Assorted accessories with style and glitz will brighten anyone's holiday season

FOURTH OF 12 PARTS

YOU can't buy style, which is a quality of imagination and individuality expressed by one's actions and tastes, that takes time and education to nurture. It is possible, however, to fool some of the people some of the time by accumulating the trappings of style, objects that are distinctive in design and appearance, sometimes sophisticated, sometimes naive, but always existing outside the norm.

Here are a few suggestions for the stylish person on your gift list, although the truly stylish individual would accept a lump of coal with dignity and grace.

Mini iPod case

OK, so you got the mini iPod. Consider a case as well, to keep that go-everywhere unit as smooth and polished as new and differentiate it from millions of other iPods. A soft-grain leather case from Cole Haan's G Gems Collection features a metallic wash in silver, bronze or black; foil leather trim; mirror gemstones to dazzle the eyes with every move; and hardware in gunmetal, nickel or brass finish. It's $85 at Cole Haan or Sandaltree, Ala Moana Center. Also available at Cole Haan is a leather-trimmed metal-mesh mini iPod case with a metal chain handle to connect to your purse or a belt loop; $65.

Hello Kitty

Hello Kitty sports a new look thanks to pink-haired L.A. designer Tarina Tarantino, who gave the iconic kitty her signature locks in the "Pink Head" Collection for Sanrio. The sparkling line of Swarovski crystal-studded earrings and medallion necklaces are available in limited editions for big girls, at $75 to $112.50 for necklaces, $62.50 for hair clips and $50 for lobster-claw charms that hook anywhere.

For little ones, Hello Kitty jewelry can also be found for less than $20 at Sanrio, less than $10 at Claire's and as charms at Longs Drug for about $2 to $4 each. On the higher end, look for a Hello Kitty minaudiere by Judith Leiber at Neiman Marcus. If you have to ask ...

T's for naughty and nice

That hard-to-please teen might be the easiest one to cross off your list after all. Just take a look at his/her uniform. Jeans. T-shirt. Jeans are personal but the T-shirt is universal. Check out Animation Magic at Ward Warehouse for a line of $16-to-$21 old-time cartoon and comic-book characters like the Care Bears and Curious George in curve-hugging vintage-wash T's for girls who are equal parts naughty and nice. The Happy Bunny is here, too, in sizes from toddler to adult.

At Le Lotus Bleu, the rebel girl might prefer one of Don Ed Hardy's tattoo T's or tanks at $45 to $78 each. Similarly graphic trucker hats range from $55 to $82. For guys, cross the parking lot for graphic T's from In4mation, starting at about $25. Japan pop artist Yoshitomo Nara T's are $40.

Carry-out art

The artist in your life might have Cora Yee prints on the walls, but how about a bit of Cora to go? The artist has transferred some of her most popular images onto handbags (about $38) embroidered and embellished in Nepal, and available at the ARTS at Marks Garage as part of its Christmas showcase, "Elves Can't Make This Stuff."

The sale of art and artful wares runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays through next Thursday. Also on view are a selection of Hadji Baba cell-phone cases or small purses featuring photo-transfer images on fabric and ultrasuede, at $20 to $28. Around the corner, at Details Gallery, are hand-painted wood purses by Jennifer Rothschild. A "Mermaid" purse goes for $130. "Endangered," featuring images of endangered flora and fauna, runs $110.

Designer bling

Maybe you can't spring for the handbag or jewelry, but makeup can be the next best thing when it is packaged Dior style. Inspired by the Dior Couture Gambler collection, Diorplay extreme shine lip gloss in No. 151 (beige) or 171 (pink) comes in a limited-edition gleaming silver case in the shape of dice with rhinestones where the spots would be. The die opens to reveal the gloss and mirror.

Like any designer bauble, this piece is meant to be noticed. It doubles as a piece of jewelry with velvet ties embellished by a dangling silver "D" on one end and "DIOR" logo on the other. It attaches to purses or wrists for quick touch-ups. It's $50 at Dior or Sephora.

Drive

Gasoline prices are up. Traffic's a mess and bound to get worse. Whatcha gonna do? Consider the Vespa for the individual who seems to have everything. The Italian motoring icon is available now to deliver that magical combo of fuel efficiency and style, with its bodacious curves and yummy gelato and candy colors.

With the sun shining at least 350 days a year, it's a natural for joy riders, getting 50 to 60 miles per gallon. A 50 cc model starts at about $3,200, and the 500 cc Piaggio X9 Evolution runs about $7,300.

Check them out at Cycle City, 600 Puuloa Road, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Call 831-2600.

Write with flair

Penmanship might not matter in a wired world, but style is in the details and no master of the universe should be caught signing those credit-card slips with a basic Bic. Dazzle salesclerks with a gleaming writing instrument from Montblanc. The Boheme collection starts at $295 for black premium resin models accented by a gemstone of your choice, such as raspberry rhodolite, amethyst, blue topaz and citrines. One version in pearlized lacquer sells for $1,150.

New for 2006 but already available at the Ala Moana boutique are Montblanc's latest annual limited-edition fountain pens. Created in conjunction with renowned porcelain house Meissen, the gold-plated Montblanc pens with 18K gold nib feature a porcelain cap, each one handcrafted and hand-painted with imagery from the worlds of "Classical Myths," "Venetian Carnival" and "Mythical Creatures." Each motif is limited to 300 pieces. The pens are $1,750 each.

If you haven't been to Montblanc lately, the company also offers fragrances for men and women, and since October has made jewelry a permanent part of its collection. Look for pendants and charms of sterling silver, rhodium plated to maintain their lustrous shine and polished finish. Chunky rotating rings sell for $275 to $300. A charm bracelet with a Montblanc pearl charm is $350, with additional charms selling for $175 to $250 each. A lobster-claw clasp allows the charms to be clipped to cell phones, zippers and purses as well.

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