How many of you want to get a piece of J-Woww or Snooki’s style? If you’re someone who still wears Ed Hardy – and not for the sake of parody – then you’ll probably love their line. According to a recent news story, the two Jersey girls (not originally from the Garden State, though) will be designing their own sunglasses line. So far, no designs are on the table yet, but one can only imagine what these two tanned-and-tawdry girls will come up with. Rhinestones, anyone?

J-Woww is already trying to capture part of the fashion market with her “unique” Jersey vacation style. Her own line, called Filthy Couture, will be debuting sometime later this year. Apparently, her tube tops and lounge pants style already has a small celebrity following, but do you think that this Guidette’s line might give Ed Hardy a run for its money? Although she claims the look of her clothing and sunglasses will be “glam classic,” do you really think this will be the case?

With so many celebrity lines coming out (Britney and Madonna had their respective lines come out about a month ago), do you think that clothing by reality TV stars actually has a chance? And, considering that each celebrity claims to have a unique style, will theirs stand out and not be vilified in the same fashion as Lindsay Lohan’s Ungaro collaboration?

But, perhaps it’s time for a bit of tackiness. Several lines of designer sunglasses already include rhinestones. The capacity of them varies, however. Some lines, such as Juicy Couture or Valentino, place the rhinestones on the sides. This pair of Valentino sunglasses even places them in a rose formation on the end of the frame. Subtle is always best in fashion. A few rhinestones always work well as a highlight and to capture someone’s attention to an ordinary pair of shades. The Valentino sunglasses above, for example, are just simply shield lenses until the rhinestone rose is added. Too much, however, and the sunglasses no longer have a classy style.

The Daily Mail recently spotted the Black Eyed Peas leaving their hotel to go to a gig for the European leg of their tour. As the hip-hop-meets-pop-meets-dance quartet left the hotel, nearly all members were spotted with a different look of designer sunglasses. Singer Fergie, for example, was seen with oversized mirror sunglasses, while Taboo was spotted with all-black wayfarers and Will.i.am was seen with aviators with colored frames. Practically every hot trend in sunglasses for the moment was displayed on this group after they left the hotel to go to a gig at the LG Arena for their END World tour.

Out of these three styles, Fergie’s sunglasses stand out by being the most unique. In terms of oversized sunglasses, the most common looks consist of a thicker plastic frame and dark or colored lenses. The lenses may also have a gradient look. Fergie’s shades, on the other hand, have all of the components of typical aviator sunglasses: a thin metal frame and reflective lenses. Instead of the style for most aviators, however, the glasses – designer unknown – cover like oversized ones. Fergie’s face, then, is half obscured by the mirrored lenses.

As far as the other members of the Black Eyed Peas are concerned, their sunglasses appear to be standard variety aviator and wayfarer styles. Wayfarers, as we’ve seen over the past few years, have been making a comeback, particularly with the variety of colored plastic frames offered. The wayfarers, most likely a pair of Ray Bans, spotted on Taboo are simply a black-on-black style. Aviator sunglasses, similarly, have taken on a similar style, with plastic colored frames being one of the latest styles. Several designers offer this style, and, from the side, Will.i.am appears to be wearing a pair with black lenses on an orange frame.

While actress Rachel Bilson doesn’t appear to be doing anything since The O.C. ended a few years ago, she recently became the ”eyewear ambassador” for Sunglass Hut, the chain store for designer sunglasses. Bilson admittedly has a strong attachment to sunglasses, particularly the wayfarer style in recent photos, and having her as a celebrity face for the brand seems inevitable. Given the title “style director,” Bilson will be doing public appearances, ad campaigns, blogging, and answering questions through the Sunglass Hut website. But, with so many celebrities deciding to get involved in fashion, does this actually seem like a good idea?

While Bilson just appears to be popping up on television and a few independent films since leaving The O.C., being the face of Sunglass Hut gives her something to do. And, unlike other celebrity fashion forays, she’s simply a face – no style input at this point. If there was anything to learn from the Lindsay Lohan-Ungaro debacle, it’s that celebrities, no matter how famous, aren’t fashion designers. In the case of Ungaro’s failure, they may make your clothing line into something resembling a club wear-stripper gear hybrid. But, as far as being a model for the brand is concerned, how difficult is posing for some ads and attending a few store openings?

Designer sunglasses, on the other hand, don’t need the same type of boost that the fragrance industry needs. With campaigns like One Mighty Drop, the industry is looking to build itself a bigger audience, although recently-publicized fragrance bans could be a blow to any efforts. But, with summer approaching, it’s time to purchase a new pair of sunglasses, and designer brands are always preferred. No matter if a celebrity like Rachel Bilson influences you into purchasing some Ray Ban wayfarer sunglasses or you decide for a different style, it’s the time of year in which eye protection is necessary.

Dolce and Gabbana already has their standard line and their D&G line for clothing and sunglasses, so why not add a third one? In this case, a third line is a possibility for Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses, as Madonna is working with the fashion line to design MDG. Presently, many Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses follow the latest trends for men and women, including many oversized and colorful styles with rhinestones on the frame. Similar large and aviator frames are the latest designs by his brand for men. By bring Madonna on board, how will Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses look any different?

With MDG set to launch in May, Madonna will also be the face of advertising campaign for the sunglasses, much like she was for Louis Vuitton handbags. But, considering Madonna’s almost 30-year career in the public eye, how much was she known for her fashion rather than simply being a rabid multi-tasker? If bleached hair and cone-shaped bras are the last time you remember Madonna had any fashion recognition (although not influence), you might not be that far off. Even if her current wardrobe is youthful but somewhat on the bland side, who can forget the getups she wore in the ‘80s?

If ‘80s style is what Madonna is courting with Dolce and Gabbana, perhaps MDG will be like the fashion line’s selection of wayfarer sunglasses. At the moment, Dolce and Gabbana’s line has touched on every trend, with the exception of wayfarers, and perhaps this will be the line’s foray into a more retro look, instead of fashion-forward and glam. But, unlike the connotations from her Material Girl line, MDG is more ambiguous. The line of sunglasses could simply reflect the last time Madonna’s clothing was en vogue or it could simply be an attempt for Madonna to try to be fashionable again. Judging by the recent photographs and advertising released for MDG, it might be the latter.

When you go shopping for sunglasses, what do you look for? Many people simply go for style, and recently, that has been aviator sunglasses for men and oversized sunglasses for women. Wayfarer styles for men and women have been somewhat popular, as well. Nevertheless, a recent article discussed whether price on sunglasses equals effectiveness, particularly for certain infomercial brands claiming to completely block out UV rays through HD 400 Glare Block Technology. As the article found, as mentioned under the link, a higher price on sunglasses doesn’t always been better quality. In most cases, the lenses accompanying the designer sunglasses may just be stamped out instead of ground.

What are some of the qualities you should be looking for when choosing a pair of sunglasses? With designer sunglasses, style is always important – isn’t that why the frames are often so opulent? – but other factors are also important. When looking through any website or store for sunglasses, see how well the sunglasses are designed to block glare and have UV protection. Most often, this is through a pair of polarized lenses, although many prescription styles often have an anti-glare coat added to the lenses, anyway.

So, when choosing a pair of sunglasses, what should you go for – the $10 pair, the one in the infomercial, a high-end designer brand, or a discount designer product? Out of all these, the discount designer probably gives you the best value in terms of style and substance, assuming you choose a style with polarized lenses and not just for fashion’s sake. Infomercial sunglasses and full-price designer lenses may be overpriced, while choosing a pair of $10 lenses from the rack at the pharmacy may not offer as much protection as you think. Spending a bit more often equals a better pair, although the amount you spend can vary with the type of designer sunglasses you choose.

Trends some and go, and some come back reinvented as a total rehash. Take the ‘70s fashion nostalgia from 1996 to 1998. While it brought back bellbottom jeans that soon became flared leg, polyester shirts and psychedelic accessories soon passed within months. Sunglasses, on the other hand, seem to last longer, although each decade appears to be defined by a style. The ‘80s, more often than not, are associated as much with wayfarer sunglasses as much as they are with Wham! and A Flock of Seagulls and acid wash. The ‘90s, similarly, had wraparound sunglasses and grunge music for most of the decade. The ‘00s? Trends this decade were divided distinctly between those for women and men, and all styles appeared to reflect back to the ‘80s.

The most significant trend in sunglasses for the decade was oversized shades, but these were exclusively for women. This style appeared last in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s but, at the time, was basic. Designer sunglasses at the time often had a black or mock tortoise frame and dark, solid color lenses. Oversized styles for women this decade used the same basic model but became more feminine. Both frames and lenses could be pink, red, or purple and embellished with rhinestones. Juicy Couture was one of the brands for designer sunglasses with such style, although almost all designer lines for women had this style.

For men, the aviator shades were the most popular this decade. The last time aviator shades were seen, outside of a South Park episode, was the ‘80s, in which many male movie or television characters appeared with a basic black or mirrored pair. This time around, though, mirrored shades were out but gradient in, and the frame, instead of being basic metal, could be plastic and colored. This allowed for aviators to be a style also seen on women. Similarly, wayfarer sunglasses had a similar comeback at the end of the decade for both sexes, with a myriad of color and frame possibilities.

Rhinestones on sunglasses are nothing new and this trend has been around for nearly a decade. But when does a pair of sunglasses simply transcend the simple rhinestones design and become all-out bling? Recently, Kanye West protégé Kid Sister was spotted wearing such a pair of iced out sunglasses by A-morir. The sunglasses, a clear shield style, are encrusted with rhinestones and spikes around the edges. While you might not want to get physically close to someone wearing such sunglasses, having bling on your sunglasses beyond a few rhinestones isn’t exclusive to A-morir. In fact, other designers have been adding rhinestones to their styles, as well, with some more subtle than others.

Valentino is one such designer brand, and these iced out shades include many small rhinestones on the side of the glasses. While Vision in Style carries discounted versions of these bling sunglasses. These particular shades by Valentino, which appeared on the market in 2008, have a shield style as well, but the rhinestones are toned down compared to the shades worn by Kid Sister. These sunglasses are designed with a rose pattern on the side and this rose is outlined in small rhinestones which stand out against the black color of the frame and lenses.

Having detail on the side isn’t exclusive to Valentino sunglasses, however. Brands like Juicy Couture have side detail, often in metal or rhinestones on a pair of shield or oversized sunglasses. While the larger or thicker frames allow for such detail, these are often an enlarged logo for the brand. While this is common for women’s sunglasses, some men’s styles, such as those by Hugo Boss, are designed similarly, as well. Although a much more basic style, these side details on a pair of men’s sunglasses are still added to display the brand.

Where do you look for designer knockoff handbags? Canal Street in New York’s Chinatown section has been the place to go for years. This week, however, the area experienced a crackdown, with the police confiscating counterfeit items like handbags and watches and shuttering businesses. Although Canal Street has this notoriety, knockoff goods can be found many other places, such as South Street in Philadelphia and the internet. With prices only a fraction of those sold at department stores, knockoff handbags almost sound like a deal. Appearances for such handbags are deceiving, however, and what appears to be a Chanel or Gucci handbag sold at $30 falls apart within a few days.

Some are luckier and swear by knockoff designer handbags. After all, they look like designer bags and, really, only the designers would be able to tell the difference. But finding a high-quality designer knockoff bag is far more likely in a department store. The fashion blog for About.com gives some hints to spot a fake handbag, but other telltale signs include examining the stitching, sewing, and name plate. If the name plate, for example, isn’t screwed on but, instead, appears glued, the bag is likely a knockoff. Similarly, if it looks poorly stitched from the inside or if the zipper gets jammed easily, the handbag isn’t authentic.

One option, as we’ve seen in the product selection for Best Handbag Wholesale, is to go the designer inspired route. The bags don’t claim to be by Coach, Chanel, or Gucci, but the patterns are based on the styles by these designers. At a distance, they even look like the real thing. Another option is to go on discounted designer websites. Often, products with damaged packaging or a slight scratch find their way onto such a website and are sold at less than full price, even at 70-percent less. Both Vision In Style and Kaufman Fragrance are such discount designer products websites.

Over the past year, many celebrities have been sporting the wayfarer look, including Lindsay Lohan in last week’s post. While this trend is a direct throwback to the ‘80s, nearly everyone in Hollywood has been spotted with a pair of wayfarers at some point, and this includes standard black-on-black sunglasses and styles that are more outrageous. More appropriately, they are unabashedly ‘80s or early ‘90s (take your pick for the tackiest period in fashion). As seen by Madonna’s daughter, Lourdes, on the left, these sunglasses often incorporate bright shades, even neon yellow or green. In general, these styles are made by Ray Ban, but other designers looking to bring back their classic styles and update them a bit are also going along with this trend.

What style do you go for when choosing to wear wayfarers? As with all sunglasses, wayfarers have more low key looks, while others are deliberately bright and tacky. For something low key, Ray Ban and other designers stick with the classic black-on-black look and also use tortoise frames and black lenses. But if you’re looking to be more adventurous, a range of colored frames and lenses are available. When you go to a website like Vision In Style, you’ll find that Ray Ban wayfarer sunglasses in the classic style can be customized in colors like purple, red, or pink. These can have light colored lenses to match or they can be designed with darker colored lenses.

Wayfarer sunglasses are, essentially, the equivalent of Converse sneakers for the eyes: Take a basic template that looks good in either sex and jazz it up in a number of ways. Converse has experimented with nearly every color of the rainbow for their high top sneakers, as well as a number of patterns, while Ray Ban, in particular, goes through many colors for frames and, with the recent trend, pairs them with either a light or dark lens. Who knew such a basic pair of sunglasses could have so much variation?

1980s fashions have been coming back since 2006, but only recently have we seen celebrities sporting wayfarer sunglasses. The sunglasses, seen on actors and musicians in the mid to late 1980s ranging from Tom Cruise to Depeche Mode, are back and in just as many color combinations as before. Hilton sister number two, Nicky, was seen wearing Ray-Ban wayfarer sunglasses recently, but more celebrities have been seen wearing this style. Although the frames Hilton has on are standard black, she can be seen farther down on the page with a pair of light turquoise frames with black lenses.

Ray-Bans are the brand of choice for the wayfarer style, but other brands carry this style, as well. Ray-Ban, on the other hand, doesn’t only offer an updated look on one of its classic styles but, through many retailers, their styles from the late-‘80s and early 1990s are still available. Although Ray Ban wayfarer sunglasses aren’t the only style by the brand, it’s one of the brand’s most notable styles. Aside from being seen on modern-day celebrities, Ray-Ban wayfarer, and other styles like aviators, shades appeared in various films in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

For those of us who aren’t celebrities, wayfarer sunglasses are still seen as more of a hipster look and, for a look with less irony, oversized and aviator sunglasses are still in style. Nevertheless, if you want to shake up your sunglasses selection a bit, adding a pair of black on black wayfarers isn’t a fashion don’t. As Ray-Ban and other makers reissuing the wayfarer style again, colors are important. For a pair of sunglasses that goes with everything, black or tortoise frame with black lenses is the most versatile. But, if you’re looking for a pair of sunglasses that jumps out a bit more, frame colors range from the bright shade Hilton is seen wearing to neon shades. Although probably pairing neon wayfarers with acid wash jeans is somewhat cringe-worthy, pairing them with darker colors, so that they stand out more, is more acceptable for the times.