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.

• 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!

Vanessa Hudgens seen here with a gold-studded black hobo handbag. Photo from Just Jared.

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.

Animal skins were one of the more prominent designs seen this year that harked back to western style. Python skin was in, as well as alligator and cow skins. For the high-end designer brands, the real skin made up the bag but, for designer-inspired bags, this meant the skin pattern was printed onto leatherette. While the skin in most of these cases was dyed, it was sometimes left natural. Snakeskin boots have always appeared to be a western luxury item, and this year saw the same type of style applied to handbags.

Aside from animal skin, many western embellishments found their way onto ordinary leather handbags and clutches. The most prominent was studs – most rounded bullet studs but others the size of conchos. Although a studded leather handbag was often associated with a rocker or punk chic instead of western fashion directly, punk aesthetics are never orderly, and all studded handbags seen this year had all pieces of metal laid out evenly and orderly. Adding rhinestones to handbags and clutches was also laid out similarly. Additionally, fringe was seen on many solid black handbags, lined across the edges and the bottom. Even with the smaller cross body bags, some fringe was also prevalent.

Lindsay Lohan is seen here with a pyramid studded leather handbag. Photo from Bag That Style.

Pyramid studs have typically been seen as a punk fashion statement. Ever since punk appeared in the ‘70s, studs on leather have been a part of the look accompanying loud and haphazard music by the Ramones and the Sex Pistols. But punk, both music and fashion-wise, has always had a DIY aesthetic: Learn to play the guitar and put those studs in your leather jacket yourself. Now, as the look appears on celebrities around Hollywood, the punk style has essentially gone high-end and, well, corporate, which is something an indie scene never wants to be.

But those blog, generally, has labeled studs part of a western look. Studs are part of western fashion, especially the handbags, jewelry, hats, and belts sold through western accessory retailers like Best Handbag Wholesale. If you can’t tell the difference between what looks somewhat western and what looks like mainstream punk, don’t worry. In general, rounded studs arranged orderly on a handbag give off more of a western vibe, especially when paired with leather fringe, while pyramid studs are distinctly punk.

Khloe Kardashian is seen here with two western inspired handbags. Photo from Celebrity-Gossip.net.

As far as western style is concerned, the top two bags are the ones most western inspired, while the lower white one is simply a white leather handbag. The one most prominent, the studded hobo purse by Christian Louboutin can go either rocker or western, but, considering the studs look rather organized on the black leather, it’s more appropriately western. Studs on western clothing, especially those from Best Handbag Wholesale, range from smaller studs on handbags to concho-like studs on belts. As far as the outfit is concerned, this bag matches the black leggings and leather boots best.

The other handbag, or the one behind the studded bag, is more traditionally western inspired and can’t really be debated like the studded design in the picture. Western fashion is often inspired by Native American designs, including blankets and jewelry. This particular bag resembles most of all a blanket woven by a southwest Native American tribe, such as the Pueblos. Whether that’s the actual inspiration or not, this aspect, as well as the designer of the bag, remains unclear, but the diamond pattern in red, white, and brown seems less fashionable – but more western – than the studded handbag in front.

But often the defining line between rocker and western is how neat the design is. Rocker – and punk – looks are often associated with eclectic but haphazard styling. Studs, in this case, could be on a leather jacket or a handbag, but the rocker look is done by having the studs not put in a neat and organized pattern but, rather, like you did it yourself. In addition, most studs used for leather jackets and collars are bullet or pyramid studs, and having perfectly rounded studs seems too, frankly, perfect and even.

Another aspect about this particular purse – and similar purses seen this season – is the effect of black on black: black studs on black leather. Are the studs supposed to be visible or are they more of a texture item? As various textures are popular for handbags this season, including snake and alligator skin textures, having a hard, bubble-like texture would make the handbag stand out. But other handbags seen on other celebrities this season can be seen with metal studs so, perhaps with this western-or-rocker studded look, the studs are both textural and designed to make the handbag the focus of the outfit.