We’ve mentioned that oversized sunglasses have mutated from overly-feminine, thick, pink-and-sparkles frames to classic thinner models in black, tortoise, or red, but over the past few weeks, another variation on this trend emerged: butterfly sunglasses. Similar in facial coverage as oversized frames, butterfly sunglasses have a triangular appearance that fans out from the middle. Unlike their oversized counterparts, butterfly frames are often angular, which is often a friendlier shape for those with round faces.

Early in December, perpetual party girl Paris Hilton was spotted in Tom Ford butterfly sunglasses. Despite the fact that the heiress essentially made oversized frames trendy early in the aughts, she goes for a classic look here, with what appears to be black angular frames with gradient brown lenses.

Khloe Kardashian, another reality TV celeb, was seen with a similar pair of Tom Ford butterfly sunglasses. While Khloe is often considered the least attractive yet the most logical out of the older Kardashian sisters, her choice of butterfly sunglasses shows she knows her fashion. The geometric style – which is supposedly in for this upcoming spring – flatters her face shape.

Jennifer Lopez, who has seen her music career get back on track over the past year, was also spotted in a similar pair of Tom Ford butterfly sunglasses. Like Paris and Khloe, J. Lo’s use of them is casual, although the classic look is ideal for nearly any occasion.

Tom Ford, at least amongst the stars, seems to be the brand of choice for butterfly sunglasses, and the high-end brand has at least three options: Calgary Butte, which has a rounded shape, and FT0175 and Nico, both of which are more geometric. Although high-end, Tom Ford isn’t known for bright colors and glitter, so all sunglasses under the brand stick with a palette of black, brown, tortoise, or Havana, with solid or gradient lenses.

Remember a couple of years ago when nearly every celebrity was sporting an ostentatious handbag, such as a purse in a bright color, with a metal-like sheen, decked out with studs, or made out of reptile skin? But, over the past few seasons, the in-your-face looks of 2008 and ’09 disappeared and have been replaced with practical options: satchels, tote bags, and luggage bags in brown, black, or white. They’re the every-occasion bags – perfect for work and for a night out. Yet, higher-end brands now appear to be going back to this trend that faded not even two years ago.

We saw the $39,000 Glazed Crocodile Backpack the Olsen twins did for The Row, and just two weeks ago, a red crocodile Hermes Birkin went for more than $200,000. Has the reptile look turned into an exclusive luxury-only item?

Since then, Reece Witherspoon was seen with such a handbag, the Chloe Python Shoulder Bag. While priced less than $4,000, it seems like a deal compared to the crocodile bags by The Row and Hermes, yet it’s far out of the price range for many.

Considering the stratospheric price range of these bags, should you even consider this a trend, or are reptile bags now relegated to the levels of – using an Occupy movement term – the one percent?

If you are truly considering this look, understand that such bags, when made with authentic materials, are in a higher price range than typical handbags. Crocodile, however, fetches considerably higher than python or snakeskin. But, that’s not to say you can’t have the look at all. Rather, be on the look for patent or genuine leather textured like reptile skin.

Because classic looks are now the fashion norm, stick with a color that will be practical for all occasions. Rather than opting for dyed purple, red, or orange, like the Legally Blonde actress’ bag, stick with black, brown, or a similar neutral shade.

Last week, color experts Pantone declared orange the “it” color for 2012. While an odd choice, Pantone bases their results on a survey of retailers, asking about the most sought-after colors. For the upcoming year, orange – well, specifically Tangerine Tango – is the most requested.

Orange is a considerable contrast from last year, when the official “it” shade was nude — or, as Pantone referenced it from its catalog of 2,100 colors, “honeysuckle.” Yet, with this night-and-day contrast over 12 months, is it possible to incorporate orange into your wardrobe?

Tangerine Tango, a reddish shade of orange, begs to be seen and, because of its boldness, inevitably becomes the center of your outfit. As a result, only go with one orange piece, be it a jacket, handbag, sunglasses, or accessory. While some designers trotted out full orange suits, such as Marc Jacobs, at the most recent Fashion Week, such designs only work on the runway. In practical application, orange should be paired with a contrasting but non-clashing shade: white, blue, or black, preferably. Red or yellow is visually jarring when paired with yellow, while green or purple ends up resembling a Halloween costume color scheme.

Aside from clothing, orange is still prevalent in makeup and accessories. For the former, orange has already been spotted as lipstick, but make sure to keep the rest of the face neutral – and back off from tanning. Otherwise, your lips and skin may end up being the same shade. Handbag-wise, some designers went for fully orange, while others incorporated it with other colors. Because of its boldness, orange makes a handbag stand out, and a solid color will definitely make a statement. Color-blocking with two or more colors is additionally in style, and pairing orange with swaths of blue, white, or black ends up toning down its intensity.

You’ve heard of Hermes bags fetching for $10,000 a pop, with former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham owning 100 of them in 2009. We even touched on Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s Glazed Crocodile Backpack for the row, which, at nearly $40,000, seemed to be the zenith of fashion opulence. Yet, this week, a Hermes handbag went for more than $200,000 at an auction in Dallas, Texas.

The bidder paid $203,150 for the Hermes Exceptional Collection Shiny Rouge H Porosus Crocodile 30cm Birkin Bag with Solid 18K White Gold and Diamond Hardware. The price is supposedly a world record for the highest price for a handbag sold at a public auction.

We’ve discussed that sales of luxury goods increase in times of economic distress, and Hermes is a prime example. Over the past few months, we have seen celebrities sporting these handbags, maybe more so than usual, and in Bing’s most-searched fashion brands of 2011, the top 10 were nearly all luxury designers, although Hermes didn’t make the list. Other high-end handbag brands, such as Gucci, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton, did, however.

Just how much of a demand is there for Hermes goods? In the same week the brand sold a handbag for the price of a house, thieves in Houston, Texas, broke into the Hermes of Paris store to grab several purses, which were valued at $7,000, watches (priced at $50,000), and other expensive items.

The question is, even with this great demand, should fashion cost this much? With all the talk in the media of the one-percent versus the 99-percent in income and economic stability, the high price on such a handbag can be considered an indicator of such a wealth gap and an example of in-your-face flaunting the disparity in purchasing power. But, income gap or not, should a handbag be priced this high?

When the economy goes south, the purchase of high-end designer brands goes up, just as we saw over a month ago with the proliferation of Hermes handbags in Hollywood. Or, on a similar note, the mere existence of, let alone demand for, the Olsen twins’ glazed crocodile backpack for The Row. Supporting this trend somewhat is Bing’s list of the most searched designer brands of 2011. Gucci tops the list, and the rest are as follows:

2. Ralph Lauren
3. Y-3
4. Louis Vuitton
5. Chanel
5. Guess
7. J.Crew
8. Coco Chanel
9. John Galliano
10. Burberry

Why do you think internet users searched these brands? Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel are somewhat self-explanatory. When it comes to showing off your designer goods, monogram handbags are the most eye-catching and essentially tell others “See what I can afford?” At the same time, counterfeiters, as well as manufacturers of designer-inspired handbags, aim often for the monogram look: it’s the most recognizable for a designer brand and, as a result, ends up bringing in more demand from consumers. Similarly, brands with a distinct style, such as Burberry’s tan, red, and black plaid, are also easily recognized.

On the other hand, how many average individuals on the street can picture the look of John Galliano’s fashion brand – his own and not Dior’s? Likely not many. Rather, Galliano predictably found his place on this list for his behavior – the anti-Semitic rant that caused him to be fired from Dior. Surprisingly, Dior did not make the list, even with its creative director given the boot and disastrous fall 2011 show at the spring Fashion Week.

What do you think of this list of top-searched fashion brands? Do you think it reflects current fashion trends, or is it too influenced by the media?