Dear 2006…

I’m writing to thank you for the trends you brought. They were the best in recent years. I especially loved the long shorts and the forgiving Empire-waist tunics. My belly couldn’t be happier, because, well, let’s be honest: I like to eat, and I like my clothing to respect that. Also, the wrap dresses you gave me this fall really bailed me out.

Ah, 2006, you were the great defender: The giant sunglasses that you gave me this spring were just the thing my eyes needed to fight off wrinkles. Plus, they brought out my inner Jackie O. So, too, did the piles of vintage-style beads that I heaped on liberally throughout the year.

Some might disagree, but I really appreciated the gauchos. Or, as one male friend calls them, “the cute butt pants.” He maintains that every woman’s rear end looks fantastic in these flowy, low-waisted pants. I just liked the comfort. And speaking of comfort, I lived in the gauzy, tiered prairie skirts you gave me this summer. Cool, effortless fashion. Who could ask for more?

My feet asked me to express their gratitude for the flats you sent them. Just when they thought they couldn’t bear another step in my 4-inch stilettos, ballet slippers and equestrian-inspired boots came back into style. My tootsies are forever in your debt.

I, on the other hand, didn’t run up any debt this year, thanks to the affordable designer fashions that you gave us. Behnaz Sarafpour, Paul & Joe, Tara Jarmon – at Target? As Elaine Benes would say: Get out!

And get out I did – toting a giant handbag. Finally. As a reporter, I need room for a notebook, pen and my giant cell phone at the very least. Room for my digital camera is a bonus. I found it all in a roomy satchel from Portland designer Angela Adams. Thanks, 2006.

I feel so grateful, I’m inspired to give back. Maybe I’ll replace my remote-size Nokia with a (Product) RED cell phone from Motorola. A percentage of the proceeds goes to fight AIDS in Africa.

Thanks for giving me that opportunity, 2006. You’re the greatest. Really. Even though you did bring back leggings (I may just regift those. Sorry). But I can overlook that.

I’ll be so sad to see you go. I hope 2007 is just as kind as you have been. Words can’t express how much you meant to me.

Thanks for the memories!

Love,

ShopGirl

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 04402-1329 or by fax to 941-9476. Tune in to ShopGirl at 5 p.m. every other Friday on WLBZ-2.

1. Big sunglasses. Even on Lindsay Lohan, these recall a more glamorous era. Plus, they’re great for shading the delicate eye area from the sun’s harmful rays.

2. Tunics. Throw a belt around the hips, and they’re even better. I love this look.

3. Thick, textured tights. Hands (or legs) down, the best trend for Maine weather. Especially when paired with …

4. Flats. I’m wild about my riding boots for winter, and I’m dying for a pair of distressed brown leather Frye boots. Of course, ballet flats are great in the warmer months.

5. The wrap. Less trendy than a poncho but warmer than a sweater. I love the look of a wrap, and it feels like I’m wearing a really stylish blanket. In ShopGirl math, warm plus cute equals perfect.

6. Skinny jeans for all figures. Slim-fitting (but not skin-tight) denim in a dark wash is universally flattering. Tuck them into boots, or let them crinkle a little at the bottom with flats. It’s like the ’80s all over again without the helmet hair.

7. Bermuda shorts. Though they were the least likely work wardrobe piece ever, the long short really had a place of its own this year. Dressed up, dressed down, or somewhere in between, they embodied the spirit of summer while concealing the bright white thighs that are indigenous to this region.

8. Short jackets and sweaters. They accentuate the bust, lengthen the look of your torso, and allow you to still look thin even if you’re wearing a flowy, Empire-waist top. What’s not to love?

9. Affordable design. With gorgeous, edgy pieces from some of today’s hottest names, Target proved yet again that high style isn’t the exclusive domain of the rich.

10. (Product) RED. Finally, giving is trendy. This high-profile campaign brought together some of the nation’s hottest brands to pack a powerful punch in the fight against AIDS in Africa. Bravo.