Considered one of the most anticipated collaborations for the brand, MAC Beth Ditto debuts on June 7, but pictures and descriptions of the makeup recently surfaced online. The collection covers the basics: powder for achieving Ditto’s flawless pale look; eye shadow and liner combinations in dark, intense shades; mascara and false lashes; liquid eyeliner; lipstick and lip liner, and nail lacquer.

Ditto’s inspiration for her unique makeup style essentially started with MTV, and presently, she claims to never leave the house without wearing eyeliner. But early in her music career, specifically during her riot grrl days, she had to be creative yet frugal with finding and applying makeup. She said:

“I remember going to the Safeway on payday to buy eyebrow liner and feeling f***ing rich. But if that’s your experience of make-up, it makes you really express yourself with what little you have. […] You had to be innovative, I would draw eyeliner on my lips, but I’d make it look red with blush. I bought clown make-up and Halloween make-up when it went on sale because it was so cheap.”

Considering the success of her career, Ditto has gone far beyond this point but still retains that level of creativity. But, as far as her collection goes, what do you think of MAC’s Beth Ditto-inspired line? Do you think it accurately captures her look? Or, is its palette of black, purples, and blues too limiting? And, for which occasions would this makeup be appropriate?

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Handbags aren’t Apfel’s first foray into fashion. Previously, she put out a Home Shopping Network line of jewelry and other accessories and did a makeup collaboration with MAC. In fact, working with Lisa Nunziata, the president of L & Leung Design Group, for the HSN line was the start of Extinction. In designing a bag for the HSN line, Nunziata impressed Apfel and asked to do a full handbag line with the socialite.

Considering the crazy markups on many celebrity-named brands, Extinctions is reasonably priced, at $228 to $398 per bag. Although the line made its official debut last week, the collection won’t be available until October. The line consists of 12 different styles, made out of materials like Mongolian lamb, calf hair, and snakeskin, and all bags, available in a variety of jewel tones, are lined with turquoise silk. A trip to Paris in the 1970s, in fact, inspired Apfel’s choice of Mongolian lamb. At the time, she noticed a Lanvin coat and hat made out of the material. In an interview, she said:

“I literally stopped traffic because nobody had seen anything like it before. Since the hat was several shades of grey — just like my hair at that particular time — you couldn’t tell where I ended and the hat began. It was fabulous.”

One of Apfel’s Extinctions bags is pictured above, and in line with current trends, it sticks with a solid shade but adds texture. Would you consider wearing such a bag?

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Neutral handbags superseded the glitz, glam, and gaudiness of styles from 2009 and ’10 – snakeskin, metallic shades, and studs, if you can recall. Now, everything is a black, brown, or gray boxy style, with embellishments going as far as quilted leather (Chanel bags) or faux ostrich skin.

Over the past few months, several celebrities, from music performers to actresses to reality television stars, have sported this look in a variety of ways. Rihanna was one of the more recent. Her Celine Nano Luggage Tote – one of the smaller options – was worn like a crossbody bag with a neutral outfit.

Kim Kardashian, out with Kanye West, was spotted with a Celine Phantom Luggage Tote – closer to an actual tote bag in size. The beige makes this look echo the Birkin’s style, and as this Kardashian sister has been spotted with the popular Hermes, this Celine Luggage Tote really isn’t a stretch for her style. Although with less of a defined style than Kim K., Dakota Fanning was seen with another neutral – a grayish shade, it appears – Celine Luggage Tote.

On the other hand, model Brooklyn Decker sported the same Celine Phantom style but in bright blue. The vibrant shade gives the bag some character, separating it from the usual parade of black, beige, and brown.

The neutral look gives the Celine Luggage Tote some versatility with both men and women. As the Huffington Post points out, this bag is also practical and fashionable for men.

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What are the possibilities?

• Barefaced is a misnomer and deceptive – no one’s face truly looks that perfect and you end up falling into the cycle of heavy application just for the sake of appearing “natural” – and has two varieties: simple and athletic. The former is straightforward, but the latter, at least seen recently, evokes striking features and slightly flushed cheeks – like you work out all the time and just finished a session.

• Glitter everywhere. Pop star Ke$ha talks about having glitter on her eyes in song “We R Who We R,” and now a handful of major designers are adding embellishments, such as gold or silver leaf, to the eye area. Without going overboard or breaking the bank (seriously – how much does gold leaf eye ornaments cost, and how long do they last?), you can still get the metallic look for your eyes or lips with standard makeup. Either way, you still look like you stepped off the set of a Ke$ha video.

• ’50s and ‘60s retro, at least in the present, is all about a sharp black line running across your eyelid. Think Amy Winehouse’s eye wings but with less curve. If you’re into the whole ’60s look from Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks, this makeup style blends right in with the rest of the outfit.

• Bold colors can be added in just the right places. Going overboard, appearing like you stepped out of the ‘80s, isn’t recommended. Instead, stick with the bold-to-neutral radio regarding your eyes and lips. Pick only one and accent the color even more. Highly-pigmented makeup like MAC makes such a look easily achievable.

• Wider eyebrows are another throwback look. While all that plucking you did for the past two years to create those perfectly-arched brows is finally out, don’t breathe a full sigh of relief and let yourself go. Even with the wider width, those brows still need to be shaped, groomed, and filled in.

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I’m the type of person who likes to set my own tone, I like to set the trends, so hopefully, I’m coming out with my own line, and hopefully it will open next year here with my team, with my publicist here. […] I’m so into fashion I can’t wait to start this line, but it takes money.

Johnson is in the process of getting capital, but when the line debuts, the fashion world should expect accessories, albeit without a concentrated style. She said:

My style will be for a broad range of audiences. It won’t just be for an urban audience. It’s from kids to older adults to younger adults.

Johnson, who appeared in music videos before starting her reality television career, still has plans to stay on the tube. In June 2011, she mentioned in XXL she’s working on another television show, which won’t appear on VH1, and eventually wants her own show. She confirmed filming another television show last week, saying:

So yes, I’m working on a show this year. I can’t talk too much about it, but, yes, I am shooting a new reality show this year.

Aside from her past VH1 series, Johnson has made appearances on Maury and the Tyra Banks Show and on the radio through Frank and Wanda in the Morning, The A Team Morning Show, the Wendy Williams Experience, and BET’s Rap City August 2007.

Da’Vista, a wardrobe stylist whose eyewear and accessories have been seen on Lil Kim and Tionna Smalls (What Chili Wants 2) and is currently working with Love and Hip-Hop Season 2’s Somaya Reece, has an eponymous line, Da’Vista shades, which unveiled its third collection on March 10. At the show, when asked about transitioning from styling to designing sunglasses, he mentioned: It’s something different; you know, something that adds to the outfit.

In discussing his career, Da’Vista said he’s expanding to children’s eyewear, which was featured in the fashion show, and mentioned he would like to be a stylist for Jay-Z and Beyonce. However, in terms of doing both roles, he said: “Actually, it’s crazy, because I have a full-time job, nine to five, stylist, and eyewear designer. It’s my passion, so I do it all.”

Da’Vista’s collection, which was the finale of the fashion show, goes against trends, in a sense. As we’ve talked on here, neutral, unisex looks are the “it” style for eyewear – that pair of black wayfarers or mirrored aviators that goes with just about anything. Da’Vista, on the other hand, fulfills the unisex component but, using a shield style as his template, embellishes each frame with studs and rhinestones, as can be seen in the picture above.

Yet, unlike those tacky, oversized Juicy Couture shades you sported in 2004 (yes, you know you had a pair), Da’Vista doesn’t go overboard with colors and gradient lenses. The embellishments are the primary draw and ostentatious colors don’t create a clashing appearance.

Several other designers presented before Da’Vista, rolling out their latest collections of clothing, shoes, and accessories. Out of this group, Kozby World by Kola Zubair stood out for its refined style, while Ashlei Banks’ Spike Intuition gives high heels the look Da’Vista gives to sunglasses. Da’Vista was also the show’s producer and, regarding the group of designers chosen, he said: “[T]hey’re up-and-coming, they’re amazing, they’re very edgy. They have what it takes to be a part of this fashion show.”

At one point, Jersey Shore’s Snooki preferred rhinestone-covered shield sunglasses, but over the past year and a Poof Nation sunglasses line later, her tastes have changed. While the animal print appears here to stay, her choice in eyewear, as of recent, has been a pair of Dior Dior Evening gradient sunglasses, which look like something from Poof Nation but far, far more glam, sophisticated, and staid.

Tyra Banks, who recently graduated with a certificated from Harvard Business School, also prefers the oversized gradient look. While black, brown, tortoise, and burgundy have been the color palette of choice as of recent, Banks does something different, opting for a reddish-orange pair of Burberry shades.

Megan Fox, who’s actually back on screen in the just-opened Friends With Kids, has been more of a sex symbol and less fashion icon, but at least she sticks with the trends. Her neutral look is a pair of Ray Ban aviators, which are just about as gender neutral as you can get.

Even younger stars aren’t immune to this trend. Former Disney kid Demi Lovato was spotted in Versace aviators, which give off more of a club or weekend-in-Ibiza vibe than Fox’s aviators. Like most current and former Disney kids, Lovato doesn’t have a distinct sense of style; it’s only those faux pas, like Miley Cyrus’ frequent missteps, from mom jeans to too-sheer garments, that garner attention. Nevertheless, although the former Sonny With a Chance star’s outfit isn’t anything to write home about, she shows she has good taste in eyewear.

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In a statement, Mulberry creative director Emma Hill said about the style: “I love Lana’s nostalgic references to bygone glamour and the fact that her look is retrospective yet so modern. This inspired us to create a bag that was timeless, refined and elegant, yet with a beautiful practicality that would suit any woman.”

And, essentially, these bags capture Del Rey’s innocuous faux retro style – one that’s framed her image as a singer with Valley of the Dolls-lite looks and basic-yet-seemingly-sultry vocals or, marketing-wise, a “bad girl” Nancy Sinatra. The front flap with a turn lock, however, is nothing to write home about, style wise, although Mulburry still modernizes the lightweight ‘60s look with “it” colors indigo and burgundy.

Del Rey mentioned in the same statement: “I love the design, a perfect mix between old school Hollywood and contemporary style. It’s an honor that such a classic and prestigious brand would name a bag after me.”

The Del Rey Bag hits stores in May, although the textured ostrich style Del Rey carried at London Fashion Week won’t be available for commercial sale. Each is priced at roughly $1,250 – a bit too much considering the inspiration but not as egregious as the high prices for Katie Holmes’ handbag line. At least the Del Rey Bag is a Mulberry, and considering the singer’s album is doing fairly well on the charts, perhaps this move isn’t as bad as it seems.

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• The military look knows no gender for fall and winter. Sticking exclusively with this theme for his collection, Tommy Hilfinger called it “the academy look” because of the fitted and precise quality of all garments. Waists and shoulders are defined for women, and epaulets give every piece – be it a jacket or dress – a hint of seriousness. Gold embroidery or hardware, added to black or olive green garments, is additionally in line with this trend and a significant visual draw.
• Texture creates a further dimension for the senses, and many designers employed this tactic in their collection, from meticulously-crafted shoulder embellishments to reptile print to glossy leather. Simply extending the reptile skin handbag trend, designers, such as pop star-turned-respected fashionista Victoria Beckham, are adding the skin or print to clothing. Glossy leather – but not patent leather – characterized a large portion of the DKNY collection, extending from jackets to pants. Menswear isn’t exempt. Although using the military look as a template, Tommy Hilfiger took liberties with materials, going with glossy leather in black or burgundy for some jackets.
• Retro-futuristic indicates that designers, and their dutiful consumers, can’t decide where fashion should go – toward the future or into the past. Clothing, then, remains a paradox of retro influences (think mod and Mad Men) merging with fitted futuristic cuts and colors (gold, yellow, bright blue). Although the two can be merged successfully, the outcome might result in garments better-suited for a period television show or mid-century sci-fi B-movie.

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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.