You’d think that celebrities, with all the money they earn, would seek out more flashy tastes. A few years ago, around 2009 and 2010, we saw some of that: brightly-colored snakeskin handbags, studs on just about everything, and designers rolling out the patterns, bold shades, and neon on the runways. Yet, about a year ago, all the ostentatious tastes came to a halt, and stars – as well as the high-end designers behind the handbags – took a step back. Actually, make that several steps.

These days, you’re hard-pressed to find a star without one or more showy handbags, with the exception of the red carpet. Even Kim Kardashian has been rotating through a series of solid-color neutral Hermes Birkin bags. Perhaps, with the exception of whatever Lady Gaga is wearing, stars just want to look like the rest of us.

But, big names back many of these “just like you” looks. Salma Hayek was spotted with an Yves Saint Laurent Cabas ChYc Tote, a black Birkin-like bag. High-end totes like this one appear to be an extension of the hobo from two years back, only more defined lines and black or brown replace the gaudy colors and shapeless frame.

House’s Olivia Wilde was seen carrying a brown leather messenger-like bag. Only, rather than some no-name variety, a Proenza Schouler PS1 was draped from the actress’ shoulder. Such a look combines the refined style of a high-end brand with casual appeal and all-purpose use.

Katherine Heigl, who sort of broke away from the romantic comedy confines recently with One for the Money, carried a Rebecca Minkoff Romeo Satchel a few weeks ago. While honey-brown and a handbag-tote hybrid, this satchel has a bit of flair. Instead of studs, however, the surface of the bag is textured.

This trend isn’t solely found in the borders of Hollywood. On the other side of the pond, former Spice Girl Emma Bunton was photographed by the British paparazzi with a Chloe Paraty Bag. Still with a moderate slouch look, the dark grey purse makes a distinct presence with its brass-colored hardware.

Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks are considered more high art than New York, with top designers rolling out their couture collections. But even with outfits appearing more “art” than wearable, these two early year events still set the stage for spring and summer trends. While we covered the men’s collections last week, women’s wear, both couture and ready-to-wear, was rolled out this week. Although plenty of styles were seen on the runway, nearly all collections scream “retro” in the following ways:

• Mad Men-Inspired. Yes, the cable television show is right on the cusp of its fifth season, and Banana Republic, just about a year ago, created an inspired line. Taking the trends a few steps up, designers from Dior to Gaultier to Chanel all hint at the ‘60s with their latest women’s wear. Pencil skirts are cinched at the waist, crinoline skirts fan out, and Chanel, apparently taking a cue from the recently canceled Pan-Am, previewed a collection of light blue and teal drop-waist dresses. Gaultier even appeared to use the late Amy Winehouse, who frequently alluded to the 1960s with her look and sound, as a muse.

• Barbarella-esque Jumpsuits. Call them rompers or jumpsuits, but, either way, these full-body outfits are no longer reminiscent of children’s clothing. Rather, skin tight and with an accented bustier, such a style is more grown up – but more futuristic than truly mature. A Barbarella remake has been kicked around in Hollywood for years, so perhaps this trend hints that the updated version of the Jane Fonda B-movie will finally hit the big screen. Then again, this trend could fall just as flat as the catsuits inspired by 1998 film The Avengers.

• Defined Shoulders. No, the shoulder pads of the 1980s have not returned. As a modified version of this trend, loose jackets with defined, broad shoulders were worn on top of tighter, shorter outfits or skirts, with Balenciaga draping each model with this combination. Appearing much like a men’s jacket, rather than the waist-accenting style for women, such a look may eventually be dubbed “the boyfriend jacket” – but don’t pair it with your boyfriend jeans from a few seasons ago.

• Bright Colors, Vivid Patterns. Pastels are so passé. Instead, spring and summer women’s wear leans toward vibrancy. Fully-colored yellow, lime, or gold outfits make a bold statement, while tropical-themed floral prints, which characterized the entire Dolce and Gabbana collection, catch the eye through bold shades and intricate composition.

It’s the tail end of Men’s Fashion Week, and we’ve caught several glimpses of the major collections, from Prada to Givenchy to John Galliano. Although these fall/winter 2012 men’s collections won’t surface until months down the line, now’s the perfect heads-up for what – and what not – to wear come September.

• The Dandy Look. Wilde-esque, the overall style for menswear in fall 2012 is fitted: close at the waist, slim down the legs and over the torso, and angular at the shoulders. Combined with the physique-flattering fit are bright colors – many of which we saw in the spring 2012 collections. Solid reds, purples, and orange, all paired with solid black, create an air of distinction and boldness.

• Bomber jackets. Yet another throw-over from past seasons, the bomber jacket is turning into a men’s style staple. With pants and shirts emphasizing a man’s waist, a bomber jacket compliments the outfit with a similar fit.

• Blue by any other Name. What man doesn’t have a few blue shirts or suit jackets in his wardrobe? But, by next year, your standard sky blue and navy aren’t going to cut it. Boldness is the look, and cobalt and teal are the shades to go with it. It’s distinction without going too far beyond boundaries, brightness within your comfort zone.

• Military Style. This isn’t your 1990s camouflage. Beyond subtle epaulets, the cut and color for jackets and pants suggests mid-20th century military style. It’s order and precision merged with overt masculinity. In modern terms, however, it’s more Inglorious Bastards than Saving Private Ryan. Think long jackets with angular shoulders, pea coats, single-breasted jackets, and pants that stay tight around the ankles and flare out at the knees, all in black, olive green, or gray.

• Color blocking. It’s still a necessity and a short-cut for incorporating brighter colors in smaller doses into your wardrobe.

• Patterns and Texture. Beyond the paisley shirt of a few years ago, patterns now cover an entire trench coat. Texture, on the other hand, gives solid-color garments a new dimension. Each trend needs to stand on its own, however. For a pattern, make sure all other garments are solid neutral shades. Texture, such as studs and other jewel-like embellishments, stands out better when not competing with a pattern.

When a pop star develops a brand, why not run with it for the time being? After all, Britney Spears and Mariah Carey have successful perfume lines, Madonna, even with a 30-year career, has a fashion line, Gwen Stefani is now known for her style choices just as much for her No Doubt songs, if not more, and Jessica Simpson earns more through clothing and shoes than music. Nicki Minaj, the rapper behind “Super Bass,” appears to be next. Just profiled in the New York Times, the rapper/pop star (such careers are practically interchangeable these days) had a successful run with makeup brand MAC, has been on popular magazine covers already, and is often seen in the front row at Fashion Week. Now, one of her managers is courting a possible clothing line.

When working with MAC, Minaj came up with a Pink Friday lipstick, named after her debut album. The lipstick sold 3,000 in 15 minutes, and then sold another 27,000 in three weeks. More recently, the Times reported, Minaj is taking over for Lady Gaga as MAC’s Viva Glam spokeswoman. John Dempsey of MAC’s parent company Estee Lauder, said to the press:

“She was fun and cute. […] She’s funny, loves makeup and has a mashup style between Vivienne Westwood and a Harajuku girl.”

So, what do you think Nicki Minaj’s fashion line could look like? Making her own clothing but also sporting some high-end frocks, the rapper already has her own style, sometimes considered out there but always eye-catching. Could her line end up being practical, like Madonna’s Material Girl collection, or could it end up being like any artistic line on the runway – attractive but not practical for wear?

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?

While no stranger to eyewear, luxury women’s line Carven is introducing a line of sunglasses. A brand worn by fashion icons Alexa Chung and Emma Watson, Carven hasn’t included sunglasses in its line for nearly 30 years, but at the recent Paris Fashion Week, several models were seen wearing the new styles.

Carven was reinvigorated by Givenchy designer Guillaume Henry, and sunglasses appear to be one change for the line. While the designs can be seen online, they won’t be available until spring 2012. Retro styles have been in for sunglasses over the past few years, and Carven’s new frames are no exception. Based on the glamour of Paris in the 1950s, Carven offers classic looks in tortoise, and more eye-catching styles in bold and bright colors are included. For the latter, the frame may be a solid or translucent plastic.

As far as the design is concerned, Carven’s new style – only one look seems to be available for now – mirrors the clubmaster frame offered by Ray Ban. There’s only one notable difference – a lack of angles. While Ray Ban clubmasters are a half-frame style with a plastic horn rim on top and rounded lenses, Carven’s eschews the angular look for a rounded top. For a specific touch, all sunglasses by Carven will have wood or metal accents, as well as a subtle “C” to note the brand.

Compared to Carven’s older sunglasses from the ‘50s to the ‘80s, the newer designs are far bolder. Older styles stuck with a classic pallet of black and tortoise with gradient lenses, no matter if the frame was a wayfarer, oversized, or cat eye. Although a fairly high price tag is attached ($165 to $235), Carven’s sunglasses are expected to be the “it” luxury look for next year.

Although the price tag can be a turnoff for some, would you wear a pair of sunglasses similar to Carven’s new styles? Or, would you stick with the retro and classic look of a pair of Ray Ban Clubmasters?

Although working consistently since The Smiths called it quits more than 20 years ago, guitarist Johnny Marr has flown under the radar. Despite doing three Electronic albums with New Order’s Bernard Sumner, touring with his own band, and playing on a few Pet Shop Boys records, Marr will mostly likely always be associated with singer Morrissey. Musical endeavors aside, however, Marr made news recently for designing sunglasses for Ray-Ban. Bringing back yet another classic style, Ray-Ban collaborated with the guitarist to re-launch Signets.

While the designer sunglasses brand is bringing back a full line, Marr has his own limited edition pair. With a clubmaster-like style, Marr’s limited edition Signets are characterized by a thin metallic frame and mirrored blue lenses.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Marr told the magazine: “How many people get to design their own sunglasses, you know what I mean?” He then said: “I got to take my pick. I didn’t really have it as an ambition – it’s something that just came along.”

Unlike the countless other actors and musicians that start clothing or accessory lines, Marr never designed before. For Ray-Ban, he is the first musician to design a new pair of classic shades. To tell the difference between standard Signets and Marr’s style, the limited edition frames have the guitarist’s signature by the temple.

In 2008, Ray Ban brought back their Clubmaster shades, which were introduced in the 1980s. Combining angular and curved lines, Clubmasters have a half-rim style and, like many Ray Ban sunglasses, are available in several colors. Signets, on the other hand, merge Clubmaster and aviator aesthetics to create a metal-framed design of a sleek horn rimmed-like top with rounded lenses. For those that find the colored frames of wayfarers and Clubmasters too tacky, the Signet has the same style but in subdued form.

When the market goes down, the demand for extreme luxury goods goes up? That appears to be the case for Hermes, as well as other high-end brands like Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Lanvin. Although the recession saw some luxury labels, like Moo Roo file for bankruptcy, Hermes has been seeing its sales grow, according to a September report. Hermes’ Chief Executive Patrick Thomas told the press:

“But the fact that we see nothing today, does not mean that we will not see anything tomorrow. When there are moments of macroeconomic concern, they always tend to affect our markets.”

Figures aside, the evidence of Hermes’ sales shows in the proliferation of its bags carried by celebrities in recent months, from A-listers like Beyonce to C-listers like Shannen Doherty. Both Jessica Simpson and Beyonce were spotted with orange Hermes bags, with the “(Run The World) Girls” singer sporting a Kelly model. On the other hand, former 90210 and Charmed star Shannen Doherty and heiress Petra Ecclestone were seen with Birkins in white and black, respectively. For those unfamiliar with the brand, Birkins are some of the more sought-after models, and the white design carried by Doherty is particularly difficult to come by. At the same time, the black Birkin is just another display of wealth for Ecclestone, who recently moved across the pond from the U.K. to the Spelling Mansion, one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in the U.S.

The Olsen twins, while debuting their own expensive glazed crocodile backpack recently, were also spotted with high-end handbags recently, including a Hermes. While Mary Kate carried one from their collection for The Row, Ashley had a tan Hermes Birkin. Supposedly, their line for The Row is based on their high-end tastes of Hermes, Balenciaga, and Fendi.