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

(Though not exactly woven, allow us to consider the crochet bag as an ‘honorary member’ of the woven category for the simple reason that it offers a similar appeal as native woven bags do, especially when the material used is of organic origin. The similarities also extend to the fact that both are  meticulously hand-crafted.)

Jessica Alba sports a lot of handbags, but one that has caught our attention is this crochet bag which she toted around for a while.

Jessica Alba wearing the Ferragamo Gancio Crochet Bag

Apart from the headbands, the one other constant companion Jessica has in these photos is this bag. We found out that this is a Ferragamo Gancio Crochet Bag. The bag looks exquisite, and it is clear to see she loves using it to complete her look

Ferragamo Gancio Crochet Bag

Speaking of the look, I’m guessing she’s either channeling ‘gypsy’ or ‘summer in the country’. Either way, she looks good with her colorful headbands and hoop earrings.

If you want Jessica’s bag but can’t afford it (priced at US$1500++), then I suggest you grab any of these equally appealing alternatives:

Cappelli Hand Crochet Toyo Bag w/ Shells, US$34

Flora Bella Santorini, US$120

Flora Bella Darwin, US$112