Well the New Year is here, and with it a chance to reflect on what 2006 was all about. First of all, a look at five fashion items that took 2006 by storm.

2006 - The Items

1. Christian Louboutin pumps. It seemed the Louboutin pump was the shoe that every celebrity stepped out in, every girl wanted... and every store copied.
2. Bubble hems. Dresses and skirts went from boho to bubble. Volume hit the catwalks as a major trend, and was key to the bubble look.
3. Men's Skinny Jeans. Almost every girl had them already - 2006 made them essential rock-star styling for the boys.
4. Roland Mouret Galaxy Dress. The dress that launched a thousand copies - by the start of the year they were showing up in every high-street store, eventually giving way to more flowing numbers through the latter part of the year.
5. Braces. High-waisted skirts, shorts or jeans - whatever it was, you could rock it with a pair of braces in 2006 - worked for boys or girls.



The Olsen twins couldn't get enough of their Louboutin Bruges; Mischa Barton steps out in a bubble hem dress; Adam Brody wearing skinny jeans.

ballet flats, and lots of dresses.... opaque and in general tights for winter

2006 - The Icons and Influencers.

Who or what influenced fashion in 2006? Who were the style icons? We look at 5 of the things that, for better or worse, impacted what we wore last year.

1. Kate Moss. She crashed hard, got hell from the media but never once looked less than stylish. In 2006 Kate Moss was the undeniable fashion icon; and everything she touched turned to gold.

2. Rachel Zoe. She used waifish starlets as her vessels for influencing fashion. We may not look to Zoe for how to dress, but in 2006 Nicole Richie and a host of others did. Under her reign, oversized sunglasses became the refuge of every socialite and starlet.

3. Brit Rock. For men, rock took a dandy turn with skinny jeans being paired with trilbys, tailored jackets, ties and braces. Rock bands with cheeky attitude and debonaire styling were the driving force.

4. Lindsay Lohan. Though perhaps not impacting the fashion world in an ever-lasting way, Lindsay certinaly helped leggins infiltrate many a wardrobe in 2006.

5. Tom Ford. A keen businessman and celebrated designer, 2006 saw Tom Ford working hard towards his own brand and stores, as well as branching out into a number of other areas like a cosmetics range for Estee Lauder, and a guest editorial spot for Vanity Fair. Undoutably influencial.



Above: Kate Moss wowed us in her campaign for Agent Provocateur; Nicole Richie under guidance of Rachel Zoe helped popularise big sunglasses; Lindsay Lohan and her trademark leggins.