woven Bag

Like Jessica’s bag, this yellow bag has a woven flap and a single top handle. While not as gorgeous as the actress’ Ralph Lauren purse, this Willow bag would make a great alternative because it is way cheaper at $455. The bag is also available in eBags in 2 more colors.

Badgley Mischka Willow Bag in Black

Badgley Mischka Willow Bag in White

The bag is made of cow leather. It has a 6-month warranty against manufacturer’s defect.

*photo credit: Jessica-Alba.org

By now, we must’ve already gotten the message across how much we love woven handbags and purses here on our blog. But maybe it’s time to explain why exactly we’re so crazy about them. Why woven handbags? Why not knit, quilted or even leather handbags?

Aside from being big fans of woven textures (or just about anything woven, in fact), we specifically love woven handbags for the plain and simple reason that they will never go out of style. The woven style on handbags will always be in fashion. And here are 5 great reasons why:

1. Weaving is a classic

We wrote in our About page that the very first woven bag apeared sometime in the late 17th Century. But as you may know, weaving has been used in history even way before that (think as far as 2.6 million years ago). Weaving has undergone the most rigorous, most thorough and most reliable test of endurance there is: time. If the art of weaving isn’t considered a classic, then we don’t know what is.

Put the art of weaving on a handbag and you’ve got yourself one style, age and time transcending accessory.

Vintage Native American Indian woven bag, $228.00; Vintage patterned woven shoulder bag, $128.00 both at Free People

2. Woven handbags are versatile

Because of the different types of weaves and different kinds of materials that can be used for a woven handbag, it is one of the most versatile accessories there is.

Use twill plaiting and raffia for a tote and you’ve got yourself a woven handbag ready for a day at the beach. Use the popular basket weave on commonplace leather material and you’ll end up with a gorgeous for-everyday tote. Use an intricate weave pattern on a shiny satin fabric and you’ll have a lovely little clutch ready for a night on the town.

With so many combinations, so many techniques and so many ways, you can see why designers love to use weaving on handbags. Even Bottega Venetta has decided to use a woven pattern as their signature instead of brandishing their logo on every single on of their products.

Clockwise from top left: Chloe Ethel woven sheepskin tote, $1,186.00 (was $1,395.00) at Bluefly; Nine West Isola straw tote, $46.99 (was $79.00) at 6pm; Burberry Prorsum Christie woven raffia satchel, $1,195.00 at Luisa Via Roma; Bottega Veneta mini knot clutch, $2,320.00 at Saks Fifth Avenue

3. Woven handbags mix and match with almost anything

The fact that woven handbags are so versatile also makes them easy to mix and match with virtually almost anything in your closet. Heading to work? Take a woven satchel like the Burberry Prorsum Christie satchel in the above picture with you. Got a hot date? Tuck a tiny woven clutch like the Bottega Veneta mini knot clutch under your arm.

You can create pretty much any type of look with a woven handbag. And because they are woven, they instantly add an interesting texture to any outfit. We also think that woven handbags can be worn year-round. Depending on the style of course, woven handbags can be used whether it be spring, summer, winter or fall.

Beautiful blondes with their woven handbags: Cameron Diaz is ready for spring, Blake Lively at the beach and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in autumn colors

4. Woven handbags only get better with age

We love our woven handbags because the older they get, the better they look. The weaving settles in the more and more we use them. They fall into their shape, almost like they have a life of their own.

We’re waxing poetic at this point so we should say that woven handbags get better with age if they’re well taken care of. But then again, there are woven handbags that look better when they show signs of wear. Take a raffia or a straw tote for example — those things become softer, get more character and somehow even become roomier the more and more you use them.

5. Woven handbags are beautiful to look at

Lastly, designers will continue using weaving techniques for handbags simply because they’re beautiful to look at. They’re beautiful not in a trendy, of-the-moment, must-have-now way, but in a classic, last-forever kind of way.

There you have it, the 5 reasons why woven handbags will never go out style. If you’ve got one or a whole collection of woven handbags, hold on to them, keep them and take care of them. Cherish them to the point of purchasing them an engagement ring at 77diamonds or at Tiffany’s because like a faithful partner, they will stay with you for years to come.

Sienna Miller looked happy as she walked to the 54th International Art Exhibition held at the La Biennale in Venice, Italy yesterday (November 2). The actress went to the art exhibit with her boyfriend Tom Sturridge.

Sienna had on blue denims and an off-white sweater and carried a simple black weave bag with leather handles and gold hardware.

We were able to ID Sienna’s bag but have been unable to track it online. We just know that the bag is from Miu Miu because of the raised logo lettering of the brand.

We did find two woven bags from the same brand from Bluefly:

Miu Miu Cornhusk Woven Convertible

This black bag is made of cornhusk exterior with leather trim. The bag has a flap with a turn-lock closure. At the back of the bag there is a raised logo lettering. The bag has a detachable strap so you  can convert this top-handle tote into a shoulder bag. The bag sells for $1,116.

Here’s another woven bag from Miu Miu.

Miu Miu Beige Rafia Belted Tote

This bag is also $1,116. It is made of beige raffia and brown leather trim. The bag has a top-handle with two fold-over straps in front. The bag has a metal logo lettering at the top.