Shoppers get in holiday spirit

Deepa Bharath

FASHION ISLAND -- Betty Nelson’s eyes traveled toward the festive mall

pathways, where holiday shoppers walked slowly, gazing at decorated

display windows.

“It’s not busy just yet,” Nelson, the manager of Benchley Luggage

Limited, said Friday, which is traditionally the busiest retail shopping

day of the year.

Nelson said she hopes the store’s hottest items -- computer bags on

wheels and Palm Pilot cases -- will sell as expected.

She wasn’t the only anxious merchant.

Hundreds of store owners and sellers were guesstimating Friday about

what shoppers want to see when they unwrap their presents Christmas

morning.

Evan McVeigh, who sells contemporary apparel, said animal prints are

in this season.

“Anything with fringe and rhinestones is cool too,” said McVeigh,

manager of Gianna, a clothing store on wheels.

Thousands of eager shoppers walked in and out of Fashion Island’s

department stores lugging big, brown bags and stopped at the little carts

parked on the side that sell a variety of articles, from porcelain dolls

and acupressure massagers to clothes and jewelry.

Also popular were stores selling specialty and unique gift items.

“I think our Medussa lamp and children’s drum set is going to be

popular,” said Susan Puchalski, manager of a store that sells mostly

functional gift items designed by engineers and architects.

Some shoppers said they didn’t feel pressured this year.

“It’s been nice and relaxed so far,” said Sonia Austin of Corona del

Mar. “It feels like any other weekend today. I don’t feel that

day-after-Thanksgiving rush. There are some good bargains here.”

Others, like Joan O’Connor, said they came just to have some quality

family time.

“I like to come here every year,” said the Huntington Beach resident,

who took pictures of her three sons in front of Santa’s House. “It’s

everything: the atmosphere, the people and the music.”

Each of her boys wants a Razor scooter for Christmas, she said,

smiling.

But for Fred Sanford of Newport Beach, who took his daughters

shopping, the biggest gift of all is “joy and happiness.”

“I want a terrific 2001,” he said. “You can’t wrap it and give it to

somebody. But it’s good enough for me.”