From technology to fashion, there's plenty to buy for teens

Charm bracelets are popular with teenage girls.
By COLLEEN SCHMIDT
SCRIPPS HOWARD
What can you buy the teenager who has everything this holiday season? Plenty.
Arriving in stores this fall are the latest in everything on your teen boy or girl's wish list, everything from cell phones with instant messaging capabilities to Italian charm bracelets.
Generation Y teens already are at the edge of what's hot. They already can instant message one another while on the computer, but now the chatting is moving in a grocery store line. Samsung and Nokia are two companies already offering the always-in-touch teens phones with AOL's instant messaging service.
The Samsung r225M, the newest phone on the market with this ability, is priced at about $89.99.
Another popular cell phone teenagers will be eyeing this year is the Virgin Mobile USA, a phone allowing kids to view music news and vote on their favorite songs from MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon and Country Music Television.
Best Buy, Target and Sam Goody are a few of the stores carrying Virgin Mobile phones, which range from $99 to $199.
Fashion
For girls who like to keep up with the latest fashions, think charm bracelets.
Brittany Spears' little sister, Jamie Lynn, and Carmen Electra are but a few of the celebrities seen sporting Zoppini Italian charm bracelets at the 2002 Teen Choice Awards this year.
Shipped from Italy, charm bracelets can be found at small gift shops and some Hallmark stores, said Hillary Reynolds, Zoppini's public relations director. Bracelets cost about $6, but charms run between $18 and $38.
Other stores, however, are coming out with their own brand of charm bracelet, such as Target's Cherokee Add-A-Link bracelet. These bracelets cost about $7.99 and include charm sets for about $4.99.
And boys can have the latest athletic look with the Nike Air Max Q, a new cross training shoe hitting stores Nov. 1.
"It will be what the Air Jordan was 10 years ago," predicts Ricardo Gaitan, brand manager of Project Nike. The Air Max Q will cost about $100.
Sports
Kids who like to ski and play tennis also will have new equipment to add to their wish lists.
With advanced technology that stiffens skis to add flexibility and control, skiers can glide easily from soft snow to hard snow with HEAD Intelligence skis.
Using the same technology, HEAD Intelligence racquets allow tennis players to increase the stability of their games. A racquet specially designed for teens, the i.Junior, costs about $120.
Other gift ideas
Another popular gift for teenage girls this Christmas is AE Aura, a new fragrance from American Eagle Outfitters. A 1.7 oz. bottle costs about $25, said Lisa Downham, AE's senior buyer for personal care. But AE Aura also will be available in two gift sets. The perfume bottle holds different colored rings that can be changed to match the varying moods of teenage girls.
Another hot item on this year's must-have list are Birkenstock's corduroy suede Boston clogs, available online and at specialty store retailers across the U.S. Costing about $120, clogs are offered in berry, mocha, mink and olive green.
For technology-savvy teens, look for the Digisette DUO-DX, a digital audio player that includes direct encoding. Offered only at Radio Shack stores and online, the player is shaped like an audiocassette and costs about $200.