Eye Shadow – One of the best ways to add layers of depth to your outfit is eye shadow. With hundreds upon hundreds of colors and shades, you should have no problem finding an eye shadow that compliments your face as well as the color scheme you have chosen to wear. Use eye shadow to make your wholesale fashion accessories pop right out from your outfit!

Sunscreen & Bronzers– More and more people are talking about the limitations and safety concerns caused by harmful UV rays, whether from the sun or a tanning bed. However, that shouldn’t stop you from adding a healthy bronze glow to your overall look this summer. Whenever you go to the beach or are planning on being in the sun for prolonged periods of time, be sure to use sunblock with a moisturizer so your skin doesn’t dry out. If you need a quick tan, use a bronzer lotion or spray and apply evenly to get the dark tones you’re looking for.

Lip Gloss – Finally, you should always have a nice, light lip gloss in your handbag. Having lip gloss on hand will add a nice shine to your lips while also protecting them from cracking and being damaged by any UV rays that get under your beach umbrella.

Each of these items should be a major part of your western fashion wardrobe this summer – it will only help add to your already wonderful fashion sensibility!

According to Offaly Express, women’s handbags are not cleaned as often as they should be, leading to bacteria and other dirty problems:

“…a recent study into the cleanliness of handbags has come up with surprising results. The most unhygienic item in your handbag is your keys, followed by the buckle or zip on your purse, your phone and then your handbag zip itself. The study, which measured the biological contamination of ten handbags, found that the door and car keys tested were on average 33 times dirtier than what is considered to be a clean surface.”

Although the article suggests otherwise, these results are not entirely surprising, considering that many people keep food items and sometimes trash in their handbags. The story says that failing to clean your handbags regularly can lead to colds and other common illnesses. Treating your handbag like it is a doorknob or another communal item used often during the day is an important thought to keep in mind.

As we have said in this blog before, don’t spend your hard-earned money on a beautiful wholesale handbag purchase just to let it collect dust. Cleaning your handbags on a bi-monthly basis is important to the durability of your collection, as well as your own personal health and cleanliness.

According to mUmBRELLA, Australian designer Kirrily Johnston has teamed up with Kellogg’s cereal Special K to produce a snack-specific handbag. Special K, which has been touting recent campaigns aimed at weight loss for women, is getting itself into the handbag market by having its own pocket in the new Johnston bag:

“The handbag is made with a special pocket, sized to fit a Special K snack bar. The bag is launching as part of Kirrily Johnston’s Spring/Summer collection at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia in Sydney today. Kellogg’s claims this is one of the first times the advertiser has tried an alternative use for television for a major launch. According to a press release, the snack bar pocket is ‘a visual cue to help the 96% of women who think about snacking each day to prepare for their looming snack attack.’”

Currently, the only way to get one of these $750 lipstick red handbags is by winning a Kellogg’s contest, the article says. There are only 50 of these snack pocket handbags that have been made.

What’s interesting about this matchup is the designer’s willingness to change regular handbag cues to work with a major cereal brand. Granted – the bags can only be won, the pocket really isn’t noticeable and I’m sure Johnston picked up some major cash for the deal, but couldn’t this be seen as selling out? Whatever your opinion, I wouldn’t be shocked if more handbags start adding snack pockets. What do you think?

The Cupcake Handbag – Who doesn’t love cupcakes? From those Hollywood elites all the way down to John Doe on Main Street, cupcakes have become a major part of bakery success across the country. With this recent boom in popularity, Judith Leiber decided to bring the cupcake into the fashion world. Costing almost $4,300, her Cupcake handbag has all the fixings of a real cupcake, except that the frosting is made from shimmering jewels and the interior of the wrapper is where you keep your things. Good luck finding one of these creations – apparently they’ve sold out everywhere.

The Batman “Wing” Handbag – With the third and final Dark Knight trilogy film coming to theaters this summer, there is no better time to get a Batwing handbag. This bag, seemingly made from rubber, is much cheaper than many handbags (in the $25 – $50 range) and will definitely show off your geek chic the next time you go out.

The Rubik’s Cube Handbag – When it comes to the world of mind-bending brain teasers, is there any item more recognizable than a Rubik’s Cube? A simple glance at this twisty, colorful cube and you know exactly what you’re looking at. The multi-colored block is a perfect starting point for someone with a varied wardrobe, especially since the disco look is slowly moving back on the runway. Even if disco isn’t your thing, this handbag is great for 80s theme parties at your friend’s house. What’s next? A Pet Rock handbag?

Here are some ideas of things to add to your cowgirl fashion this summer:

Who’s Calling? – If you think about it, you probably can’t name a friend of yours who doesn’t have a cell phone on them at all times. In fact, the majority of your friends have blinged out their phones with replacement glitter cases and other accessories. While this is definitely a way to trick out your look, you should take it to the next level. Western cell phone cases can add depth to your western style while also serving as a place for your phone. This extra will be perfect with any type of cowgirl look.

Buckle It – If it doesn’t wear out, you can probably get any with wearing the same belt for the rest of your life. In the world of fashion, this may seem like a faux pas, but you’re forgetting about the main element of a belt – the buckle. Add to your selection of belt buckles and you’ll be able to mix and match this accessory with practically any outfit you have!

Add to What’s Available – We don’t always have a lot of money to spend on new clothes, so why not change the clothes you have? Simply adding embellishments like rhinestone crosses, appliqués and even extra buttons can not only save you money, but also layer styles and fashion types into a single shirt or skirt. You will be a hit at the bar this weekend!

Metallic Fashion – In part started by the increasingly fashion-forward style of Lady Gaga, think shimmer and shine the next time you’re buying any fashion accessories to add to your outfits. Bright orange may be the biggest color this year, but don’t forget about muted golds, silvers and bronze in your handbag selection. If western style is your thing, go for wholesale cross handbags, which usually feature a metal-accented cross, which would sync up perfectly with your new copper-toned miniskirt.

Prints – As always, prints are staying put, but you’ll be surprised to learn that animal prints are not the number one contender for pattern of the year. This year, tribal prints are the go-to pattern when choosing a striking blouse or skirt. This is a stunning change from 2011, which showcased a more demure, softened look with light patterns. Expect more tribal prints to be added to existing wardrobes instead of becoming the overwhelming centerpiece of a person’s style.

Pleats and Ruffles – Remember those cute Easter dresses your mother had you wear to the local Easter Egg Hunt? Well, be on the lookout for the ruffles and pleats those cute summer dresses featured. They will be making a large move to the dress racks in the adult section of your local department stores. You may want to begin planning your dress selections right now!

Here are some of the standouts at the Academy of Country Music awards:

Taylor Swift – The big winner of the evening (Entertainer of the Year, for the second year in a row), Ms. Swift was stunning in a J.Mendel gown that had fashion critics’ jaws on the floor. It had been easy to pinpoint Taylor as a young artist in years past – including at this year’s Grammys – but it seems that her stylists have pushed to have her look more grown up. The white form fitting gown had two cutouts right above her waist, which was a trend at the ACMs.

LeAnn Rimes – The oft-maligned country act (for her affair with then-married actor Eddie Cibrian) followed in Swift’s steps by wearing a Stella McCartney dress with cutouts along the sides. Many were commenting on the success of her outfit and western style clutch combination.

Jennifer Nettles – The Sugarland songstress surprised many by dressing in a neon pink dress from Max Azria. The gown featured a yellow-beaded waistband that offset the bright pink exterior. The top of the dress had lace elements that certainly tipped the fashion barometer towards the western fashion side of things.

Nicole Kidman – There in support of her husband, rocker Keith Urban, Kidman kept it classy with a chic black cocktail dress with some mesh at around the neck and around the shoulders. The Oscar winner certainly knows her way around a red carpet.

In the world of western fashion, there are always givens. For instance, you can never go wrong by adding a rhinestone cross pendant to your accessories. Anytime you are looking to go out line dancing, you’ll want to have a few western style handbags to choose from. That way, you can mix and match your outfits with your fashion accessories. However, these are obvious tips for anyone in the know about western fashion trends. So what’s coming up next for the cowgirl fashionistas out there?

The next big move for western style designers takes an old standby and mixes it with the pizzazz of a cowhide belt. Throw out those old blue jeans and start wearing colored denim! Not only can it add to your wardrobe’s panache, but it will also accentuate your figure once you’ve discovered what works best for you. According to an article in the Kansas City Star, store owners are already snatching up this wholesale western apparel and recommending it to customers.

With colored denim, you will be noticed more frequently for your fashion sense, especially since it is the hot button topic of the moment:

“… while there are many user-friendly ways to wear colored pants, don’t expect any of them to go unnoticed. Turning a few heads is the point, [one fashion buyer says], and eventually you’ll gain the confidence to put the bright top with the bright bottom. ‘Being bold is very modern … and the most modern way to do this is color on color. Wear the unexpected — a red bottom, tangerine tank and cobalt blue cardigan.’”

The story says that pink is the most popular color right now because it matches well with what shoppers already have – white tank tops with like-colored graphics, etc. However, as 2012 moves on, colored denim apparel is going to be a big seller for your store – along with your other wholesale western fashion items.

In the books, a major theme is the fashion of the dystopian world depicted in the future. So far, fans of the books have been positive in criticism of the costume choices in the film and it seems that Hunger Games will influence what is seen in western apparel through 2012 and possibly beyond. According to an article in The Sun Sentinel, the trends in the movie’s clothing are based on dated fashion, but could come back on store shelves, particularly the Americana styled patterns:

“The simple beauty of the clothes in District 12, for example, recalls fashion’s never-ending fascination with vintage work wear, authenticity and Americana, which is seen in “heritage” brands such as RRL and L.L. Bean.”

Hunger Games won’t simply affect the mainstream fashion world though – you may start to see of the higher-end fashion themes jumping off the silver screen onto runways soon. In fact, some of the clothing worn in the movie reflects what is already in fashion’s good graces right now:

“Effie Trinket, the ambassador to the Hunger Games, arrives for the Reaping dressed in a bum-hugging fuchsia dress and a pink wig with a vintage 1930s flower hat stuck on. Her gold booties are from Alexander McQueen, whose work comes to mind when looking at the Capitol dwellers.”

To get a look at the fashion trends sure to be hitting shelves soon, Hunger Games is in theaters starting this Friday.

While shopping for spring apparel this year, make sure you keep some of these tips in mind. They will definitely help you out!

Not Perfect – You may find yourself frustrated when you begin shopping, primarily because you aren’t happy with your body size. Don’t ever forget that no one is perfect and only about 5% of the population has a “perfectly” shaped body. Learn how to shop for your body and style. There’s no need to lose self-esteem because you don’t look like a supermodel.

Determine Your Shape – To have a successful shopping spree, you need to know what kind of body you have. The characteristics of your shape can help you pick out clothing that looks and feels great. Look at yourself in a long mirror and assess your height, arm length and torso. By dividing your body into sections (i.e. long torso and short arms) you will be better equipped to choose clothing sizes and types.

Using What You Know – Once you have looked at yourself and determined the shape of your body, use this information to select clothing. If you have a long torso and short legs, pick a medium length western t-shirt. This will accentuate the length of your legs. If you have a short torso and long legs, you’ll want to pick a dress that flows through the waist past your knees, creating the look of a longer torso.