“Go West” may be a Village People song about going out to San Francisco, but handbag trends this year are also going west, too – western, that is. Think about conchos, fringe, and turquoise or coral colors – all of which should be subtle. However, instead of going out and buying cowboy gear, how should you be wearing these new pieces of western fashion?

When it comes to clothes, less is always more. Consider a turquoise belt and pair it with something neutral. Go for onyx and crystal jewelry with an outfit but, similarly, don’t overdo it. With handbags, however, this is somewhat more difficult, as the handbag is often the center of an outfit and shouldn’t be too overpowering. Is it possible to have a neutral western style that won’t overshadow everything?

Long seen as only western gear, fringe is making its way onto many high-end handbags, such as these by Miu Miu. As you can see, these are all beige leather, with the ends lined with medium-length fringe on both sides. The fringe itself adds a unique and less formal touch to the bag and, without it, the Miu Miu handbag would simply be an ordinary beige hobo purse.

Fringed handbags, of course, are perfect for casual wear, as is the entire western trend of the moment. It’s about having fun and adding character to your clothing and bag. However, if you can’t afford the large price tag attached to the Miu Miu hobo above, don’t worry – many designer-inspired and western handbags are already capitalizing on this trend. Wholesale western wear dealer Western Express, for example, has their own fringed handbags. Designed much like the Miu Miu bags above, these are made with darker leather and have medium-length fringe in front. A silver concho, additionally, adds some slight but noticeable bling to the purse.

Consider it irony: Camouflage, once considered a print exclusive to the military, has crept into the ranks of high-end handbags. The pattern is popular through all ranks of fashion and all types. From clothing to handbags to jewelry, the pattern in its original green form and many other variations can be found. Nevertheless, although considered somewhat of a lowly and alternative pattern, camouflage will now be part of Gucci’s fall handbag collection, which has been making its way onto the internet gradually.

As you can see by the Gucci handbag above, the style takes the basic camouflage pattern and places it on a dark brown handbag. However, aside from this aspect, nothing’s entirely unique or interesting about the handbag itself. More importantly, where would you wear it? The handbag appears to be too casual for formal or even everyday use (could you take it along to your business-attire-only office job? Didn’t think so). But, being Gucci, it seems too formal to take someplace casual. So, essentially, this handbag is pretty much useless.

If you really want to go for the camouflage/military look that hasn’t really died off, consider a less expensive product, such as a design-inspired camouflage bag or clutch. This camouflage wallet with a cell phone holder by Best Handbag Wholesale captures the look of camouflage without the high price tag.

At the moment, military styles and garb are coming out as a trend, so watch which direction it takes. Although camouflage has been in fashion rotation as a popular pattern since the late-1990s, other pieces of military-inspired garb are making their way onto the racks. For example, old-fashion military jackets with slight shoulder pads and front buttons are all the rage now for adults and teens. Do you think this trend will last? Will it translate to a similar style for handbags?

Python has been around on handbags for the past two years. First, the pattern started out bright: python skin was used for the body of a bag, which was then dyed a color like purple or hot pink. But, then the boldness wore off, and stars, instead, went for natural hues or a less ostentatious presentation, which might have been python skin dyed white or black. What form has the trend taken on now?

Python skin will be one of those trends that takes a while to be fully gone. Recent findings of this trend have included Megan Fox at the Jonah Hex premier. However, Jonah Hex was a movie no one really cared about or even saw, and the same can be said of Fox’s handbag and her quickly dying film career. You can only last so long being a talentless hottie, and the same can be said for a handbag trend that has minimal novelty value. Her black python clutch contrasts with her dress, but, as far as uniqueness is concerned, the Salvatore Ferragamo clutch is simply, “Been there, done that.” It aptly captures Fox’s career: just a flash in the pan.

On the other hand, the recent Sex and the City movie still brings up this style through an Adriana Castro bag worn by Carrie Bradshaw during the film. As seen in the information about the competition to win said bag, this python clutch is bright, with a two-tone color scheme. Considering Carrie’s fashion choices, the bag makes sense and, if worn correctly, might even be a unique centerpiece to an outfit. Although SATC2 was panned as much as Jonah Hex was, at least the fashion choices made by the stars offer more in the way of interest.

If you’re looking for an affordable way to capture this trend, consider some of the designer inspired options by Wholesale Handbags USA, such as this purple python handbag that captures the natural pattern of the snake’s skin but adds some addition color.

Considering her outlandish fashion choices, Lady Gaga still hasn’t shown up as a subject on our blog. Then again, many of her choices simply defy mainstream trends and most of her styles you’d need to make on your own. But, speaking about creating your own style, it appears that Gaga did this to a Hermes Birkin handbag recently by adding her own studs. Although some of the highest priced handbags on the market, Hermes Birkin bags combine aspects of a tote and hobo handbags, and Lady Gaga put several sharp metal studs through the surface.

Gaga’s trend isn’t really anything new – which is somewhat surprising. After all, we’ve seen countless celebrities sport the studded trend for the past year now that it appears tired. Not even adding gold studs seems to enliven a handbag. One characteristic for these other studded handbags has been the organization of the studs – everything seems too perfect. As with studs and the emulation of punk rock trends (or are they western trends?), the less orderly, the more believable it is. In the case of Gaga’s Hermes bag, it appears that all studs were added after and they end up having a disorderly appearance. And, when considering the emulation of punk or rocker chic styles, this is how it should be done. Having studs added in even rows to black leather just seems phony.

Of course, this isn’t the only time Gaga has altered a Hermes bag. A few months ago, she wrote on one with a Sharpie marker to Japanese fans. Fashion purists are probably now agape. Nevertheless, studs are still a hot commodity on handbags. If you can’t add studs yourself to a leather purse, consider purchasing one with studs added, such as this studded black leather handbag from Best Handbag Wholesale.

What is the line between opulent and too tacky? In the case of handbags seen on two reality TV stars recently, these styles clearly approach the line. Khloe Kardashian was seen this past month with a gold Louis Vuitton Miroir Alma bag, which, with the exception of the “LV” logo patterned all over, has a metallic gold color that nearly looks as bright as the red dress she’s wearing. But, pairing gold with red? While Kardashian’s outfit seems to hark back to many Christmas decorations, one thing it has going for her is the handbag, particularly as bolder is often better with many recent fashion trends.

But Khloe Kardiashian isn’t the only celebrity to be spotted with such a handbag veering on tacky. Whitney Port, the star of The City, was spotted around the same time with a gold studded handbag. Unlike those matte gold studs seen on Vanessa Hudgen’s Balenciaga bag a few months back, these small flat studs almost have a mirror-like quality. On a background on beige, these studs essentially make the handbag, a Rebecca Minkoff Heavy Metal Flame Satchel. Without them, this particular handbag would be no more than a beige leather tote.

You don’t need to go for the big names to get this type of style. Gold is in at the moment – and not through those Cash4Gold commercials seen on television. While metallic hues were popular last year, many of those handbags has a gemstone quality, like an amethyst or emerald color applied to a snakeskin or leather bag. Going gold is just an updated look for this gemstone look. If you’re looking for a handbag or clutch with this look, Best Handbag Wholesale has various gold sequined wallets. Keep all your basics and your cell phone in one of these sequined metallic wallets.

One trend we saw somewhat last year was textured leather handbags. This was seen by various quilted styles by Chanel and with black-studs-on-black-leather handbags. This year, it looks like more of the same, but reinterpreted differently. One change is the black studs have gotten larger, and the quilted look has gotten puffier. Chanel continues to carry these purses with a quilted leather look in black and in other colors, but other fashion designers are getting on this trend of textured leather. It keeps the handbag simple on the surface – but more complicated than it actually looks.

One notable textured leather handbag was seen recently on Jennifer Love Hewitt. The Ghost Whisperer star has a black studs on black leather bag, only the studs involved are pyramid shaped and larger than we’ve seen before. Additionally, this particular handbag is made from reused components, older leather jackets in particular. While Hewitt hasn’t been the poster child for any cause (like PETA, for example), it’s certainly a step up from the typical celebrity fashion when someone decides to go green.

Another notable textured leather bag was seen on Ashley Greene, one of the Twilight actresses in the Cullen family. She’s seen here with a Dolce and Gabbana bag that has a textured leather surface – one that nearly looks like bubble wrap. But, would you really squeeze a Dolce and Gabbana bag, no matter how bubble wrap-like it looks?

Reptile skin patterns have been another way to achieve this textured look with a solid color, which can be seen in this black textured leather handbag with a crocodile skin pattern. Why blow your month’s rent on a Birkin bag when you can have the same type of style for less? This particular handbag has a reptile skin textured surface while being designed in solid black.

One trend we’ve seen on many celebrities this past year has been the combining of trends. Bright colors with reptile prints. Bright prints on hobo handbags. Western style on a cross-body bag. Animal prints re-imagined in bright colors. The list could go on, but, no matter which two you combine, trend hybrid handbags are more ubiquitous than the actual hybrid style of last year – the patchwork look. But, it doesn’t appear that this trend will end any time soon, as another celebrity was spotted with a trend hybrid handbag, sorts. Whitney Port, one of those reality-TV celebrities from The Hills, was recently seen with a fringed black hobo handbag.

Hobo handbags generally work best in solid colors, as we’ve seen from many celebrities, although animal prints do work on occasion but if, and only if, the bag is a solid print. Typically, a hobo handbag is too large to have embellishments and ornaments all over. Otherwise, the handbag simply looks tacky. In the hybrid of styles on Whitney Port’s handbag, she keeps a solid black style that’s embellished with fringe on the bottom of the bag and laced-up sides. The bag itself works as a high-end western bag or as rocker chic and clearly stands out from Port’s casual look.

Finding a western-style hobo handbag for the average person isn’t difficult, however. One option, if you can handle the less space, is to go with a retro slouch purse decked with fringe, as seen in this link from Western Express, a western wear store. The bag maintains the solid black color with only one embellishment from a concho. The fringe, additionally, lines the front of the bag instead of the bottom. As western style has become a common fashion trend for this upcoming season, such handbags combine high-end fashion with traditional western style.

This Miley Cyrus can’t get enough fur from the dog she’s carrying? Then check out the hobo handbag she’s carrying. This particular handbag has a basic hobo style, but it’s most notable characteristic is its full fur texture. Although the type of animal is specified in the Bag That Style post, it’s one distinct trend we’ve seen all season: Animal hair and fur. Although animal prints have been popular for over a year now, most of them are seen on patent leather, with the exception of cow hide. In fact, Eva Longoria of Desperate Housewives was seen a few months ago with a full cowskin hobo handbag. While it’s not as furry as Cyrus’ handbag, it certainly has the same type of style.

But, while these high-end fur handbags can cost a significant amount of money, Best Handbag Wholesale has a limited edition cow skin purse that has the same type of style. Made entirely from natural hide still with the hair, these hobo-style bags are embellished with traditional western ornaments – such as the cross seen at the center of the bag – and have a small strap on top. If you’re looking for the fur style and want to look a little bit western in the process, this handbag by BHW combines both aspects.

As far as non-limited edition products are concerned, many of the western handbags at BHW have a combination of these characteristics. Some handbags, such as this one linked, have a furrier texture similar to Cyrus’ with western embellishments, while others are about contrasting hair on the handbag. In all cases, genuine cow hide or leatherette is used with the natural hair on top to give it a bit of texture. Most handbags, in the western style, are embellished with a belt buckle closure or a cross on the side for some character.

Last year, at this time, handbags were all about the retile prints, the hobo style, and the tattoo look. But, while anything Ed Hardy or Ed Hardy-inspired went south when seen on Jon Gosselin, the hobo and reptile styles are still in. Additionally, many of the fashion collections seen recently in New York and Milan indicate that bright colors and western fashion – although not necessarily on the same handbag – are here for at least a few months longer. While this means that the reptile or fringed black leather hobo handbag you bought last year is still fashionable, the one with the tattoo rose and rhinestones on the front may not be.

One of the more notable western-inspired collections seen on the spring fashion runways is Emilio Pucci. One look at the handbags all of the models are wearing under the link, and “western” is one of the first adjectives to come to mind. Some of the designs by the fashion line for spring include the basic black leather handbag with fringe, but others are embellished with fur and feathers. The blogger on The Purse Page calls it “hippy chic,” but we’d rather call it western fashion.

On the other end of the spectrum are collections by Mulberry and Versace. Both of the spring lines by these design houses use bright colors and patterns, often juxtaposed with black for a sharp contrast. This is exactly what the Versace handbags looked like on the runway: An oversized coin purse style in black with neon highlights. Mulberry, on the other hand, was all about bright colored prints and hobo styles. Some of these satchel and hobo handbags take the animal prints we’ve seen everywhere last year and colors them in with reds and neon shades. Others in the line stick to the basic black look but with a reptile texture. Essentially, Mulberry sees trends from last year in reverse: Understated reptile handbags and colorful, bright animal print hobo purses.

What do you get when you combine two of the hottest handbag trends of the moment? The clutch that’s seen here on Amanda Seyfried. The actress known for Mean Girls and recently starred in Dear John appeared with a zebra print clutch, as seen under the link, designed entirely out of rhinestones. The clutch, by Judith Leiber, appears almost like a jeweled case instead of a clutch and the design of white and black studded crystal is described as a “sunburst.” As both jungle animal prints and crystal – or rhinestone – studs are two popular trends currently, this handbag combines them both without over doing it and does not become tacky.

We’ve seen other celebrities with jeweled clutches on here. In fact, clutches, more so than large handbags, appear to be embellished more often by rhinestones or crystals. A few weeks ago, we saw Naomi Watts and Kate Winslet both with jeweled clutches. Winslet’s had larger crystals, while Watts’ simply had a metallic sheen on a jewel-toned body.

Such purses often retail for thousands of dollars. In the case of Seyfried’s clutch, the value is almost $3,000, which can be expected for a bag of small crystals meticulously put together. If you’re looking for a similar pattern combining these two styles, Best Handbag Wholesale has various affordable options. One is a zebra-patterned wallet with a metallic sheen which, at a distance, has the same crystal-like quality as the more expensive clutch, and many other clutches or wallets that combine a zebra pattern with rhinestones. For the latter wallet, this design consists of a basic zebra pattern with rhinestones along the edges. As Best Handbag Wholesale specializes in western-inspired fashion, this particular wallet style includes a rhinestone-embellished cross at the center. Either design gives you the combination of these two trends.