We're not jumping on these trends, but they're still interesting.

5. The Return of the Fanny Pack

Ah, the cyclical nature of fashion can be a fantastic thing when lovable trends are re-invented and made exciting to wear again, but some fads should be left in the past (and by the past, we mean the ‘80s). This year, Rihanna was spotted wearing a fanny pack and Tory Burch even began selling them. Most of the ones we found online carried a hefty price tag, and we never thought Tory Burch would ever be making one, so weâ€ll see if the hip bag catches back on for good. If it does, then boy does whoever markets that thing deserve a pat on the back.

4. iPhone STD Testing

Researchers in the U.K. announced they were in the process of coming up with a way for young adults to test themselves for STDs by essentially inserting their own urine into their iPhones or other mobile devices. The object is to get the STD rate down by allowing for increased testing privacy. We had to put at least one IEJ topic that gives you the willies on the list.

3. Japanese Anti-Aging Goggles

One of our favorite IEJ trends this year involved brands that were essentially attempting to charge consumers for a product that did basically nothing the average person couldnâ€t do themselves for free. We thought weâ€d seen it all in the ant-aging game when British beauty brand Rodial came out with snake bite anti-aging serum, but these goggles claimed to fight wrinkles and lines by holding the skin around your eyes taut. The makers declared that holding the skin in place for an extended amount of time would cause it to stay that way. (Helpful hint: if you believe them, you can hold your skin that way using your own fingers – or a pair of swim goggles that at least you can take to the pool once you realize they donâ€t work like Botox).

2. Teva Stilettos

The Teva stilettos are meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but they are a fantastic oddity nonetheless. This fall, news spread through the blogosphere of Tevaâ€s partnership with Grey Ant to sell hiking sandal meets New Yearâ€s Eve party shoes. That horrible combination was running for more $300. ‘Nuff said.

1. The Snazzy Napper

The informational video for this thing is definitely in the top 10 most entertaining things weâ€ve ever seen. The Snuggieâ€s weird younger sister popped up across the Web this summer, and it is basically a blanket with a hole in it that is supposed to help you sleep in public. A big IEJ trend this year was strange products with huge price tags. The Snazzy Napper (aka the “snazzy way to sleep while you travel”) takes number 1 partly for the fact that it is not insanely expensive. That and itâ€s sheer WTF genius.

A fanny pack by any other name is still a bit cheesy, but at least Tory Burch's take doubles as a clutch.

One of the things we love most about fashion is its cyclical nature – the way trends come and go and are reinvented again and again, but it is always surprising when fads that seem like they are destined to be one hit wonders come creeping back into the fashion conversation.

After the fanny pack craze died with the ‘80s, there seemed to be no chance of its return, as it became the brunt of countless jokes, but low and behold, we now present to you the potential resurgence of the hands-free purse.

Pop star Rihanna was recently spotted wearing one, and so many designers have been coming out with “waist bags” or “hip bags” (read: fanny packs) lately that the consensus seems to be that fanny packs are officially back. All of the ones weâ€ve found look like the creator was attempting to make the look high fashion with extras like flower prints, metal studs and animal fabrics that are very in right now.

Rebecca Minkoff now has a $240 studded version, Tory Burch offers a $195 “hip bag” with a removable strap to double as a clutch, Zambos & Siega are showing a python print number and French Connection has a $58 retro flower print pack that is more casual. And it does not stop there: Gwen Stefani has also come up with a fanny pack design – this one with a silver zipper print. {SheFinds, The Frisky}

We never thought weâ€d live to see the day when Tory Burch made a fanny pack, and we aren’t sure what to make of it. Will you be wearing a fanny pack any time soon? All we know is if you are, it might be best not to invest in one thatâ€s over $100. Save your splurges for true classic pieces.

The bags range from $14.99 messenger totes to $49.99 satchels and larger duffels. The prints and fabrics range from velvet to denim to faux patent leather, including the eccentric hot pink leopard number pictured above. As Emma Hill, Mulberryâ€s creative director puts it, “Leopards are king this season.” {New York Times}

With the sheer amount of New Jerseyness happening on television, we’d say animal prints will always have fans regardless of season. Everything from tights to jeans, rainboots and umbrellas are turning up in wild animal prints and bright colors. Though it may not be what you’d expect of the English luxury brand, the sold out status is an indication that they know how to please. Sources at Target tell us that a second shipment of the goods is out of the question for now, so what you see is what you get.

Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian have just inked a deal to develop apparel, accessory and home collections with designer Bruno Schiavi and Jupi Corporation, WWD reports. The women’s ready-to-wear line designed by the sisters is slated for release sometime next year and will offer apparel, wallets, handbags, lingerie and belts. It is also being reported that future swimwear, children’s wear, footwear and luggage lines are in the works as well.

Teaming up with the Beach Bunny brand, the sisters have created pieces that flatter each of their body types and showcase personal and individual style. {Huffington Post}

Famous for being famous, the Kardashian sisters’ popularity and stardom have soared to new heights with their reality series, Keeping Up With the Kardashians airing on E!. The three have already collaborated with Bebe on a collection in February of this year and on their Beach Bunny swimwear line sold in boutiques across Arizona and California.

The girls are ambitious and  enthusiastic about the new venture saying, “We are excited to be working with Bruno Schiavi in developing our first brand together.”

The sisters have endorsed everything from a shoe of the month club to teeth whitening products, so the move into clothing and home items isn’t totally unexpected. While they may not sing, dance or have any other discernible talent, they do have great style and some retail experience with their Dash boutique – which is at least more than most celebrities bring to their fashion ventures, so it will be interesting to see what they bring to the fashion roundtable.

Louis Vuitton's "Savoire Faire" campaign showed a woman handcrafting folds in a wallet (L), a man painting the sole of a shoe (center) and a woman with needle, thread and beeswax who appears to be hand stitching the handle of a handbag.

Louis Vuitton has a reputation for superior quality, with handbags regularly selling for thousands of dollars, but the photos depict craftsmen hand-stitching leather even though that is not how accessories are made in the French design house. Text in the ads reads, “The seamstress with linen thread and beeswax.”{DailyMail}

Guests at the opening of Louis Vuitton's New Bond Street London flagship included Elle MacPherson, Thandie Newton and Gwyneth Paltrow.

The ASA said Louis Vuitton failed to prove the products were handmade though the label produced evidence that “hand-crafting techniques” were used to create bags and wallets.

Louis Vuitton responded by saying the ads were simply meant to pay “homage to the craftsmanship” of its employees, not depict an exact account of its manufacturing process. The design house admitted to using sewing machines but said handbag production is “not automated,” with over 100 stages in the process of manufacturing one bag.

Three people alerted the ASA of the situation, complaining that they believed the handbags were made by machine. In Japan, the world’s second largest luxury market and a country where 60% of the households own an authentic Louis Vuitton, research found that consumers were willing to spend 50 times the price of a counterfeit bag for the real deal – even if the bags looked identical. {Guardian} The allure of authenticity, which is often intertwined with higher quality craftsmanship, among other things is something that Louis Vuitton and many other luxury brands like Gucci have tried to tap into during the economic downturn.

But modern technology – including efficient manufacturing that automates parts of the process is actually a part of Louis Vuitton posts such healthy operating margins. While hand stitched and folded wallets may seem charming and a mark of quality, it’s not a production method that would scale for a brand as big as Louis Vuitton. Even as far back as December 2009, when the ads were first released, some wondered if the ads went too far in trying to elicit an emotional attachment to heritage. {BusinessWeek} In the UK, it seems that they did.

New York Magazine says the slipup is unlikely to stop people from purchasing Louis Vuitton bags and hopes the ASA will continue its effort to ban misleading ads by forbidding the use of photos featuring unrealistic body types. On both counts, we could not agree more.

Nothing screams better value than a good quality bag- letâ€s correct that- a superb quality bag. Bedouin has released their fall 2009 collection and boasts creating just that. Their waterproof bags made from durable, internationally sourced materials and hardware claim to last a lifetime.  But really, a lifetime? That’s one hefty handbag. Women everywhere have been plagued once or twice in search of a sizable, lasting handbag, but not anymore, thanks to Bedouin. The design is stylish, the wide leather straps fit comfortably over the shoulder to carry all day, and itâ€s large enough to fit a laptop or an extra pair of shoes!

Read the full story {Hypebeast}

Moving west, the warmer weather brings a more laid back lifestyle where neon colors and unique feathers and fringe are the norm. New Yorkers run through the daily grind, opting for dark neutrals and the monogram of the minute and closets end up full of black clothes that blend in more than stand out. While areas like Brooklyn have sprung up to provide a visual respite from the city uniform, it’s still common to see the melting pot of Manhattan display a look that belies the many different cultures represented. The whimsical, anything goes fashion of Sex and the City and Gossip Girl exists in some areas, but the more oft seen sight is one of classic chic.

Home of American Apparel, and all the eye-popping colorful, flashy, body hugging items they produce, Los Angeles fashion followers live by a different code. Uniqueness is key, and a vintage sweater or handbag is as cherished as the latest style from a mass-produced designer label. While the same names exist, the structured black and neutral shapes are replaced by vibrant tones, retro details and California casual style.

StyleList takes a look at coastal prefernces via the handbags that are loved by each.

Read more {StyleList}