All images via Vogue.com

Even with the rapidly changing landscape of fashion criticism and American Vogue‘s relative conservatism compared to its European counterparts, the magazine and its website are still first and foremost among the industry’s most important publications. When Vogue says that something’s important, designers, buyers and consumers pay attention, and Vogue.com recently posted its picks\ for the season’s key accessories trends.

Rochas Giallo Tote Bag, $1065. Rochas Borsa R18 Sporco Bag, $1695. Both via Saks.

Despite the fact that I have chosen maximalism as my overarching aesthetic theme, I have a healthy respect for those who do minimal and do it well. During the days of Olivier Theyskens, Rochas was never accused of embracing minimalism, but now that the brand’s creative vision has changed hands, the brand’s most widely available foray into handbags yet has lines so straight that my back aches just looking at them.

You’ve probably heard much being made over both crimson and cobalt as the colors to wear for fall, but the accessories that I’ve seen over the past few days make me wonder: Is orange going to be the real star of the show? Have we all ignored the obvious winner?

I was already planning to put together a roundup of orange bags for fall yesterday when Proenza Schouler tweeted the above picture from W magazine of the brand’s PS11 in a lovely shade of pumpkin.

Left to right: Henry Beguelin Croc Embossed Tote with Fox Tail Charm, $1645. Gucci Smilla Top Handle, $5200. Henry Beguelin Fox Detailed Tote, $1520. All via Neiman Marcus.

I remember a couple of seasons ago when Louis Vuitton debuted detachable fox tails on the Spring 2010 runway and everyone threw a fit over how silly and tacky and unreasonable they were.

Dolce & Gabbana Miss Sicily Satchels, $1407 and $2805 via Luisa Via Roma.

Sometimes when I write a post about something that I think might be a burgeoning trend, I feel as though I’ve participated in a bit of fashion-industry magical thinking. I speculate on something – shape, a color, or in this case, a pattern – and suddenly, I start seeing it everywhere.

Although much of the United States appears to be dealing with a late-arriving and unwelcome bout of winter weather, that doesn’t mean that it will never be warm again. (Or does it? Seriously, I’m starting to wonder.) Eventually, the sun will come out for good, or at least until October, and the temperatures will rise and we’ll all pull out the purchases that we’ve been hoarding for the past few weeks in anticipation of warm weather’s return.

It didn’t take long for python to make itself known as the biggest handbag look of Fall 2011; as trends go, exotic skins aren’t exactly subtle. They’re also not affordable, so if you want to buy into a piece of one of the runway, start saving your pennies now. To help motivate you, we’ve put together a non-comprehensive compendium of some of Fall 2011′s snakeskin looks, all the way from slouchy, comfortable pink Dior to rigid, bright yellow Gucci.

If you follow fashion shows, you know that Raf Simons’ Spring 2011 collection for Jil Sander was one of the most well-received and directional runway presentations of the upcoming season. Featuring traditional shapes in eye-poppingly vibrant shocks of color, Simons set the tone for spring and had everyone in the industry dreaming of pinks, oranges and kelly greens. Most of us are still dreaming, in fact.

Did you think that we’d stop covering Fashion Week collections just because Fashion Week is over? NEVER! Now that the chaos has died down, we’re going to go back and take a look at some of the smaller brands who got lost in the shuffle, starting with Loewe’s Spring 2011 handbags. Regardless of whether or not these bags appeal to your personal sense of style, Loewe definitely wins the season’s award for Most Unabashedly Gleeful Handbag Collection.

While shoe shopping yesterday, I encountered a sales associate that very much wanted to tell me all about the trends for Fall 2010. I worked retail in college, so I never mind letting someone do their sales spiel without interruption, even if I already know what it’s going to contain. This time, though, I had to stop the poor guy when he got to the part about studs.