Handbag trends change several times during the year, and a roundup of all notable trends during the ‘00s seems a bit excessive. However, 2009 saw many distinct trends after a decade – and the 1990s – of mostly basic leather handbags. From colors to patterns to sizes, handbags generally saw more of a significant transformation this year than in years’ past. Here’s what we saw this past year.

• Reptile prints. We’ve seen these on other pieces of clothing before but not handbags. Although python skin was the most popular – and this was genuine python skin for designer brands – alligator and crocodile skin both made a distinct impression. While the natural color pattern and texture of the scales was kept intact, many of these reptile prints were often dyed a solid color.
• Hobo handbags. As a throwback to the slouch purse of the ‘80s, hobo handbags were – and still are for the moment – spacious. If you’ve seen someone appear to carry a shapeless art portfolio-style bag over their shoulder, the bag is a hobo. But even on a smaller scale, these spacious bags give celebrities more space for carrying their miniature pet, a la Paris Hilton, be it a Chihuahua or a pint-size pig.
• Studs. Whether you call it rocker chic or western, studs were seen on many leather handbags this year. Not to be excessive, the studs, typically rounded silver ones, appeared on solid color leater handbags.
• Patchwork styles. Combine five different materials on a bag, and you’ve got a patchwork handbag.
• Animal prints. Jungle animals have been the most popular, although cow print has been seen. Generally, these jungle animal prints have seen on a leather or patent leather handbag.
• Brightly colored leather. From hot pinks to royal purples to metallic shades, a solid leather handbag’s color shouldn’t be dull.
• Tattoo styles. Ed Hardy clothing may be seen at your local Salvation Army but, for a few months up to the summer, everyone wanted to have this brand’s tattoo style, complete with studs and rhinestones.
• Western style. From fringe to studs, having a leather handbag fit for a rodeo suddenly became popular.

We haven’t seen too many celebrities carrying around designer patchwork bags, although the labels, such as Coach, seem to think that combining several materials on one bag is the next big thing. Coach isn’t the only brand with such styles, and Louis Vuitton carries similar patchwork handbags, including a hobo style patchwork handbag seen on Jessica Simpson recently. The bag itself, as seen in the photograph or under the link is a standard patchwork style, with the traditional monogram leather Louis Vuitton material juxtaposed with textured animal print. Beyond that, this bag is simply a variation on the typical Louis Vuitton handbag, with the sharply contrasting leopard print popping out at the bottom.

Both Coach and Louis Vuitton have a few patchwork bags added to their lines, and, for both, the patchwork style is simply a variation on their basic monogram bags. From clutches or hobo handbags, each employs a variety of materials that are stitched together. While the monogram material is included, textured cloth, such as corduroy, suede or solid leather, animal prints, and basic patterned cloth are all part of a patchwork handbag. In some cases, for more sharper contrasts, patent leather may even be added.

If you can’t afford the hefty price tags associated with Coach and Louis Vuitton handbags, many designer inspired lines carry similar patchwork handbags. These combine the similar set of fabrics listed above, but the monogrammed material is designed to appear similar to – but not quite like – the designer brand’s style. Coach is imitated more often on these bags, especially with a sans-serif C design that doesn’t quite look like Coach’s and not quite like Chanel’s. Aside from this style, other designer inspired patchwork bags are cloth only. These cloth handbags use a set of fabrics with varied patterns, such as the pinks, camouflage, and cross pattern seen on the bag under the link.

Trends some and go, and some come back reinvented as a total rehash. Take the ‘70s fashion nostalgia from 1996 to 1998. While it brought back bellbottom jeans that soon became flared leg, polyester shirts and psychedelic accessories soon passed within months. Sunglasses, on the other hand, seem to last longer, although each decade appears to be defined by a style. The ‘80s, more often than not, are associated as much with wayfarer sunglasses as much as they are with Wham! and A Flock of Seagulls and acid wash. The ‘90s, similarly, had wraparound sunglasses and grunge music for most of the decade. The ‘00s? Trends this decade were divided distinctly between those for women and men, and all styles appeared to reflect back to the ‘80s.

The most significant trend in sunglasses for the decade was oversized shades, but these were exclusively for women. This style appeared last in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s but, at the time, was basic. Designer sunglasses at the time often had a black or mock tortoise frame and dark, solid color lenses. Oversized styles for women this decade used the same basic model but became more feminine. Both frames and lenses could be pink, red, or purple and embellished with rhinestones. Juicy Couture was one of the brands for designer sunglasses with such style, although almost all designer lines for women had this style.

For men, the aviator shades were the most popular this decade. The last time aviator shades were seen, outside of a South Park episode, was the ‘80s, in which many male movie or television characters appeared with a basic black or mirrored pair. This time around, though, mirrored shades were out but gradient in, and the frame, instead of being basic metal, could be plastic and colored. This allowed for aviators to be a style also seen on women. Similarly, wayfarer sunglasses had a similar comeback at the end of the decade for both sexes, with a myriad of color and frame possibilities.

The formula for celebrity fragrances is this: Attach the name of a celebrity to a bland or overly sweet fragrance and the bottle will sell quickly for a short period of time. Not all celebrity fragrances can be Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds, and most stay on the shelves for a few years and then disappear. But, although we mentioned that celebrity fragrance sales are down – and many won’t buy a perfume with a less-than-desirable celebrity name attached – fragrance companies still churn them out. Avon, for example, put out celebrity fragrances by Reese Witherspoon and Patrick Dempsey this past year, while 50 Cent, with an album that no one noticed, came out with his first fragrance.

The latest list of celebrity and non-celebrity fragrances can be read here.

With 50 Cent, when your album doesn’t do well, you create a fragrance to make up for the copies no one bought. While Before I Self Destruct has yet to even go gold, the fragrance released around the same time called Power has a combination of musk, spices, patchouli, and woods. Most men’s colognes focus on one of these fragrance types but, as we’ve seen with celebrity fragrances before, they attempt to smell like multiple types and don’t really go anywhere. While 50 Cent says this smells like “success,” the sales of the cologne have yet to live up to that notion.

Similarly, rapper Nelly has released a fragrance to accompany his Apple Bottoms clothing line. This scent, at least by the description, appears more focused as a women’s perfume. The main notes appear to be floral with some fruit hints. The good news is, while apple blossoms do appear in the mix, the perfume isn’t scented like apples, and the upper notes of citrus, peony, and rose and offset by sandalwood and musk.

Similarly, other B and C-list performers like Faith Hill, Jennifer Lopez, and Pamela Anderson have all released fragrances – debuts or new to their line – this past year.