The buyin’ o’ the GREEN With this trail of eco-friendly products as a guide – and with some luck of the Irish – the pot of gold will be a cleaner Earth

As I’ve said before, Kermit the Frog had it all wrong. It is easy – and stylish – being green.

And what better time to celebrate than St. Patrick’s Day? Surely, if there’s a place for green beer, there should be room for a little green living – in the form of fabulous purses, funky home goods and sleek clothing – all eco-friendly, of course.

These days, buying recycled, Earth-friendly goods isn’t just politically correct – it’s the hip thing to do. Barneys New York, arguably the country’s most chic department store, recently launched the Barneys Green Project with an exclusive line of organic cotton fashion from Loomstate.

Remember when eco-fashion meant a baggy oatmeal T-shirt and a pair of hemp flip-flops? Well, those days are long gone. Instead, Web sites such as The Green Loop (thegreenloop.com) offer structured organic wool jackets, sexy denim and baby-soft bamboo tank tops.

Perhaps you’re more interested in accessories – that’s OK. Just check out the superfly recycled license plate handbags at Rebecca’s in Bangor. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has one – she’s been spotted wearing it with a Jackie O.-inspired suit. If she can pull it off in Washington’s uberconservative clothing climate, surely you can, too. The bags, which have a recycled rubber strap, cost $99. Or, you can use your own vanity plate for a little extra. How cool is that?

Equally fab are the colorful Bazura Bags at Yo Mamma’s Home on Main Street in Belfast (338-4884). Crafted from recycled soda cans and juice boxes, they’re an affordable conversation piece.

No conscientious shopping trip would be complete without a stop at The Green Store, also on Main Street in Belfast. Organic, recycled and environmentally friendly are the order of the day. On a recent visit, I treated myself to a pair of luxurious recycled-silk gloves, along with a recycled-glass votive holder and a soy candle. Then I tossed it all in an adorable – reusable – shopping bag.

Speaking of bags, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Sea Bag. Made in Maine from recycled sails with hand-spliced rope handles, these will float your boat – even if you’re a landlubber ($95 at www.seabags.com).

If you’d rather outfit your home than your body, you’re in luck. You could lighten up a little with options from Green Light Concepts. My favorite is the modern pendant lamp made from stop-light glass (prices vary, www.greenlightconcepts.com). The Green Store in Belfast carries retro-chic linoleum in a rainbow of colors.

You could just sit back and relax in a Lockport sofa or chair from Crate & Barrel, made of sustainable materials – even the stuffing (crateandbarrel.com).

Even your dinner table can go green – no, the salad doesn’t count – with reusable bamboo plates and skewers from The Grasshopper Shop. Want to reuse your empty soda bottles and impress your guests at the same time? Try the Twist and Spout, a handy-dandy doo-dad that turns any soda or water bottle into a pitcher (also at Grasshopper). And if you’d like a little consciousness with your coffee, you may consider the Global Warming Mug (also at Grasshopper). When you pour in hot liquid, coastlines disappear, just like “An Inconvenient Truth” said they would.

If that’s not enough to make you turn green, nothing will.

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Morgan Lincoln of Houlton, who has won the Skin Salvation giveaway worth more than $200. Keep reading for future giveaways, and until next time, 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 04402-1329, or by fax to 941-9476. Visit ShopBlog at http://bangordailynews.com/

blog/4.