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.

Slouch purses are on the way out, but that doesn’t mean that bigger isn’t still better. Like we saw a few months ago with Twilight actress Nikki Reed, bigger bags are practical but, from a style perspective, need some shape. Not everyone these days is carrying around a large bag, and Sienna Miller, actress and wife of Jude Law, was spotted with a leopard print Prada bag the size of a clutch. With a strap attached, the leopard print Prada bag functions more like a small purse.

When you look at Sienna Miller’s bag from a trend perspective, animal prints are still in, but big and shapeless styles are out. Could it be that celebs are carrying fewer accessories, leaving the makeup at home? Or is the size of a hobo handbag too excessive for the amount of things a woman – famous or not – needs to carry?

While this leopard print Prada bag costs more than a month’s worth of rent, you can still get the same style at a lesser price. Designer-inspired handbags are capitalizing on this trend, rejecting hobo styles for distinct shapes and a smaller body.

Best Handbag Wholesale has a zebra print clutch embellished with a flower. The clutch has the print all over and the accents – the flower and a few rhinestones – are minimal.

Animal patterns cover larger handbags, and much like the bag Nikki Reed sported a few months ago, these white leopard print handbags have some shape. The animal print, for this purse, has some variation, which we have seen over the past year. Additionally, as many of these designer-inspired handbags from Best Handbag Wholesale have some western inspiration, this particular bag is embellished with rhinestones. Although not as modest as Sienna Miller’s Prada bag, this leopard print designer-inspired handbag is a bolder interpretation of the same trend.

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.

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.

How many times do you see a studded or fringed handbag on a celebrity and see it labeled as “punk” or “rocker chick” in a magazine? Often, it’s one times too many. As early ‘90s (think grunge), ‘80s (Madonna-esque fashion), and western styles are all in at the moment, how do you tell which one is which? And, if you go western, are you being less rebellious – at least in appearance – than someone with a studded handbag?

Too many celebrities straddle this line and don’t appear to be changing any time soon. But if you’re looking for a celebrity that at least moderately captures this new grunge aesthetic, Selena Gomez and her ripped handbag do it right. While her outfits don’t consist of flannel and ripped jeans, her handbag, excluding the price tag, has the do-it-yourself look that Lady Gaga tried to capture over the summer with the self-studded Hermes handbag.

The primary culprit of this western-or-punk look is the studded handbag. Although Lady Gaga’s studs were put in by hand, most designer and designer-inspired handbags have them organized – perhaps even too organized. While studs are embellishments in both clothing styles, organization is strictly western.

Fringe appears to have this same effect. On nearly all pieces of clothing, from shirts to handbags and other accessories, some fringe has an early-‘90s appearance, the haphazardly cut t-shirt look. Although this look could compliment Selena Gomez’s bag (and not look bad with the skinny jeans she’s sporting), most fringe has a western appearance – think clean-cut leather. Many handbags this season are designed with this look, as this fringe handbag from Best Handbag Wholesale indicates. Additionally, this particular bag takes the western trend a bit further. Beyond clear cut leatherette material and rhinestones, the material is dyed turquoise.

Ultimately, all of these trends will pass, some sooner the better. Regardless of whether a look seems more western or punk, how it fits into your personal style should determine if you should wear it – or put it back on the rack.

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.

Refinery 29 recently compiled all of the looks for handbags for fall and winter. Some of these are retreads of last years’ styles – leopard print, anyone? – while others just go to show that bigger and bolder is often better for handbags. But rather than forking over $300 to $600 just for a purse that may only be in style for six months, here are some suggestions for finding designer-inspired versions.

Leopard Print. Last year, leopard print was everywhere – especially in patent leather and with other color variations. This year, the pattern has gone for a back-to-basics appearance and is found on several styles, from hobo handbags to totes to clutches. Handbag Distributor has a leopard print tote with rhinestones and patent leather.

Satchels. Designed much like totes, satchels give you the option of holding the bag or swinging it over your shoulder. In general, staying with solid colors is recommended, and the top should have a zipper closure, as well as a few pockets. This two-tone satchel from Handbag Distributor uses black and brown leatherette and is embellished by rhinestones along the edges.

Ladylike or Saddle Bags. Although Refinery 29 lists these as two separate looks, they’re essentially the same style: a medium-sized purse with a thin handle attached. Carry the bag or swing it over your shoulder, but the space inside holds a bit more than the basics. An alternative to a clutch, these handbags will hold a wallet, keys, makeup, and other small items when you go out. Find them in quilted leather, print, or snakeskin looks. Designed in black leatherette, these cowgirl bags from Best Handbag Wholesale have the right amount of space and a strap long enough to go over a shoulder.

Bold Colors and Patterns. Refinery 29 mentions red and bold prints separately, but these two looks are essentially one – a handbag that stands out from your outfit. Although red is far more common, prints for handbags have also become bolder. Find both red handbags and bold patterned purses at Best Handbag Wholesale and Handbag Distributor.

Two years ago, python handbags appeared as a popular trend. From clutches to hobo purses, bags were decorated with snake print, dyed or natural. At first, the skin was tinted with gem or jewel tones, but then this boldness grew out of style, and the bags took a more subdued look for the last few seasons. Black or white snake or other reptile skins, instead, allowed the trend to stay in circulation but made it less conspicuous – unique but not the center of the outfit. In the present, boldness is back – and is far brighter than before.

Recently, Nikki Reed, of the Twilight films, was seen carrying a gold-colored snakeskin clutch. This Michael Kors Hadley Python Clutch, as you can see from the picture, matches her dress, down to the color and texture. But while Reed could have easily paired the gold fabric of her dress with a less matchy-matchy bag, she opted instead to, literally, go for the gold. Even within the outfit, the python clutch stands out with its two stripes in front.

While such a purse costs $900, other affordable options are available. If you go the designer-inspired route, Wholesale Handbags USA has snakeskin and crocodile skin wallets, designed with a clutch style, in several bold shades. Rather than the darker color of gem or jewel tones, the gold, in this instance, enhances the pattern of the skin. Even when made from leatherette, the gold flat wallet, with small rhinestone embellishments, will stand out against any outfit.

Gold isn’t the only shade used for these clutches, and the trend, as of recent, has been lighter but bolder shades – think of hot pink, lavender, or even sky blue. Although “bigger, better, bolder” aptly describes the larger hobo handbags of the present, clutches and wallets are smaller, brighter, and more detailed. Even this hot pink crocodile wallet, embellished with rhinestones, brings out the skin’s natural pattern with a less-conventional color.

Get ready for colder weather with bold colors, fringe, and snakeskin, because some trends just simply refuse to go away. But then again, when the designers using these looks continue to incorporate them into their latest collections, having them disappear seems far more difficult.

Both of these trends are captured by Burberry’s Fall 2010 collection. If fall makes you think of berries and apple cider, Burberry’s collection is reminiscent of key lime pie and snakeskin boots. Nevertheless, bold colors pervade nearly all handbags, with lime green, aqua, royal purple, and yellow being drawn from regularly, but snakeskin, chopped up and colored in, is also seen often in Burberry’s collection. Additionally, most bags have a basic clutch style.

Prada juxtaposed neon and black last year, giving all handbags an early 1990s appearance. This color contrast is still present in Prada’s Spring 2011 collection, unveiled recently at Fashion Week. Bold colors, with an emphasis on purple and red berry shades, and stripes characterize this collection of clutch and tote bags.

Gucci, on the other hand, seemed to take a back-to-basics approach with its 2011 collection. While brown leather with gold buckles is a dominant theme, Gucci’s approach to boldness is to simply color an entire handbag gold. Embellishments, additionally, are scarce on most Gucci bags, but tassels, like small dots of fringe, pop up on a few designs.

Marc Jacobs, on the other hand, seems to think that Boho is still in, and adding brighter colors to mid-1990s-style fashions somehow makes them new. Nevertheless, his Spring 2011 collection at Fashion Week was different from most of the others shown. If you’re looking for a western look, Marc Jacobs handbags clearly have it, as nearly all designs have a hobo look lined with fringe and tassels.