After weeks of celebrities being decked out with studs and more studs, there are no studs to be seen on any handbags, which is a relief. I was beginning to think that the 80s were making a lasting comeback, but at least there is a reprieve for the moment. Let’s hope that it lasts!

Filming has begun on the smash hit show Gossip Girl and starlet Blake Lively was seen in Paris! Sure, Gossip Girl and Paris will be good, but even better is Lively’s Fendi tote, which completes her entire look. The beige exterior, smart buckles and short straps perfectly highlight the simplicity of her lush green dress and floppy hat. Look for the ensemble on the next season of Gossip Girl.

Lively’s fellow Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester was also seen on set with a stud-free handbag, which is quite a relief. Meester was seen carrying a dark purple Lanvin Mini Pop Bag on her way to filming a scene for the show. Although the purple Lanvin doesn’t quite go with the pink dress, Meester looks good carrying the bag anyway. Her wardrobe could use some serious work however. Sorry Leighton!

And last, but certainly not least, the queen of pop Britney Spears, was seen out with an adorable Coach Julia Leather Small Bag. The Julia (which Ms. Spears had in a fuchsia berry type color) features a smooth leather exterior with long straps for carrying or slinging over the shoulder. Britney was wearing an orange tank top and what’s this? Studded shorts? And studded boots? Just when I thought I was free of this hair band chic, the studs sneak into the picture. I’m just going to focus on the cute western-style handbag.

There’s always hope for next week, I guess.

So I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but Lady Gaga seems to have totally taken over the handbag trend-setting as of late. Seriously – studs are everywhere! On handbags that is. Granted, she may not have begun the craze, but she has certainly run with it. Ever since she studded up a $10,000 Hermes’ Birkin handbag, celebs have embraced the trend and begun buying metal-studded handbags to carry around town.

For instance, young starlet Dakota Fanning (the Twilight trilogy) has been spotted just about everywhere with an Alexander Wang Studded Duffle, which furthers Fanning’s budding fashion icon status into trendsetter territory. In a slight faux pas at an airport (probably LAX), she pairs the brownish bag with a pink and white ensemble that doesn’t quite gel, but matches with her shoes. It’s a strange choice for Fanning, but I guess it kind of works…maybe.

Back to the studs! Former TV stalwart Rachel Bilson (The O.C.) has been seen all around town with a 3.1 Phillip Lim Edie Leather Handbag and also a few other designer bags featuring, what else, studs! I’m not sure where Bilson gets her fashion sense from, but she usually looks good, so maybe studs have something to do with it. Bilson seems to really love the whole studded craze, seeing as she’s rarely seen without some kind of metal embellishment on her accessories or handbags. Let’s see what she steps out with next – maybe a studded cardigan?

Finally, never one to be left out of the tabloids, Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer) was out the other day with a Novella Royale Mister Studded Purse, which has been seen on Taylor Momsen and Kristin Cavalleri, according to this article. Maybe this is a sign that the stud craze is going to be over soon – three D-listers with the same studded bag. That’s never a good sign.

Look what you’ve done Gaga. Stop with the studs so I can write about something else.

The celebrity world is always getting shaken up by some scandal or controversy, even if it is just based on the clothes and accessories that these trendsetters wear out into public. Back in the mid-90s, it was normal to see bizarre fashion from the likes of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and other performers of the like. However, the trends have currently been totally outrageous. The singer of the moment, Lady Gaga, takes issue with the strict tenets of what fashion should me, just from judging the vast array of strange outfits and accessories she is seen in.

When you think of TV talk show host and overall nice person Kelly Ripa, the last celebrity you may associate with her would be Lady Gaga. Of course, I’m sure that Lady Gaga has been on Live with Regis and Kelly, but I wouldn’t expect these two to have much in common. Apparently though, Kelly and Gaga have the same fashion sense…kind of.

Just a few days ago, Kelly was spotted with a Hermes’ Birkin bag while out with her husband. This is the same bag that we previously spotted Lady Gaga out with, but with her custom addition: tons of little metal studs. Normally this would be considered a faux pas, but it seems like Lady Gaga can get away with anything she wants.

At the steep price of more than $10,000, I definitely wouldn’t be putting a hundred studs through my purse, but it’s a personal preference. If you’d like a more normal western-style handbag like Kelly’s version, check out this designer-inspired black handbag at Best Handbag Wholesale. They also carry studded leather bags, but if you’d prefer a more classic style bag, Kelly’s is certainly in that vein. Whichever way you go, Kelly or Gaga, make sure it fits your personal style – in the end, that’s what really matters.

The fashion industry always seems to be ahead of the curve, anticipating and discovering new trends for the next season. So it would only be appropriate that we are in the middle of summer 2010 and the fashion elite are already deciding what kinds of handbags will be the hottest new thing in the fall and even the upcoming winter months. Here are a couple of lists to give you an idea of where handbag trends are going in the next few seasons:

• Large-oversized bags – Oh, man. It seems like the oversized is never going to go out of style. Year after year, handbags get bigger and bigger. This may not seem like anything new, but don’t be surprised if the bags get even larger in the next few months. Now Paris Hilton will be able to fit two of her dogs inside!

• Soft embellishments – 2009 saw the implementation of huge additions to handbags, like hoops, chains and other large items, but 2010 is being dominated by softer add-ons. These range from rouching (the gathering up of fabric to create a ruffled style) to pleating and weaving of exterior fabric to give handbags a lighter look in color and texture.

• Studs – As mentioned in a previous post, studs are making a comeback, courtesy of Lady Gaga, who loves to adorn her fashion accessories with little metal touches. You’ll see more and more of this in the fall and winter.

The hot colors for winter (reds and grays) have already been popping up this summer on the arms of some of the biggest celebrities and fashion icons in the world. Judging from this slow roll out, these colors and the aforementioned styles will begin to permeate the fashion world and the department store closest to you in the next 4 or 5 months. Get ready to hop on the newest trends in handbags!

Python is a handbag trend that doesn’t really seem to die. Instead, fashionistas get various incarnations of it over time. First, they started out bold. As we saw last year, such a handbag was often made from the snake skin and dyed a bright color, such as purple or blue. Then, a few months ago, the trend became more restrained. Instead, the snakeskin body became white or black. And, now? It appears that brighter is still better.

Megan Fox, the actress best known for the Transformer movies, appeared recently with such a python clutch at a premier for Jonah Hex. But, just as critics and moviegoers didn’t care much for Hex, no one really cares about Megan Fox or her passé handbag. A hot girl can only get by so much on her looks, and Fox’s lack of talent – her performance was described as being mannequin-like for Hex by nearly every critic — shows. Her fashion sense falls in the same line. The bright red J. Lo-plunging neckline dress looks like she swiped it off a Las Vegas hooker, and the bag simply looks like an afterthought.

But, if you’re looking for a more interesting fashion statement, the most recent Sex and the City movie is a better reference point than Megan Fox’s style. A recent contest puts the snakeskin Adriana Castro bag up for grabs, and the bag is traditional Carrie Bradshaw style: two-tone bold colors on a snakeskin coin purse body. This bag will be the center point for any outfit and, although SATC2 was reviewed as well as Jonah Hex, at least the style is something to aspire to.

If you’re looking for ways to be bold with this look, Best Handbag Wholesale offers various python handbags made from soft reptile material. The bag keeps the pattern of the skin intact but adds a few extra shades.

Jessica Biel may make questionable movie choices (what’s the last film you can remember her in?) but this doesn’t apply to the choices she makes with fashion. Recently, she was spotted leaving the gym, as many celebrities are, with a western style handbag. Compared to the basic workout clothing she’s wearing, the bag certainly stands out. And, not to appear confusing between western and punk rock styles, this Jerome Dreyfuss (a brand more popular in Europe than the US at the moment) bag has a distinct and unmistakable western look. Those looking for a clearly western, high-end bag should probably take note of what styles this brand comes out with.

The Jerome Dreyfuss handbag, small enough to be considered a purse instead of a hobo, has all the distinct qualities of western styles. The brown leather purse’s most notable and visible characteristic is the brown fringe in front. Not too long and neither too sporadic, the fringe gives it a clear western look from a distance. Aside from this aspect, the pictures of this handbag reveal a detailed border around the leather, reminiscent of the detail that goes into designing a pair of cowboy boots. Together, these two elements elevate an ordinary brown handbag to a unique western look.

Western styles come in several price ranges. If you’re looking for a similar handbag like Biel’s but can’t afford the hefty price tag, consider designer inspired options. As western style is practically pervasive in high-end fashion these days, handbags that emulate these looks keep the same style but offer it at a much lower price. At Best Handbag Wholesale, such western handbags have the same brown leather body as Biel’s bag and are embellished. Aspects like fringe, side and strap detail, and rhinestones and conchos elevate an ordinary bag into a trendsetting style.

It’s one trend that’s been everywhere this past year: studded handbags. Of course, when we spot many of these handbags, the studs are added in an orderly fashion. As a result, one of these purses appears to have either a western or punk rock style. For the latter of these two, however, keeping the look orderly becomes somewhat of an oxymoron, especially as punk, or even the rocker chic look, is never about order and following the rules. But, how many celebrities actually have the gall to alter their own handbags?

Lady Gaga, apparently, does. This isn’t much of a surprise and, although we haven’t covered much about her fashion on this blog (unlike her outfits, she is rarely seen with an interesting handbag), she has recently made news in regards to a Hermes Birkin bag she was carrying. While several celebrities carry Birkin handbags for their tote-meets-hobo style, Lady Gaga altered hers with several studs added to the body of the bag. The studs, all attached to the black leather at random, give the bag a punk look and shows how studded leather should be done. In fact, compared to the solid black of Gaga’s outfit, the handbag ends up standing out.

Of course, this isn’t Lady Gaga’s first time altering a Hermes Birkin bag. A few months ago, she was photographed with another Hermes bag, only this time the bag had Japanese characters written on it by a Sharpie marker. While Lady Gaga can create her own style based on the trends of the moment, putting studs on your black leather handbag may end up being a painstaking process. Instead, find a studded leather handbag, such as this one from Best Handbag Wholesale, that meets your taste with one of the most popular styles of the moment.

Floral handbags use one of the most popular prints at the moment, but flowers themselves, as an accessory, are also common on clothing, headbands, and jewelry. Shouldn’t handbags be next? Floral prints, for the past few months, have been everywhere. Some of them replicate a vintage style through details blossoms and cabbage roses, while others are abstract and bold. No matter your style – more on the conservative side or bold – there’s probably a flower print for you.

When it comes to handbags, actress Amanda Seyfried was seen with a floral Valentino handbag before her appearance on talk show Regis and Kelly. Seyfried often makes interesting choices with her style, and this handbag is no exception. The bag itself combines several floral trends seen the past year. Veering on the bright and bold side, the Valentino handbag is covered in three-dimensional flowers of various colors. In fact, the side of the bag facing the camera almost looks like three-dimensional flower print. Similarly, as adding a flower accessory to your outfit through a headband, jewelry, or pin is a trend that doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon, this handbag is covered with flowers of the same style.

When it comes to owning the latest styles of floral handbags, many of the designers are adding this pattern to their lines. But, as far as owning a floral handbag is concerned, going the designer inspired route is often beneficial for your wallet. Wholesale Handbags USA carries several floral purses at the moment, including those that use the same color combination as Amanda Seyfried’s handbag seen above. This floral handbag uses a black background for a pattern of yellow, pink, and blue flowers. If you’re looking for a brighter style, opt for a similar floral handbag with a white background.

They say that if you first try and you don’t succeed, try again. Can the same be applied to fashion? While certainly designers in the past have had failed lines or have needed revamping at some point, can the same be said for celebrities wanting to break into the fashion world? At the moment, Lindsay Lohan has been trying more to make a career out of designing clothing than getting her acting career back on track. But, when investors won’t fund the latest film and you’re kicked off production, how else will you pass the time and create a paycheck?

For Lindsay, this appears to include dabbling in the fashion world. Last year, she debuted her leggings collection and was an artistic director for Ungaro, an already-floundering house of fashion. Nevertheless, her collection under Ungaro was met with disgust by fashion critics on both sides of the pond and she lasted only one season. Her leggings line, however, seems to go under the radar without much fanfare or jeers.

But, to make herself somewhat relevant, Lohan plans to be designing handbags for Ed Hardy, the brand once favored by club kids and now relegated to designer condoms, Jon Gosselin, and the Jersey Shore crew. Will she fit in or be rejected from even this lower echelon of designer fashion?

Considering the Ungaro collection under Lohan was punctuated by rhinestones, she shouldn’t have a problem creating tattoo-inspired handbags covered with them (why does Ed Hardy put them on every single thing?). Additionally, as a fashion line favored by club kids over the past few years, Ed Hardy and Lohan appear to be on the same page. Christian Audigier’s line has its niche, and Lohan has transformed from a once talented actress into an overgrown club kid. At least she’ll be familiar with their demographic.

First, there were bubble dresses, those shapeless pieces of clothing that started at the chest and went past the hips without shape. Their handbag equivalent could be considered the balloon purse, recently seen on Jessica Simpson and a few other celebrities. Shapelessness is in style – but only if you do it correctly. Shapelessness done incorrectly is often associated with a sweat suit or oversized clothing; in neither instance does the lack of definition flatter the body. But, once you juxtapose one shapeless item with one or more fitted – such as a bubble dress with leggings or a balloon purse with skinny jeans – the two pieces of clothing play off each other.

The balloon handbag carried by Jessica Simpson isn’t much different from a hobo handbag. The lack of shape is still present but, for carrying, a simple handle on top for the hand is added. Simpson’s Marni Balloon bag is made from solid black leather and, on the surface, blends in with her outfit too much. A touch of color or a brighter hue would make the bag appear more unique against the backdrop of her clothing. Nevertheless, the bag’s lack of shape compliments the fitted qualities of her leather jacket and skinny jeans and, on this aspect alone, does the bag work with the outfit.

If you can’t afford the type of bag Simpson’s seen carrying, no worries. At Best Handbag Wholesale, various western-style purses have a similar appearance. This Cowgirl West handbag, for example, has the short handle seen on Simpson’s balloon purse, only the bag portion is designed with more shape. Additionally, this and other bags with similar style from Best Handbag Wholesale all have rhinestone and stud embellishments that make the bag distinct from the outfit – even if you wear a black jacket and pants.