A Trail Guide for Catalog Shopping

By now, there’s probably a stack of ‘em on the living room floor--all delivered just to you from all over the planet because it’s that time of year.

We know this is true because we’re buried in them here at this desk, dubbed Catalog Central: gobs, mountains, truckloads of the glossy spreads hawking those hard-to-find gifts for that person on your holiday list who is hard to shop for.

Or so you thought.

If you’ve never before shopped in Catalogland, where big pictures and caption-sized blurbs rule, then you’re set for a shopping adventure like none other--and in the comfort of your jammies.

Here are a few to get you started (some companies offer other catalog selections; ask when you call):

Clothing

* Appleseed’s offers classic and traditional women’s apparel; (800) 767-6666.

* Willis & Geiger offers outdoor apparel for men; (800) 223-1408.

* Harry & David’s Northwest Express carries women’s and men’s casual wear, footwear and handcrafted gift items; (800) 727-7243.

* L.L. Bean Sporting features rugged apparel, footwear and gear for outdoor adventures, including camping, backpacking, hiking and cycling; (800) 221-4221.

* J. Jill calls its women’s wear an “uncomplicated style” in natural fibers and easy-care blends; (800) 642-9989.

* Frederick’s of Hollywood has a unique selection of dresses, sportswear, swimwear and lots of undies; (800) 323-9525.

Hard-to-Find Sizes

* King Size catalog features clothing, shoes and accessories for big and tall men; (800) 846-1600.

* Silhouettes has women’s apparel in sizes from 14W to 34W; (800) 704-3322.

Kids

* The Training Camp offers developmental sports training products for kids; (800) 284-5383.

* Lilly’s Kids (an offshoot of the Lillian Vernon catalogs) offers educational toys, games, fun fashion accessories and room decor; (800) 285-5555.

* Gifts for Grandkids features gift-giving ideas for grandparents to promote interactivity with their grandchildren; (888) 472-GRANDKID. * The Disney Catalog is jammed with Mickey and pals-themed stuff: collectibles, apparel, jewelry, toys and art; (800) 237-5751.

* Pleasant Co. offers a wide array of American Girls Collection: dolls, books and accessories about American history; (800) 845-0005.

Personal Care

* Avon Beauty & Fashion by Mail features beauty and cosmetic products; (800) 500-2866.

* Beauty Trends has women’s wigs, hair add-ons and wig accessories; (800) 777-7772.

Home

* Bloomingdale’s by Mail features home furnishing, gifts and collectibles; (800) 777-0000.

* Circa has artifacts from the past and new items that could become family heirlooms; (800) 945-7777.

* Pottery Barn has furniture for every room, linens and imported decorative accessories; (800) 922-5507.

* Touch of Class features home furnishings, wall coverings, window treatments and bed and bath items; (800) 457-7456.

Animals

* Pet Warehouse has everything from A to Z (toys, treats, cages, food, furniture); (800) 443-1160.

* Back in the Saddle features gifts and apparel for horse lovers; (800) 865-2478.