Rarely is Lindsay Lohan in the news for something good: no notable movie releases (playing a character like yourself in Machete doesn’t count), no fashion line success, and now charges of grand theft for supposedly stealing a necklace valued at $2,500. Although Lohan’s recent court appearance in a white Kimberly Ovitz “Glavis” dress increased sales for the designer brand, Lohan’s leggings line 6126 has faded out of department stores and is now in the process of rebranding. But not all Lohan news is bad, and similar to a story from earlier this year, the Mean Girls star is designing a handbag line, only it’s her own brand, 7286, and not for Ed Hardy.

Lohan’s designs are already appearing in stores and are presently sold at DSW Shoe Warehouse for $80 to $170 dollars. A quick look at DSW’s online store, however, shows minimal offerings: a few animal print and solid color bags in shoulder, satchel, and tote styles. Although the line will likely expand from these basics, 7286 can be summed up in a few words: dull and unoriginal.

7286 could expand to more designs just like 6126 now includes clothing and accessories. Of course, this is assuming Lohan will have time to design and won’t end up in jail. At the moment, however, why go for a Lindsay Lohan-brand handbag when such styles can be found in nearly every low- and high-end designer collection?

Instead of forking over $100 for a Lohan-designed handbag, find a designer-inspired style with the same look at a more affordable price. If you are looking for a bag similar to Lohan’s in the picture above, consider this purple leopard print handbag from Handbag Distributor. Embellished with rhinestones for a western touch, this handbag uses the same formula as Lohan’s above – leopard print in a bolder color variation.

Animal prints are still popular, but color variations are not the only options. With patent leather still a material of choice, these glossy animal print bags still retain the original colors of spots of stripes but may alter them slightly, as this animal print handbag from Wholesale Handbags USA does. With leopard spots and tiger stripes added together, the design is a collage of two popular animal prints.

Designers seem to get women’s fashion all wrong, and sunglasses are no exception. With tall and thin models displaying the latest fashions, most high-end designer attire is bound to look off and odd on the average woman (even a celebrity), and accessories for many of these lines have been colored pink or another bright hue and covered in rhinestones, studs, or other embellishments. While a few studs here or there are still trendy, not everyone wants to look like a Jersey Shore cast member, and if A-list celebrities are the barometer of trends, eyewear is taking a back-to-basic approach.

Blake Lively, a star on the girliest of girly shows Gossip Girl, was seen recently in Ray Ban wayfarer sunglasses. But instead of going for a feminine look, such as pink or red frames, the actress seen this year in The Town chose a classic look: a black frame with black lenses. In the case of Lively’s moderately androgynous look in the picture – a fedora and what appears to be a sheepskin coat – the neutral sunglasses fit right in.

Kristen Stewart, who was apparently the highest-paid actress in 2010, was also spotted recently wearing a classic pair of Ray Ban Clubmaster sunglasses. A look that debuted in 1980s, Clubmaster sunglasses have a design concept similar to wayfarers: angular lines juxtaposed with curves. Clubmaster sunglasses essentially have a half-rim look, which makes them seem automatically more masculine and look like something Chris Lowe, the soft-spoken keyboardist for the Pet Shop Boys, would have worn in a late-‘80s music video.

On the A-list for teens, Miranda Cosgrove, the star of iCarly, is seen in Christian Dior oversized sunglasses. Instead of succumbing to a more age-appropriate look, Cosgrove appears to forego the sparkles and bright colors and settles on a classic pair of shades: a black, rounded frame and dark gradient lenses.

Although slightly older and maybe now a B-list celebrity, Ali Larter, best known for television show Heros, was seen recently in Persol aviator sunglasses. Women’s aviator sunglasses, over the past few years, have become more feminine: a pink or red plastic frame with light-colored gradient lenses. Persol, much like Ray Ban, goes for unisex looks, and stars like Larter have added these neutral frames to balance out their overall feminine appearance.

Bold and big best describe handbag trends from the last two years. Hobos were in, animal or snakeskin prints covered everything, and studs were the perfect rock star – or is that western? – embellishment. For the upcoming fashion season, some of these trends are still in, so don’t retire your current purse to the closet just yet. Brands Marc Jacobs, Nina Ricci, Louis Vuitton, and Valentino have all rolled out their spring 2011 lines. Based upon what they’ve added, here is what to expect for designer inspired handbags in a few months:
• Bold but solid colors. As Marc Jacobs’ collection shows, you can be bold, but just choose one color. Louis Vuitton takes some liberties with two-tone, bold-colored handbags, but the looks aren’t much of a stretch.

• More shape. As you can see by the Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton bags, no look is shapeless this year. Everything has angles or a slight curve.
• Smaller purses or satchel styles. The latest Valentino handbags range from clutch sizes to medium-sized rectangular styles.
• Texture. Solid colors aren’t always boring. As Nina Ricci’s collection shows, textured fabric makes an ordinary pink or black clutch distinct.

• Quilted Leather. Even though Chanel has had this look for a few years, Marc Jacobs is adding the style – angular, solid-color purses with a quilted or bubble texture – to his line. Could Blake Lively, the Gossip Girl star and face of Chanel, begin to sport Jacobs’ bags instead?
• Longer Straps. While not a trend on all bags, all of these spring lines have a few looks consisting of a thin metal or leather strap attached to a clutch or medium-sized purse.
• Studs, metallic shades, and animal prints. These have been in for the past few seasons. Although Valentino toned the stud embellishments down, don’t expect any of these to drop off the fashion radar just yet.

Revamping your brand, known for decades for instant photographs, begins with collaborating with the hottest pop star of the moment. While Polaroid and Lady Gaga started working together a year ago, only recently were their camera sunglasses revealed. Shown at the Consumer Electronics Tradeshow in Las Vegas, the sunglasses function as both a digital camera and, like ordinary designer sunglasses, protective eyewear. An Instant Mobile Printer and Instant Digital Camera (get the “instant” theme yet?) also made at appearance.

While fashionistas may pass up the printer and digital camera, these sunglasses are a curious item. Gaga and Polaroid have released them under the Grey Label Line as product GL20. Although the sunglasses have Gaga’s popular shield-frame look, a camera is embedded in the frame near the nose area, allowing the user to take pictures and videos. LCD screens are added over the eyes, and the user, then, views all pictures and videos instantly on the exterior of the shades. A USB port is added to the side of the frame, allowing the user to put any pictures or videos onto a computer.

A price for the camera sunglasses has not been listed, and the product is not expected to appear in stores until later this year.

Although the camera sunglasses are a confluence between fashion and technology, can Lady Gaga’s presence (she’s Polaroid’s Creative Director) revive the camera brand? Ever since digital cameras appeared nearly 10 years ago, the brand once known for instant pictures has been disappearing along with film and darkrooms. Why would consumers continue to use a product that produces a subpar image and does not hook up to a computer?

Polaroid cameras were convenient up until about 2002, and since then, they’ve become an item with the nostalgic value of cassettes and VCRs. Too cumbersome to carry around everywhere, Polaroid cameras were always a novelty item. While the GL20, too, seems like an expensive novelty product, it could be easier to take around and, maybe briefly, make the instant picture brand relevant again.

The Situation already debuted his clothing line, which looks like an Ed Hardy knockoff, and J-Woww’s Filthy Couture came to a stop, but Snooki appears poised to be the next Jersey Shore fashion brand, according to a story from the New York Post. Not entirely recent news, Snooki was expected to get involved in designing sunglasses with J-Woww back when Filthy Couture was in the works. Instead of being J-Woww’s partner in crime, the pint-sized guidette is going off on her own.

According to the New York Post article, Snooki’s clothing line will, in initial stages, encompass slippers, jewelry, and sunglasses, all blinged out beyond recognition. Clothing, lingerie, handbags, and beauty products may be added later. Brand Happy Feet, known for the large puffy slippers Snooki wears on Jersey Shore, is already beginning to collaborate with the reality TV star.

Although no designs have appeared, what do you think Snooki’s fashion line will look like? We can suspect that she’ll capitalize on her image, going for low-cleavage clothing and brightly-colored, and rhinestone-covered accessories. But, while Sitch’s line looks like cheap Ed Hardy gear and J-Woww took the lace and corset look too far, Snooki could combine these two tawdry trends or go for something completely different.

Snooki tweeted nearly a year ago about creating a line with zip up hoodies and decals, but who knows if she will follow through. As the overly-tanned reality star is doing a book tour at the moment, her fashion line may take a while to hit stores.

Examining her fashion choices, what should we expect? Rhinestones everywhere are inevitable, and her styles will make such Valentino sunglasses seem modest. Her handbags and clothing, if added later, may even out-bling some of the recently popular western handbags.

How do you change your image from a lower-tier department store for the middle-aged set to a hipper, more youthful character? You bring the Kardashian sisters on board. But considering their recent debit card debacle, is this a wise approach for Sears? Maybe or maybe not. Although no one really associates the Kardashian clan with financial responsibility, they – Kim and sisters Kourtney and Khloe – are often photographed by the paparazzi for their fashion and handbag choices. So with a Kardashian fashion line consisting of handbags, clothing, lingerie, and jewelry coming to a Sears near you, what should you expect?

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that their line, designed for the 17 to 35 age group, promotes a curvy body image. Aside from a sex tape and reality TV shows, though, isn’t this just what Kim Kardashian, along with her sisters, is essentially famous for? The clothing line, as well, will capitalize on their individual fashion choices, but, really, how often does a celebrity clothing line capture the star’s individual style?

If their line will truly take into consideration their individual fashion choices, what would be seen on store shelves? Youngest sister Khloe seems to have the most out-there style, appearing in red and gold in May and with a pair of western handbags at the end of 2009. If we are to take these looks as representation of Khloe’s style, bold attire and western handbags best describe her look.

As far as the other two sisters are concerned, Kourtney seems to be photographed the least, while Kim, despite a rise to fame with a sex tape, appears to go for a classic look. We reported her wearing a Chanel quilted leather handbag back in October, and more recently, she has been seen with Hermes Birkin bags — even at the gym.

Taking each look into consideration, what could this Kardashian clothing line look like? A mix of classic and western handbags and bold style? We have to wait and see.

Grunge music may not be at the top of the charts (and emo pales in comparison), but a 1990s revival has appeared to be going on. Although merged with many ‘80s styles (off-the-shoulder shirts, skinny jeans, and ra-ra skirts), the looks of the early ‘90s are back on the racks with a modern interpretation. Let’s hope that the ‘70s revival and designer logo overload of the late ‘90s don’t resurface any time soon.

With flannel and skinny jeans everywhere, fashion seems to be considering Nirvana style icons again. Because of this, Kurt Cobain’s Christian Roth sunglasses may be coming to a store near you. If you can recall, Cobain sported a pair of women’s sunglasses that, if you analyze them from a modern perspective, are a cross between cat eye and oversized styles. Silver Lining Vintage, working with style restoration experts, will re-release the sunglasses at Opening Ceremony.

These sunglasses, however, aren’t exact copies of Cobain’s. The frames from the 6558 and 6556 styles by Christian Roth will be replicated, and Silver Lining Vintage has added their own tinted lenses.

Not everyone was a grunger from 1991 to 1996, however, and if you’re looking to capture this ‘90s style, various brands of designer sunglasses offer a few options.

Wayfarer frames, for example, didn’t die on January 1, 1990. Instead, they hung around for about the first half of the decade. Although the style is often associated with the ‘80s, it blends in well with any 1990s-inspired outfit. As flannel, skinny jeans, and Dr. Martin’s (or combat-style boots) are everywhere from Nordstrom’s to Forever 21, why not add a basic black pair of wayfarer sunglasses to your look?

Wraparound styles, on the other hand, are the definitive look of the ‘90s. Now relegated primarily to athletic brands, wraparound sunglasses often had dark or mirrored frames 15 years ago. For an authentic 1990s look, find a pair with a black or silver frame and black or mirrored lenses.

Wearing fur – or at least faux fur – is associated with colder weather in various parts of the world, and some designers are capitalizing on this trend. First, Chanel released their line of Fall 2010 handbags that took the looks of winter – fur, ice, snow – to another level. But Karl Lagerfeld and camp aside, fur appears to be an emerging trend, much in the same way snakeskin was two years ago. Considering wearing real fur is somewhat of a fashion faux pas, should you consider one of these handbags – or be prepared to be doused with red paint for wearing one outdoors?

While Chanel’s Fall 2010 collection was all about winter, other designers are far more ornate. Roberto Cavalli, for instance, put out this Squirrel Trimmed Shoulder Bag. With a body made from embroidered velvet, these shoulder bags have squirrel fur trim around the edges.

Squirrel, on the other hand, is considered the bottom of the barrel, as far as fashion and food are concerned. Although the black and brown patina stands out against the gold embroidery of the Cavalli bag, other designers go for higher quality. Christian Louboutin, for instance, has the Eden Fur Ball Clutch as part of its line. Literally a ball of soft fur with a metal chain attached, this small purse uses mink for a subtle look.

Fur, for most, is unaffordable, and these designer handbags with it run into the thousands of dollars – even for squirrel. Rather than blowing a few months’ rent on a handbag, consider the possibilities from designer-inspired products. Best Handbag Wholesale, for example, has gotten in on this look with cowhide handbags. With the same furry appearance but at a far more reasonable price, each of these centers around the appearance of solid-color or mottled cowhide.

By now, it’s old news, and Katy Perry and Russell Brand have already been married. Nevertheless, when the pop star known for “I Kissed a Girl” and “California Gurls” arrived in India last week, she had on an odd pair of designer sunglasses. With a cat’s eye style, the A-Morir shades had a gold chain hanging from the nose to the temple. Going across the right side of Perry’s face, the sunglasses, in pictures, gave off the appearance that Perry pierced her nose and was wearing a traditional bridal ring – on the wrong side. As Starcasm.net explains, Perry wore the ring in the same place that any “lady of the night” would.

But this isn’t really surprising, considering the several questionable decisions Perry has made with her attire over the past few months. From a whipped cream can bra in the “California Gurls” video to the recent Sesame Street appearance that never aired, Perry’s fashion choices haven’t been the greatest. The pair of A-Morir sunglasses, on the other hand, just made Perry look like she was having yet another fashion faux pas at a distance.

The A-Morir shades, from the looks of it, are right on target with the latest trends. With an angular cat’s eye style, the designer sunglasses have frames lined with small rhinestones. A medium-sized gold chain is attached from the nose area to the temple.

While these sunglasses look like they’re heavily piling on the bling, other celebrities have gone after this same look. Earlier this year, we saw rapper Kid Sister sporting studded shield sunglasses, with rhinestones and metal decorating both sides of the frame. Similarly, Snooki of The Jersey Shore also went for the shield look, and was spotted in a pair of designer sunglasses covered entirely in rhinestones – both frame and lenses.

Not all designer brands can be Gucci or Chanel. Some start, have a short but successful lifespan, and then close. Others, such as Ungaro, appear to be dying a slow death, sped up by the occasional poor decision (hiring Lindsay Lohan to be your creative director, for example). Where does Christian Lacroix, a fashion house that debuted in 1987, fall?

According to an article published recently in The Huffington Post, it appears that the brand has not decided its fate and, instead, continues to trudge on by unveiling a line of designer sunglasses. The article mentions that the fashion house has never turned in a profit in all of its 23 years, and Creative Director Sacha Walckhoff wants to take the brand in a new direction. Their sunglasses, apparently, pave the way for a new future.

Lacroix’s sunglasses will be the first licensed product since Christian Marie Marc Lacroix left. The Huffington Post article gives a preview of Lacroix’s new sunglasses, and although interesting, they offer nothing unique at the moment. At $250 to $600 a pop, the designer sunglasses are somewhat of a luxury item.

Nevertheless, the collection of designer sunglasses is promising. With women’s and unisex styles, the frames by Lacroix are generally oversized and characterized by embellishments: a few rhinestones around the temples, some metal highlights down the side. But as far as unisex styles go, the wayfarer and aviator frames seem nearly indistinguishable from Gucci sunglasses, with the exception of a few embellishments.

Lacroix, apparently, went into administration in 2009, and for the past year, the fashion house, which never really caught on, has faltered, with only 12 employees on staff. Nevertheless, the sunglasses, unlike other Lacroix clothing, have a practical appearance and, if the economy improves, could be a luxury item in the same vein as Gucci.