TALKING SHOP : A Call to Order : Too busy to do the mall scene? No sweat, great gifts can be had by phone.
If your time is almost as valuable as hard currency, mail-order holiday shopping makes sense. You can have packages arrive wrapped and ready to place under the tree--for a little extra money, of course.
This year, recognizing that the cost of shipping, handling and gift-wrapping may put you over budget, some catalogues are offering incentives. Neiman Marcus, for example, will send any item via Federal Express (second-day air) for the same price as standard shipping. And other companies are already having sales.
The following catalogues offer unusual items that can be delivered in time for Christmas--if you order now.
JEWELRY: The woman who has everything probably won’t have an ingot inscribed with her name in Ogham, the ancient Irish alphabet. The sterling silver drop is wrapped in a suede pouch and sells for $75 through Shannon, a duty-free catalogue of Irish imports. (800) 223-6716.
The Museum of Jewelry catalogue offers reproductions of ancient jewelry. An unusual pair of Assyrian ram’s head earrings has rice pearls and enamel work on 24-karat gold layered over sterling silver. They sell for $49. (800) 835-2700.
Sterling silver cuff links featuring laminated rare stamps sell for $40 from the FLAX art and design catalogue. (800) 547-7778.
Earrings with mix-and-match charms are not only in vogue but also stretch jewelry dollars by offering different combinations and looks. Simply Whispers, a catalogue specializing in designs for sensitive ears, sells hoops for about $8.95 each and charms--stars, faux pearl drops, etc.--for $5.98 apiece. (800) 451-5700.
UBIQUITOUS Ts, TIES AND SCARVES: Catalogues specializing in books or art sometimes offer unusual T-shirts. Levenger Tools for Serious Readers, for example, has Ts imprinted with the faces of William Shakespeare and Mark Twain, as well as a series of sleep and sweat shirts for adults and children that encourage reading, for $12 to $29. (800) 544-0880.
T-shirts featuring paintings by Salvador Dali, Mondrian and Paul Klee are in the FLAX catalogue, priced at $22 apiece. (800) 547-7778.
The Company of Women catalogue, which donates 81% of its proceeds to rape and domestic violence victims, showcases Ts with caricatures of Ayn Rand, Zora Neale Hurston and Amelia Earhart for $18. Also inside are note cards with historical Western costumes, $12.95. (800) 937-1193.
As for neckties, art themes are prevalent this season, and some of the most colorful--featuring the works of Picasso, Van Gogh and O’Keefe, among others--are in FLAX, priced at $20 each. (Buy three and the price drops to $17 apiece.) (800) 547-7778.
Bullock & Jones’ showcases some gorgeous ties, including one Italian design called La Scala featuring elaborate horse and lion motifs. It’s $55. (800) 227-3050.
The Art Institute of Chicago’s unusual scarves include an oblong silk style ($39.50) depicting Kabuki originally interpreted in wood-block prints by a renowned Japanese artist. (800) 621-9337.
The Wathne catalogue offers luxurious silk twill scarves with equestrian prints--similar to those seen in Hermes stores--for about $95, far less than the couple of hundred dollars Hermes charges. (800) 942-1166.
SPORTS STUFF AND GUY GEAR: Baseball fanatics interested in valuable collectibles may like an offering in the Norm Thompson catalogue: a series of baseball caps autographed by celebrity players such as Stan Musial, Duke Snider, Yogi Berra, Willie Mays and Tom Seaver. The caps, $179, come with a certificate of authenticity and a Lucite display stand. (800) 547-1160.
Men who like to dress on the wild side might like a gift from the International Male. Items range from $65 velvet jeans to $36 faux fur vests to an assortment of temporary tattoos (packs of three run $7 to $15). (800) 854-2795.
KID FUN AND BABIES: Maggie Moore sells costumes priced from $23 to $65, including a Latin samba outfit, a poodle skirt ensemble and hero capes for boys and girls. (914) 968-0600.
A reversible costume from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, incorporates Alice in Wonderland and the rabbit for $68. (800) 225-5592.
For babies, Domestications, a linens catalogue, offers an adorable agwam, a cuddly bunting blanket featuring Indian prints. The washable acrylic blanket comes in decidedly non-sexist shades of blue, teal, rose or brown and sells for $19.99. (800) 782-7722.
F.A.O. Schwarz’s infant bear costume and humorous all-cotton rompers reading “Tax Deduction” and “Automatic Sprinkler System” run $32 each. (800) 426-TOYS.
A festive poinsettia-printed cotton dress for baby girls is $32 from Maggie Moore. (914) 968-0600.
A grooming basket for infants and mothers from the Body Shop comes filled with nine items from the Mamatoto collection, priced at $34. (800) 541-2535.
GARDENERS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS: Whimsical cotton flannel sleepwear emblazoned with vegetables and gardening tools from the Smith & Hawken catalogue sells for $18 to $79. (415) 383-2000.
