What: Quirky head gear from Accessorize, Raghuleela Mall, Vashi and the Palladium, Lower Parel, Rs 295 onwards.

Why: Enormous chiffon flowers and wide-eyed owls jump on clips to hold your hair in place. Neat! The newly-opened UK-based store also stocks adorable Bakerboy hats for bad hair days that can’t be salvaged by flora and fauna.

When: You want to root for the tortoise in your hair.

What: Adult snow globes by BoConcept, Palladium Mall, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, visit www.boconcept.com, start at Rs 1,400

Why: Because even though year end festivities have passed, these heavy, magical orbs will spread cheer. One of the many treasures at just-opened BoConcept, an international home and lifestyle store, these share space with black-and-white saucer sets, acid-trip rugs, and three dimensional wall art. Read our full review here.

When: You’re looking at a global warming present.

Finally, we found an adult snow globe in Mumbai. One of us Scouters was pining for a white Christmas, and the only way to make it happen, we decided, was to locate a snow globe. We whipped out every sleuthing device in our trusty brown paper bag, lipstick to lie detector, and… lo and behold! We hit pay dirt a couple of days ago, when BoConcept opened its doors in the city. Year-end festivities might have passed, but this store, snow globe and all, is here to spread cheer.

Baaya, a new home store named after the Indian weaver bird, holds its treasures close to its nest. Housed in a tiny space deep inside the labyrinthine lanes of Mahalaxmi, its wares seem disappointingly pedestrian at first glance: banal candleholders and done-to-death stick figurines are displayed prominently – the only thing missing is a Buddha bust.

Right Off

Just as we were about to write off the store completely, we spotted the fruit picks. Packed into cute jute bags, they were finger-long, elegantly hewed from guava wood (Rs 440), and our first clue that Baaya had much potential.

Weave Me Alone

Located well before the weave of wares that make up Santacruz Market, Lucknowi Chikan - proud, elegant and pricey – is a stark contrast to the chaotic stores that surround it. At this tunic store, you could find the ubiquitous white Lucknowi kurta if you wanted to, but we suggest that you let the cheerful salesman guide you through printed Chanderi kurtas accentuated by jewel-toned embroidery, soft Mangalgiri cottons with metallic thread patterns and crisp voiles with delicate filigree work instead.

As midnight approaches, we recap the biggest lifestyle trends of 2009 and ring in the New Year.

Back: Stars stepped out of the silver screen and crept onto walls, planners, belts. Retro Bollywood art became a symbol of kitschy-cool, with everyone from environmentalists to former film poster artists jumping onto the bandwagon.

Forth: Time to go global. Swap Bachchan for Bono and Himesh for Hitchcock with classy, cool laptop bags by Fungus Designs, which brings together the best international artists to give your accessories a New Year facelift.

Getting there: Shop online at www.fungusdesigns.com or at Taxxi and Vitamin K, Kusum Kunj, next to Mango, Linking Road, Khar (W), Rs 5,300.

Indian Hippy's quirky accessories may not appeal to everyone, but if you're looking for a more adventurous version of your standard-issue, drab wallet, then you’ve got yourself a hit. Hand-painted by film poster artists rapidly going out of business due to the digital era, this just-launched range of belts, wallets, clutches and small furniture pieces feature Bollywood's most famous stars and movies in miniature. We especially like the foldable chairs featuring President Obama – kitschy and unusually funny.

What: Twisted Christmas adult figurines, Avenger Toys, 16th Road, opposite Hawaiian Shack, Bandra (W), start at Rs 1,200.

Why: Fanged Santa, evil helpers wielding wickedly large blades, underwear-clad Mrs. Claus swinging off a candy cane: this view of Christmas might be warped, but it's also a lot of fun. If you're not one for holiday cheer, hold out for kick-ass Kill Bill miniatures, expected in the first week of January.

When: You want to be a model figure.

Every month, Vireless Vish will try and get you high on gadgets, and bring you right back down to earth with cool electronic buys you can use. In this space, he hopes to connect with fellow gizmo junkies, and seduce new ones. For tech queries email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mirrors that turn into hi-def televisions, “media beds” that allow you to surf the Internet and closets that let you try on clothes virtually – HomesDigital, a smart home solution provider can put your wildest e-fantasy on paper. At a price, of course.

The gadgets I thought up could fuel a whole new series of Bond films, but I’ll save that for another post. After finally detangling myself from a web of vision and wires, I got a chance to chat with CEO Veetrag Bafna, about other off-the-shelf gadgets they introduce. Having watched Avatar on 3D last weekend, I found myself gravitating towards their I-Vision Video Eyewear. They’re not 3D glasses, but wearing them will make you feel like you just bought your own ticket to Pandora. Here’s how it works – Just slap the glasses on, connect to any video source – iPod, laptop, PS2, Xbox, set top box, portable DVD player, mobile phone, PDA - and it projects a screen of 35 to 55 inches, 2 metres away from your eyes, at a comfortable viewing angle of 24 degrees. But the downfall with most gimmicky gadgets is that you end up paying more for novelty rather than for true application.

Here’s why you should get it:

1. You get to carry a big screen experience in your pocket.
2. It comes with lithium rechargeable batteries and a car charger to make those excruciating road trips to work in peak Bombay traffic, more bearable.
3. It beats headphones when you want to ignore mind-numbingly annoying car-poolers or co-workers. Possible side effects: Increasing attachment with I-Vision is known to make girlfriends compete for face time.

Vireless Vish Tip-off:

HomeDigital does not have a store at the moment and works on orders only (solutions start at Rs 300). But by the end of this month, you will get to try out all their products, including the super quirky video glasses, at their upcoming Prabhadevi studio. Call Mr Bafna on 9820307215 for prior appointment, price on request.

The HomesDigital website isn’t up to speed, so email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get on the product update mailing list.  

If you've been bad all year, we bring you one last chance to get on Santa's good side. Not only are these gifts cool and quirky, they also come packed with karmic points. Hallelujah!

Root for a cause

Blue Banyan’s silver jewellery champions a dual cause - raising your couture currency and supporting the employment of rural Indian artisans. The organisation identifies indigenous skills, transforms them into high fashion and stocks them at the city’s hippest stores. Half of all profits go back to the artists. Especially crafty are their silver earrings moulded in tree sap, chunky bejewelled bangles and crushed glass-painted pendants.

Getting there: The Bombay Store, FabIndia, Bombay Electric and Taj Khazana. Jewellery starts at Rs 500 to Rs 5,500.

Fuel for the Soul

One of a kind, Soul F.u.e.l’s entire retail space is dedicated to a cause. Here you won’t only find products made by NGOs from all over India, but also volunteer information, NGO details and cause donation boxes. Every three months, new NGOs are given shelf life. Now showing: Aroma candles by ADAPT, silk wallets by Advitya and Welfare of Stray Dogs towels and cushions.

Getting there: Shop No 12, New Jalsarshan, 288 Perry Cross Road, Bandra (W), call 65280465. Starts at Rs 100 onwards.

Footing the Bill

Metta Foot Reflexology Center and Spa is your good knead of the year. Here, visually impaired masseurs are trained to locate your problem areas, coaxing the pain right out with amazing dexterity. Owner Jonita Figueredo, a nurse-turned-yoga teacher and National Association for the Blind (NAB) volunteer, has Metta’s newly introduced gift vouchers out just in time for the holiday season.

Getting there: 53, Suravi House, Pali Village, Bandra (W), call 9870719923. Treatments start at Rs 200 for 30 minutes.

PS: Find more karmic gifting options in bpb's article on CNNGo.com.