GIFT IDEAS 'Stylista' on your list knows what she likes

And the things she likes are all exquisite.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Some call her high-maintenance. We call her a "stylista."
She is a woman who knows what she likes, and what she likes are all things exquisite, stunning, a little esoteric. She can wear brooches in clusters. She visits the Dior makeup counter more often than she chats with her mother.
And for the holidays, she wants a toy -- a little robot charm by Prada -- the ones in all the glossy ads this fall. The charm will set you back $234, but only if you're lucky enough to find one.
In summary, a "stylista" is not one to emote over a gift-wrapped bottle of Jean Nate.
If Nordstrom's East Coast fashion director, Gregg Andrews, had to pick five top gifts this year for a woman of style, he would choose, in this order:
UA pair of strappy, decorated metallic shoes.
UA tweed jacket.
UA "statement" handbag. "Something metallic, decorated, oversized."
UA decorative belt, maybe in the form of a ribbon, "something beaded, something chained."
"Only five?" Andrews asked. Yes, only five.
Options
For those who don't have every Nordstrom in the nation at their disposal, nor the time to ponder whether their girlfriend's second toe might bust right out of a Jimmy Choo shoe, consider makeup.
Women in the know know Chanel has a line of limited edition makeup that cycles in and out of stores with the seasons. What they might not yet know is that the French couture house has introduced an oh-so-Chanel miniature lip gloss set in a padded black case dimpled with signature C's for $45.
Yves Saint Laurent also has a splashy Gold Celebration Palette, with four eye shadows, creamy lipsticks, pressed powder and brushes, for $45. But for a woman who has paint enough for her eyelids, try YSL's secret weapon: The Touche Eclat, a liquid highlighter for $36 that can help anyone with eyes since it brightens the entire area (even above the brows, according to YSL makeup artists).
There are skin care products and then there are skin care products -- the sort that women who get facials every other week know about. Some of the most clubby: Obagi, MD Forte and MD Skincare. Items in these lines range from about $30 to over $100, and can be had through the Internet at sites like www.skinstore.com or at major department stores.
And if your "stylista" has an affinity for Manhattan (don't they all?), she may want hair care products from Bumble & amp; Bumble, the hot hair salon in the meat-packing district that did the updo's of many a model at Fashion Week in New York this fall. Bumble & amp; Bumble's delightful holiday gift boxes with drawings by New York Times illustrator Peter Arkle cost $19 to $66. See the Web site (www.bumbleandbumble.com) for a story near you.
Things to consider
If you're in the market for a designer handbag, first weigh your friend's sensibility as much as her closet. Some women shun items with screaming logos. Others want to celebrate the fact that they can afford the brand (or you can), and will be disappointed if the logo isn't boldly apparent.
About $65 will fetch you a very basic Dooney & amp; Bourke, $98 a Coach bag, but most cost several hundred -- even several thousand -- dollars. Women who already own more than one designer bag probably want something a little more discreet this time. If you've got money to spend, try a handbag from JP Tod's, Ferragamo or Bottega Veneta -- labels that roll off the tongues of the uberfashionable.
When it comes to trendy clothing brands, consider Theory, Lacoste and Nanette Lepore for office-appropriate garb. Juicy Couture is still hot for the laid-back look a la Miami. Stay away from jeans, unless she claims she'll die if she doesn't get a pair of Seven For All Mankind. And even then, make sure you get a gift receipt so she can exchange them for a different size. A woman usually needs to try on a dozen pair before she selects her denim.
Then, there's fur, fur, fur (real or fake). Fur shrugs and fur boleros, fur-lined purses and fur-knitted scarfs, fur-rimmed sweaters and fur-accessorized shoes. Pity the rabbits and beavers, the least expensive of the lot. A notch up are shearling lamb and some fox, according to Vania Dominguez, manager for the Fur Salon at Saks Fifth Avenue at Bal Harbour, Fla. Above those are minks, lynx, chinchillas and finally, at the top of the pyramid, sable.
Some fur-fringed articles can be had for less than $100. Saks at Bal Harbour carries a collar made from fox that doubles as wintry headband, for $150. It also has denim jackets with fur accents for a few hundred dollars, Dominguez said. (And fur -- even the fake stuff -- "is" everywhere this year).
Safe bets
Perfumes, of course, are like ties: Plenty predictable but plenty safe. If you're in a pinch, or a rush, consider that Issey Miyake is a cool favorite among women whose interest extends beyond Paris.
Blush, by Marc Jacobs, has a fresh floral scent, while Michael Kors' new perfume is a bit more subtle and truly divine.
Up-to-minute trendsters know the word "Kabbalah," Jewish mysticism, thanks to Madonna, who's done everything but convert. Slatkin & amp; Co. has come out with the Kabbalah candle, for $22 at Neiman Marcus -- a nod to popular culture and ancient religion at once. Or try an oversized cross like the one Paris Hilton has donned lately -- preferably one with lots of shiny stones or glass.
After all, a "stylista" is nothing if not timeless.