I lied. I said I wouldn’t write a column on vacation, but taking a week off from work never stopped me from shopping, so here goes:

This week, I wanted to talk about my five favorite trends to make the transition from spring into summer. You see them everywhere, in every store, in every price point and for every age. And here’s how you can incorporate them into your wardrobe without looking like a slave to fashion or – even worse – a Glamour Don’t.

1. Boucle: I winced when I first saw Chanel-inspired boucle jackets in all the fashion magazines this winter. They reminded me of a bad Easter outfit, or something my grandmother would wear, or both. My grandmother is tremendously stylish, but could I pull off something so pastel at my age?

After seeing Paris Hilton on the cover of Elle, wearing a similar beaded jacket with jeans and a T-shirt, I figured I could wear it, too. Of course, her jacket was Dolce & Gabbana and cost $23,500. Mine is Star City and cost $19.99 at Filene’s. I tone down the “ladies who lunch” factor by wearing it with beat-up jeans, a fitted T-shirt and pearls (a little tongue-in-cheek, but you have to be to pull this off).

The best thing about this look is that it works on women of every age. My mom bought a boucle suit at Filene’s and it looks fabulous on her. For the record, she won’t be wearing the jacket with jeans anytime soon, but to each her own.

2. Strappy sandals: Shoes like this are proof that God is a man. But seriously, once you get over the teetering factor, you’ll want to wear them all the time because they look fantastic. If they have high heels, they elongate the leg, which is flattering on all but the tallest, thinnest women. Break them in at home so you feel comfortable wearing them because they lack the support of more substantial shoes. I got mine at Burlington Coat Factory for $9.98, but I saw a cute pair at Talbots for $78, too.

3. Black and white and pink all over: How do you go wrong with this look? Florals and stripes in this winning combination can be found everywhere from specialty boutiques such as Terra Cotta in Ellsworth, to mall standbys such as Gap and Deb. I’d recommend the jersey-knit striped miniskirts for teens and young twentysomethings, knee-length floral skirts for women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, and sweet pink trench coats for women of any age.

This is an easy look to incorporate into your existing wardrobe, as well. Try a printed shell with a suit, wear a pink blouse with your black pants, or pick up an inexpensive floral skirt and wear it with one of the 10 black shirts in your closet.

4. Polka-dots: They aren’t just for itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny bikinis anymore. To keep the look chic and sophisticated, stick to tiny dots in black and white or black and pink. A simple dotted sheath looks stylish, while a dotted T-shirt looks playful. I have interpreted the look in two ways: First, I bought a lampshade-pleat black skirt with tiny white dots at the Orono Thrift Shop for about a quarter. It’s a classic, well-made piece that looks great dressed up with a white blouse and heels, or dressed down with a fitted black T-shirt, denim jacket and flip-flops. I also got a great black-and-white dotted shirt at Target for $7. I like to wear it with my black Lucky jeans and heels, but it would look fresh with white capris or a khaki skirt, too.

5. Preppy chic: As soon as I started seeing grosgrain ribbon trim everywhere, I knew preppy was back. This time, it’s a little better than the ’80s – there are polo shirts, but no turned up collars, at least. I like to wear my fitted polo from the gap with khakis and a ribbon belt, but I recently saw a frog-print skirt at Filene’s that screamed preppy. It would be perfect for someone in their late 30s to early 40s with a good sense of humor.

You could go out and buy a striped ribbon belt, but it’s just as easy to make one. Or, since this is sure to be a passing trend, loosely stitch a bit of ribbon to the pockets of your khaki shorts, or at the neck of a T-shirt. You’ll look stylish without breaking the bank.

The key to all of these looks is to take them and make them your own. Don’t feel the need to buy all of them, or to dress head-to-toe in one style. The most exciting part of shopping is interpreting the trends your own way. We can’t all be fashion designers, but we can all dress creatively.

Happy shopping!

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329, or by fax to: 941-9476.