Nude makeup has been in rotation since the 1990s, and while this might have been a swift reaction to the contour, blue eye shadow, and heavy foundation of the 1980s, the “natural” look has never gone away. As of recent, this look has gone beyond your eye shadow palette and slightly pink lipstick to your clothing and handbag. Spring and summer trends saw light pink and tan shades introduced to all forms of clothing, although these were originally marketed under the shade “flesh.” But, as retailers have realized the un-PC nature of the term (and seem to recall that Crayola changed the name of this shade to “peach” in the early 1960s), they appear to have redeemed themselves with the nude handbag.

AOL Shopping published a trend piece yesterday regarding nude handbags. They claim that these will be the only handbag you’ll need this season, as the color goes with nearly everything. But, as the pictures accompanying the article indicate, the “nude” color extends from a cream shade to Jersey Shore tan to medium brown. Some nude handbags are a solid shade, while others use two shades of “nude.” Additionally, the trend pervades all styles for fall and winter, and clutches to large hobos will all display this range of neutral shades.

If the high price tags of the bags specified in the trend piece turn you off, designer-inspired lines are displaying this trend, as well. Best Handbag Wholesale, for example, has a taupe handbag that illustrates the lighter end of this trend. Barely a cream color, this hobo handbag has a shiny exterior and drawstring closure. Nevertheless, the nude trend is often matte, and Handbag Distributor gives an example of a mid-shade of nude. Their western taupe handbag uses a tan color as the base and incorporates darker shades of brown on the sides and strap. Similarly, Wholesale Handbags USA uses a greater contrast of color with their western nude handbag and uses a western cross and rhinestones as embellishments.

Style evolution often takes existing trends and improves upon them or changes them. Rarely is a new look introduced that wipes everything out beforehand completely. At the moment, cat eye sunglasses are a perfect example of this trend. For the past decade, oversized has been the dominant look for women. While many designers still keep these in their collections, another look – wayfarers – emerged during this time. Of course, as ‘80s fashions have returned, wearing wayfarers to go with ra-ra skirts and off-the-shoulder t-shirts is simply inevitable. Cat eye sunglasses combine these two trends: the angular frame of the wayfarers with the curves and size of oversized shades.

Style Central gives a basic preview for cat eye sunglasses, but the frames in the image only give one example of this look. WhoWhatWear, on the other hand, gives a comprehensive look of which celebrities are wearing cat eye sunglasses. Of course, it’s many of the fashionistas, from those like Diane Kruger with classic style to the anything-goes boho chic of the Olsen twins.

As you can see by the WhoWhatWear piece, cat eye sunglasses are designed in several styles. For a classic look, the shades often use a color scheme similar to that of your typical oversized frames: a mock tortoise frame with black lenses. Of course, sunglasses don’t always need to be classic, and another common look, one that mirrors many wayfarer styles at the moment, is the black frames with smoke lenses style.

The look of the frames gives the sunglasses a soft or dramatic appearance. Some cat eye designer sunglasses are made entirely of rounded edges; the “cat eye” appearance comes from a swooped edge on top. But, because the sunglasses combine an ‘80s trend with one dating back to the ‘50s, the shades can have all angular edges for more emphasis in ‘80s style.

Remember when mini-backpacks were popular in the mid- to late-1990s? How trends change. While smaller was preferred when Clueless was still relevant, bigger is better in the present. Although a decent teen movie in the same vein as Clueless hasn’t come along since Mean Girls, a lack of youth-oriented pictures doesn’t mean that fashion is stagnant.

But, then again, actress Nikki Reed, who has starred in teen film Thirteen and in the recent Twilight movies, was spotted recently carrying one of these bigger-is-better bags. The Rebecca Minkoff Morning After bag she was seen with recently can’t be described as a hobo, however. The purple gem-toned bag has shape – and even some fringe hanging from the base – but the design resembles that of a duffle or bowling bag.

According to the post from Purse Page above, the Rebecca Minkoff bag is no longer available. That doesn’t mean that other brands don’t carry a similar design, however. Larger-size handbags are in right now, be it a boxy one like Nikki Reed’s bag or a hobo, and gem tones are the colors of choice. In fact, darker tones, like the purple used for Reed’s bag, are preferable.

Rather, Best Handbag Wholesale has a few styles that combine these looks. This purple leatherette handbag, for example, has a hobo style and purple gemstone color. The bag is embellished by a black, western-style cross in front. Other styles, such as this sheen leatherette handbag from Wholesale Handbags USA, go with a mellower shade for the gem tone color – think of this as a darker shade of ruby – and embellish the surface of the bag with rhinestones.

Such handbags, be it by a name brand designer or a line of designer-inspired goods, combine simplicity with eye-popping style. Not subtle but not tacky, solid-color gem tone bags go beyond ordinary black leather to give your look a dash of color.

Rhinestones have been in and out for the past few seasons. On one hand, the trend is vilified, especially after nearly every Ed Hardy design – t-shirt, handbag, pants – displays them and a bunch of glitter. But, on the other hand, various clutches seen on celebrities have used gemstones or had a crystal-encrusted appearance, in particular at the recent Emmy’s ceremony. So, what’s the difference between being classy and a Jersey Shore-wannabe-gone-Myspace Blingee?

First, consider how the rhinestones are presented. Having too much in one space is one factor that has caused many to stop wearing Ed Hardy. The brand uses an elaborate, bright-colored tattoo image on every accessory and clothing, and this is additionally highlighted by a combination of rhinestones, studs, and glitter. The combination of the bright colors, often on a brighter-colored background, and the excessive bling often give Ed Hardy gear the “trashy” label.

But, if excessive rhinestones really are your thing, spending a bit more or having a few quality pieces go much farther than having a closet full of Ed Hardy. This crystal-encrusted Alexander McQueen clutch, for example, does rhinestones just right. All crystals and studs are set on a darker-colored background and, instead of being red, are also dark in color. The small dots of silver, however, stand out and highlight the clutch.

Designer-inspired clutches, such as this rhinestone flat wallet, can be found at Best Handbag Wholesale.

Aside from the background for the rhinestones, with what are you pairing the look? Rhinestones aren’t a pattern – they’re like highlighter. Too much highlighter, and the image looks blinding. Using a few gems as a highlighter is often the right amount. These Valentino sunglasses, for example, give just the right amount. Added to the rose cutouts on both sides of the shades, the rhinestones accentuate the pattern – but not too much. Overdo it, and you’ll end up literally blinded like Snooki.

In a sense, all fashion can be considered limited edition – a collection appears at the start of the season and, after a few months, is gone soon after. In the world of sunglasses, however, some designers hold onto a few tried-and-true designs and keep them in their collections, just as long as the look is in style. But, some looks are here today and gone tomorrow – and others are labeled “limited edition.”

The latter case applies to a recent pair of Max Mara sunglasses that hit the market. These limited edition sunglasses, called “Jane,” are based on Max Mara’s aviator styles but with a distinct old-school appearance. The Jane sunglasses are said to be designed for the women traveler and, considering the history of the aviator style, this is appropriate.

Nevertheless, the features put together for the Jane sunglasses have a distinct early-1990s vibe. And, while not to discredit the style in the same vein January Jones’ dress was at the recent Emmys, the sunglasses look like a style out of an early-1990s sitcom – think of Dwayne Wayne from A Different World. In that case, you can ask yourself, “Do the lenses flip up?”

There’s a reason why some late-1980s and early-1990s styles have (yet) to return. No matter if Max Mara is going for classic style or the nostalgia factor with these sunglasses, they’ll be hard to find in a few months, and they’re only sold through the brand’s boutique stores. Specifically, each pair of Jane sunglasses has a silver or metal frame with round lenses and leather detail on the front. The brand’s name is engraved on the side.

In general, Max Mara aims for a classic look and simplicity with its designer sunglasses. Thicker plastic frames, usually in a dark or mock tortoise shade, have comprised their collection for the past few seasons.