Remember a couple of years ago when nearly every celebrity was sporting an ostentatious handbag, such as a purse in a bright color, with a metal-like sheen, decked out with studs, or made out of reptile skin? But, over the past few seasons, the in-your-face looks of 2008 and ’09 disappeared and have been replaced with practical options: satchels, tote bags, and luggage bags in brown, black, or white. They’re the every-occasion bags – perfect for work and for a night out. Yet, higher-end brands now appear to be going back to this trend that faded not even two years ago.

We saw the $39,000 Glazed Crocodile Backpack the Olsen twins did for The Row, and just two weeks ago, a red crocodile Hermes Birkin went for more than $200,000. Has the reptile look turned into an exclusive luxury-only item?

Since then, Reece Witherspoon was seen with such a handbag, the Chloe Python Shoulder Bag. While priced less than $4,000, it seems like a deal compared to the crocodile bags by The Row and Hermes, yet it’s far out of the price range for many.

Considering the stratospheric price range of these bags, should you even consider this a trend, or are reptile bags now relegated to the levels of – using an Occupy movement term – the one percent?

If you are truly considering this look, understand that such bags, when made with authentic materials, are in a higher price range than typical handbags. Crocodile, however, fetches considerably higher than python or snakeskin. But, that’s not to say you can’t have the look at all. Rather, be on the look for patent or genuine leather textured like reptile skin.

Because classic looks are now the fashion norm, stick with a color that will be practical for all occasions. Rather than opting for dyed purple, red, or orange, like the Legally Blonde actress’ bag, stick with black, brown, or a similar neutral shade.

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.

Python is literally on all types of handbags this season and, in a sense, isn’t exclusive to one design. Recently, singer Rihanna was spotted with a python print handbag, which has been seen on many other celebrities this past summer. The particular handbag seen on Rihanna, however, is described as a puffy purse, which is a somewhat different style for a handbag than that seen on other celebrities. On one hand, it’s somewhat similar, as it has the large size and baggy, slouch style seen on various hobo bags. But, while many python handbags are designed in this hobo style, the puffy python purse seen on Rihanna is closed and clipped at the top, making the handbag look like an oversized coin purse.

As Rihanna, as well as other celebrities featured on this blog like Julia Roberts and Kate Hudson with python handbags, have shown, python can be worn a number of ways. If you read the Salon.com article linked here a few weeks ago about the python and snakeskin clothing trend back late in 2000, the main difference between then and now with python is that is real skin is used, as opposed to faux python print on pants and shoes. The faux print from nine years ago, in addition, always kept the natural scale pattern of snakeskin intact, however, so that a pair of blue and green snakeskin pants looked like snakeskin from several feet away. Rihanna’s handbag, on the other hand, looks like an ordinary brown handbag, until you see the snakeskin texture up close.

But a solid color python print handbag isn’t the only option this season, and various other python handbags still keep the original scales pattern intact, although the skin itself is tinted purple or another bright color. The handbag shape, as well, can range from angular, as seen by Julia Roberts’ clutch a few weeks ago, to the hobo handbag style seen on many celebrities.

A clutch is, essentially, a cross between an oversized wallet and a purse. Generally, when a woman doesn’t want all of the bulk of a handbag, particularly the larger hobo bags seen on the market these days, she opts for a small clutch to hold the basics, and this includes money, cards, keys, and basic makeup. For going out to a club or bar, a clutch is often what a woman takes instead of a handbag, although now a wrist-clutch for holdings your basics has become common. Average people aren’t the only ones who use clutches and a celebrity is occasionally spotted sporting a clutch. Recently, Julia Roberts was seen on the set of a new film with a python clutch by designer LAI.

Python has been a hit this past year, so it’s no surprise that Roberts was spotted with a python print clutch. This particular python skin clutch isn’t in the typical bright colored or dyed styles by LAI. Rather, the light brown shade of the python is close to the natural appearance of snakeskin. Although the bag doesn’t retain the natural colors of python scales (none of the LAI bags appear to, apparently) but the light brown color gives this trend a low-key feel, instead of the ostentatious appearance of most python bags seen on celebrities and by affordable brands.

As far as finding a more affordable design, economical brands and wholesale handbag dealers often have their own versions of python clutches and handbags. A similar version can be found on watch and wallet website Time World USA. Their selection of products includes both faux alligator and python skin clutch style wallets, all of which are patent leather dyed in natural, low-key, or bright colors to match a variety of popular styles seen on celebrities like Julia Roberts and others sporting the python look.

Animal prints come and go, with snakeskin and leopard prints popping up at the end of every decade or so. So, with that pattern of fashion, it’s no surprise that snakeskin is back in, with Lipstick Jungle star Lindsey Price recently spotted with a python-print handbag. The picture of Price with the handbag can be seen on blog Celebrity Arm Candy.

As far as this bag is concerned, this pattern both permeates the designer, replica, and no-name handbag markets. Why is python, and all snakeskin patterns for that matter, popular at the moment? Aside from the cyclical nature of fashion, bright colors and patterns are in at the moment, with lines like Coach designing both adult and teen-geared collections with bright blues, pinks, and oranges or using a patent leather finish on the bags. Or, on the other hand, you have the Ed Hardy collection, with bright tattoo patterns, embellished with rhinestones, on either a dark field to stand out or on another brightly-colored field. In the case of the python print handbag from Best Handbag Wholesale, as seen on the left, the handbag itself isn’t even only python print but python print tinted with blue. Other options on the website include the same pattern fully tinted with lavender or partially with fuchsia or purple.

If you’re looking for a python handbag on a designer level, the handbag, or clutch will probably be made of real python skin while replica handbags and designer-inspired handbags will probably be made of leather or pleather and printed with a python pattern, such as the bag from Best Handbag Wholesale. Some bags, such as the ones seen in this picture – and the one seen on Lindsey Price – have a natural python skin pattern to them, while others – real or printed – use or mimic the pattern of the python’s scales and tint it partially or fully with a different – and brighter – shade.