If there’s any design brand that you should be looking out for, it’s Emilio Pucci. Although in recent past fashion shows, according to an article from The Purse Page, the brand was characterized by brighter colors and lighter fabrics, it appears that, with a new designer in the house, the appearance of the brand has shifted over to one that’s more western. Western trends, particularly for handbags and other accessories, have been seen this past season, and often, they’re confused with rocker or punk chic. The writer at Purse Page seems to confuse some of these trends, now, for bohemian or hibby chic.

But, no matter what you call it, fringe, as well as fur and feathers hanging off the handbags, is distinctly western. As seen by the various models in the article from Purse Page – with one pictured here – the basic design for all of these Emilio Pucci bags is a long strap, a standard size purse (nothing hobo), and long fringe coming off the bottom. What results is a handbag that simply looks long. Proportionally, the bags seem to have the same shape as the models displaying them. Similarly, some of these bags – at least those pictured – have feathers or fur hanging off the sides instead of fringe.

But, with western fashion in and everywhere, where can you get similar styles to those seen on these Pucci bags? Best Handbag Wholesale has many western style handbags in its standard section. Some of these are the same size as the Pucci bags, albeit with a long or short strap, and details in solid color leather. Other embellishments are added to many of these, such as rhinestones, studs, and western-style crosses. Some of these bags, additionally, incorporate many other popular trends seen this past year, such as animal skins and patent leather – none of which are seen in the latest collection of Pucci handbags.

We’ve seen over the past few weeks how handbags created can raise money for a cause. But, what about handbags being created for a cause? In recent news, a profile on Maggie Bags, handbags made from recycled seatbelts, was done, as well as a prison program in Lebanon that has women making handbags for money. In the former, all handbags being sold are made from recycled materials that, ordinarily, would end up in landfills. Being too strong, the material would sit there and not break down. For the latter, the program, Sarah’s Future, gives women in a Lebanese prison an option to make money and to have employment even after being released.

Maggie Bags come from a Tennessee company, Tennessee Webbing, that has made recycled products from discarded seatbelts since 1991. More recently, their handbag production started as another option for using such seatbelts. The seatbelt fabric, or webbing, is woven tightly together, which makes for a durable handbag but, in a landfill, will simply sit. All Maggie Bags by Tenessee Webbing aren’t dyed, with the exception of pink colors, and all have a woven style made of several seatbelts. Aside from ordinary handbag and tote bag styles, hobo, laptop, diaper, and messenger bag options are available through the company.

While Maggie Bags take materials out of the environment, Sarah’s Future handbags give women in Lebanon more of a purpose in prison by allowing them to work. As a program that employs convicts, Sarah’s Future has women in prison designing and producing handbags that, in 2009, made it to runways in Paris. The brand, right now, is looking for more stores in the Middle East to carry their products, while the women who benefit from this program while in prison also continue to work designing and making handbags for Sarah’s Future once released.

Who says that Coach-inspired handbags are a bad thing? They’re not, but, considering one of the more recent trends regarding patchwork handbags, Coach and Coach-inspired handbags are everywhere. Fortunately, other brands are looking at this trend, including Balenciaga, which we’ve seen a bit of on this blog. One of Balenciaga’s patchwork handbags can be seen on Claudia Schiffer under the link. While the patchwork style doesn’t appear much different than other patchwork handbags we’ve seen, some differences are notable. Mainly, no material displaying the brand’s name is to be found and all bold colors are used in smaller pieces.

The difference between a low-end designer brand like Coach and a high-end designer handbag like Balenciaga is the pervasiveness of the monogram. Nearly all Coach handbags, including their patchwork designs, include their brown-on-brown monogram pattern. They’re not the only designer brand that does this, however. The Louis Vuitton bag seen on Jessica Simpson a few weeks ago is also guilty of the same thing. Nevertheless, this patchwork Balenciaga bag doesn’t stoop low enough to include a monogram material and, in fact, all materials used for this patchwork style are uniform. The bag itself focuses on the combination of colors resulting from the patchwork – not cramming in five to ten different materials on the same bag.

As Balenciaga handbags can cost a few months’ worth of rent, where would you find a more affordable look? As Best Handbag Wholesale keeps ahead with the latest trends, similar patchwork handbags are part of the selection. This handbag under the link goes with a similar bold color scheme as Schiffer’s Balenciaga bag and all pieces used have an angular cut. Mainly, though, this handbag has a western edge to it, and each piece of leather used is patterned and detailed like a cowboy boot and embossed.

Tired of seeing every celebrity with a studded handbag? Forgot about Vanessa Hudgens after High School Musical 3? The teen star is here to remind you that, at least in terms of fashion, she’s still somewhat relevant. Recently, the actress and singer was seen with a studded handbag by Balenciaga. While studded handbags have been seen all too often, this design stands out from the pack. With a hobo style and short strap, the black leather handbag is decorated with somewhat-angular studs arranged at various points. So far, the typical design we’ve seen has been a black leather handbag with silver bullet studs, and this particular design offers some variation.

The gold studs with a somewhat rounded, somewhat angular shape certainly pop against the black background of the bag and dark outfit worn by Hudgens, but this is one of a few unique studded handbags we’ve seen. A few months ago, Lindsay Lohan was spotted with a pyramid studded black handbag (and also another less-than-stellar outfit) and other celebrities have been seen with black studs on black leather bags. But, while silver seems typical, the gold color on Hudgens handbag almost seems like a chunky bracelet was added to the design of the handbag.

How can you get this style if you can’t afford the price tag on a Balenciaga bag? Best Handbag Wholesale stocks many studded hobo handbags similar to the one worn by Hudgens. This particular handbag under the link includes various metal and clear rhinestone studs around the edge, as well as a short strap. Other similar handbags at BHW add a bit more western style, such as this western-style tote bag that, also with a short strap, has small and concho-like rhinestones around the bottom and top edges.

What if you could design handbags and then, from your profits, donate money to a cause you believe in? This has been the case over the past few weeks, with a Hollywood starlet designing a handbag for Haiti and a teen in Greenville, New York, selling his handbags to raise money for a school. In either case, the money from the handbags sold is going to a local or national cause. The celebrity behind the former, Scarlett Johansson, so far hasn’t made any step into the fashion world – although, could a fragrance be far behind? – while the teen in the latter story has been designing handbags for a few years and, recently, was noticed by a boutique in his New York town.

Liam Manak, the teen from New York, has been knitting handbags for several years. According to the article under the link, his designs were noticed by a boutique in his town recently, where they are being sold, but, as far as raising money through fashion goes, he planned to sell his handbags at the Valentine’s Boutique Monday to raise money for Tuxedo Park School, a private school in his community. Not only are his handbag designs benefitting the school but, also, they put some focus on the local business community in Greenville.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the handbag Scarlett Johansson designed for Haiti. The actress, best known for roles in Lost in Translation and a few recent Woody Allen films, designed her handbag with an ancient Haitian script. The design itself will be sold at Mango stores and the profits from those sold will be going to Oxfam. Although relief efforts for the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake have focused on getting supplies and food to the country, the profits from Johansson’s handbags are going toward clean water efforts in Haiti.

Every so often, Best Handbag Wholesale updates its product selection to include the latest trends in western-inspired jewelry, handbags, and other accessories. For all of these, studs and rhinestones are some of the hottest trends right now, and the belt selection at BHW is aware of this. Many of the wholesale western belts use both of these embellishments. A black leather or cow print colored belt, for example, will be decorated with small and large rhinestones, as well as ordinary metal studs, along the body and on the buckle. Some of these studs and rhinestones are rounded, while others have a diamond or pyramid shape to them.

Rhinestones and studs are part of both rocker and cowgirl chic styles at the moment. Whether you’re following the recent western fashions in the mainstream or are going for a more punk-rock look, rhinestones and studs are acceptable for either style. In the case of western fashion, bigger and brighter is better, and the selection of belts at BHW exemplifies this. Each belt is lined with a combination of concho-like rhinestones and studs to give you a style to wear every day and to wear at a rodeo.

The rhinestones and studs aren’t the only features on the belts, however. From the BHW-signature belts to other wholesale belts, all are made with a solid black or brown leather belt or one that’s patterned. If you’re looking to be extra-trendy, many of the belts at BHW use animal prints, including zebra and cow prints, and some of them are even textured with natural cow hide. If you’re looking for a belt to complete your look and to stand out, all of the wholesale belts at BHW combine many of the latest trends and come in sizes from extra small to 3XL for women.

Are you getting ready for spring by updating your wardrobe? You’re not the only one. Walk into any department store currently, and most are starting to sell a combination of bathing suits, shorts, and flip flops. Even if the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow and we have six more weeks left of winter, why not update your wardrobe with a few of these staples in the latest trends in preparation for spring and summer? Many start wearing flip flops as soon as the snow melts and the temperatures go up, so why not display a trendy pair on your feet?

The selection of wholesale rhinestone flip flops combines many of the latest trends. The most prominent, of course, are the rhinestones but a secondary trend, animal prints, is also added to many of the flip flops at Best Handbag Wholesale. As far as the rhinestones are concerned, many of the flip flops display several on the strap, ranging from large, concho-like rhinestones to small studs. The concho-like rhinestones are often displayed at the center of the strap and, depending upon your tastes, these come in diamond, circular, sunburst and cross shapes. Colored rhinestones, as well as metal and clear ones, are more options for this center ornament.

As far as the smaller rhinestones on the strap are concerned, most flip flops have a combination of rounded and diamond-shaped studs. Rhinestones can be found on a number of fashion pieces, including flats, jewelry, and clothing. Check any clothing collections at a variety of retailers to see the pervasiveness of rhinestones and studs this coming season. Additionally, many of the wholesale flip flops at Best Handbag Wholesale are brightly colored or patterned to match the rhinestones used. Choose from western colors like coral and turquoise or trendier animal prints for the base of a set of flip flops.

Ever thought the cowgirl look would be in? Perhaps it’s about time. Although western shirts made an appearance in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and many current handbags show western embellishments – not to mention the faux line dancing song “Achy Breaky Heart” – western fashion may be making an overall impression on the mainstream. Regardless of what you think of feminist blog Jezebel, they recently posted pictures of an upcoming western fashion spread from Vogue. Complete with horses and the outdoors, many of the models are clad in staid western gear that, combining some colors from western stones and standard cuts, looks like a hybrid between traditional western wear and high-fashion style.

But, although shades of coral stone and cowboy hats are seen on the models (and the horses), the collection of western fashion from Vogue appears to be a bit of a compromise. First off, much of the western fashion on the models isn’t necessarily cowgirl chic but, instead, horse-riding chic with some western embellishments. Many of these looks would be appropriate for spectators at a prep school polo match and not at a rodeo. Although the ostentatious nature of many western fashion pieces, especially those at Best Handbag Wholesale, is too overwhelming for high fashion, a compromise of high and western fashion isn’t always a bad thing – especially when traditional western styles get noticed.

What’s missing from this particular collection is the bling, from turquoise to large belts, associated with western fashion – and particular rodeo gear. For an updated western fashion collection, however, Marie Claire’s recent collection of western-inspired high fashion gets it right. Not only are large turquoise stones, belts, and western stone colors, particularly coral, a significant part of this collection, but many of these items would be appropriate for a rodeo and for high fashion.

What happens when you combine two of the years’ most popular trends? In one instance, you get the jeweled zebra patterned clutch seen on actress Amanda Seyfried at the premier for recent film Dear John. Seyfried, known for her role in Mean Girls and television’s Big Love, is one of several celebrities seen recently with such a jeweled clutch. This particular design by Judith Leiber goes a step further than other jeweled clutches we’ve seen by arranging small black and white crystals in a zebra skin pattern. While sometimes combining two trends doesn’t always work, it does on this particular clutch.

The clutch Seyfried’s carrying comes with a hefty price tag of $3000, probably due to the materials used and the precision needed to add every miniscule crystal to the body of the clutch. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a clutch or handbag that combines these properties, one can be found within your price range. At Best Handbag Wholesale, for example, similar zebra print wallets can be used like a clutch. This particular clutch under the link has a zebra pattern with an overall sheen to give it, from up close and far away, a shimmering appearance, although no crystals were used in the making.

If you simply have to have crystals and zebra print together on the same handbag or clutch, many more of these options are sold at Best Handbag Wholesale. On a smaller scale, many zebra print wallets are embellished with rhinestones, such as that seen under the link, and can be used as a clutch, particularly the flat wallets. Animal print with rhinestones isn’t exclusive to wallets at BHW, however. Many handbags also use this combination, such as this zebra print hobo handbag with an embellished western-style closure. The western-style closure includes a belt buckle and a strap covered in clear rhinestones and metal studs.

We’ve seen celebrities wearing animal print handbags, especially jungle print, quite often recently. Whether it’s a leather or patent leather handbag, a leopard, tiger, or zebra print seems to be popular. To advance this trend somewhat, designers are doing variations on animal prints. Aside from mixing up the colors, which we saw on a handbag worn by Dita von Teese a few weeks ago, bolder shades are being incorporated into standard animal print patterns. One animal print handbag, a blue leopard print Dolce and Gabbana handbag creates a distinct variation on this trend that manages to be subdued but bold. While the blogger at Purse Page doesn’t think much of this particular tote, it, by itself, indicates a possible trend for 2010.

If you’re looking for a similar but affordable style, Best Handbag Wholesale and other affordable or wholesale brands carry such designs. In the case of BHW, they have a similar patent leather tote bag with zebra stripes. A pink and black zebra print handbag offers the same type of variation seen above with the Dolce and Gabbana tote. In this case, the statement made by the bag is completely bold, without anything subdued about it.

Animal prints are one of the latest trends at the moment. Patent leather is, to an extent, and the BHW zebra print handbag incorporates both popular trends. If animal print, as we saw with the snakeskin handbags last week, wants to stick around, it needs to evolve. Consumers aren’t going to stay with a basic leopard print handbag like it’s 1987 and, instead, want something new. Standard animal prints are still a visible trend, as seen by the other products in BHW’s selection, but, as with all trends, it doesn’t last forever. Pink – or purple or blue – zebra print keeps this trend somewhat afloat by putting a new spin on the old.