With the year almost over, and the holiday craze just about behind everyone, it’s time to focus on the future. It’s been said that those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it, but in the fashion world of handbags, that might be even more of an abject lesson for all of us to learn from, as the newest and hottest styles for spring 2011 are rolled out. The fact is that there are new designs being produced all the time, and those who fail to follow the trends are doomed to be left with immovable inventory. Here then, is a glimpse into the future of fashion handbags for next year’s fashionistas – and perhaps a brief history lesson for wholesalers who want to be ahead of the curve as they ramp up their own collections to mirror the trends.

So much has been said about Karl Lagerfeld’s designs that were inspired by the avant-garde movie “Last Year at Marianbad,” that the ragged edges and lattice perforations that have become trademarks of his collection have been called “hallucinatory” by Vogue, and “classic with an odd twist” by his fellow designers. In truth, his bag is simply a classic flap design with extra supple leather (no fur, though!) held inside a frame that provides excellent contrast, that gives the whole look a bit of a coin-box feel.

This will surely influence designers all over the world, as clutch-style and small handbags will be making their way onto the streets, perhaps in response to the well-used past fashion that featured oversized bags and giant duffles, totes, and hobos in a variety of loud colors and blingy touches.

Fur is an item on the endangered species list for handbags this season, as well. While it will continue to show itself in a number of applications on classical designs for everything from menswear to women’s couture, there will definitely be a reduction in the amount of real fur that is applied to handbags, especially those priced in the mid-retail range. Wholesalers who have been waiting for the non-fur revolution have something to cheer about this time around, as their wares become highly sought-after in the face of activists with no stomach for the genuine articles.

Keeping an eye on celebrities like Kanye West, Beyonce, Madonna and other crème de la crème of A-listers will lead to discoveries in the way of trends, as they have already shown some interest in classy designer handbags that follow styling of a “Crystal Lovers” limited edition bag from Balmain. Gold-tinted leather with bronze metal hardware and clasp closures make for some hardware with a statement in mind, but the body of the bag is completely covered with gold colored Swarovsky crystals, too. While the desire to land items that register on the “bling scale” might be dying down, there’s no shortage of demand for bags with brilliance.

Unique materials will be getting  lot of attention as well, with things like macramé and Chinese knotting being in the front of the surge towards attention-getting style that requires a closer look than last year’s fashions.

Of course, the ever-present homage to Luis Vuitton will continue to reign supreme, as designer Marc Jacobs pulls out all the stops in a year that rewards subtlety in designs, and gives more acknowledgment to the small details in a design.