Marc Jacobs Bags at Met Costume Institute Gala

While VBH and Judith Leiber had their fair representation at Monday night’s Met Costume Institute Gala, Marc Jacobs accessories saw their spotlight thanks in part to actresses Greta Gerwig and Nicole Richie, both of whom carried the influential designer’s creations on the red carpet to match their Marc Jacobs gowns. It doesn’t hurt that both celebs got first access to not-out-yet Fall/Winter 2010 clutches! Richie’s clutch, appropriately named the “Melange Sequin Mouse Clutch” was cast in bronze and retails for $1,095. Gerwig, meanwhile, went a bit more daring and carried the “Gilda Rita Clutch” in brown which retails for $1,595. Hey, a little fur detail never hurt anyone right?

While Richie’s clutch was certainly more demure, I do appreciate that she kept it simple with her accessories. Her silver lame dress clearly did all the talking on the red carpet, and she made the right decision to keep things focused on her. Gerwig, on the other hand, opted to color contrast her Marc Jacobs gown with an off-the-kilt shade in clutch. It worked well, mostly because she exuded the confidence to pull off such a look. The Met’s exhibit paid homage to various incarnations of the “American Woman” through the decades–and here were two sparkling examples of such archetypes.

Both bags will be available for purchase at Marc Jacobs stores nationwide in August. For more information, contact the Marc Jacobs Mercer Street boutique in NYC at 212-343-1490.