By Bag Snob Kelly on February 24, 2009 1:46 pm Kelly Cook

I was at Mr. Chow’s Oscar party (coverage of that later) which I am actually still recovering from so excuse the delay of this story (and yesterday was my birthday so there is a lot to recover from, mainly my age!!). I am happy to see that people are paying more attention to the clutch and using ones that make their own statement rather than blending in and resorting to the beaded box miniaudiere, although that is still the majority of what we saw. It need not be said that Meryl Streep is the most loved actress of our time, not just for her talent but for her grace and effortless beauty. She has the perfect clutch to set off the tonal Alberta Ferretti chiffon gown. She said she wore this because she put it on and it fit. I am sure there was more to it than that!! Angelina Jolie looked happy and was quite chatty on the red carpet! I loved loved loved her striking contrasting emeralds she wore with the sleek black Elie Saab and she topped this off with the Lana Mark Cleopatra, whom she resembles doesn’t she? Everyone’s favorite comedian is way hotter than she portrays herself to be, the Zac Posen champagne gown is deceptively modest but the plunging neckline and hip hugging curves gives it all up. She chose the VBH Martini clutch in laminated silver python, which shows that she is the animal on the inside that we’ve always suspected. Such a fabulous clutch!!

I am a huge fan of contrasting, I am not a matchy matchy girl and most of the time I am mis-matched by accident but not these girls, they did it with purpose and style. Amanda Seyfried (from Mama Mia) is using the Kotur Silver Creel clutch with the giant bow Valentino gown (which seemed to have swallowed her up). Jessica Biel goes in all Prada but mixed it up with a black beaded satin Prada clutch. Wait until you see what she wore to the Mr. Chow party! Taraji Henson was absolutely stunning in Roberto Cavalli, one of the best dressed of the night! Those feminine pleats and ruffles are absolute perfection, as was her choice of a deep rich red satin Mary Norton clutch.