Reversible goods: 2 for the price of 1

June 19 - As a child, I remember turning my dolls’ clothes inside out when I tired of their limited wardrobe. The few women friends I asked about this recently say they don’t recall doing anything of the sort. Still, I still think the concept makes sense, especially if the piece of clothing turned inside out got me a whole new look. I haven’t noticed a huge market for adult reversible clothes, just a few stray items in outdoor apparel catalogs. But I did find some fashionable accessories — for men and women — that do double duty.

Two bags in one
Trendy Brooklyn-based yakpak.com makes a reversible tote that easily transforms from a colorful day tote into a black evening bag. Well, sort of.

The day side of the sturdy tote is made of rip-stop nylon and comes in a variety of colors, from fuchsia to lime green. The flip side is black nylon twill. The fabric’s smooth texture gives the tote a dressier look that’s perfect for a night on the town. The change is not that dramatic but it will do the job in a pinch.

Yakpak.com designers also cleverly included two full-sized zippered pockets — along the side of each bag — to stash valuables.

The reversible totes come in four sizes, priced from $22.50 to $49. But remember that’s two totes for the price of one. So in theory, it’s $11.50 to $24.50 per tote.

The smallest tote, the “Change of Heart,” measures 12 by 9 1/2 inches. It’s available in black, burgundy, charcoal, fuchsia, lime, navy, olive, orange, red and turquoise. The largest tote, “Outside In,” comes in 12 colors: army green, black, brick red, dusk, legion blue, mushroom, orange, red, rust, sand, spring green and steel gray. It measures 16 1/2 by 12 1/2 inches.

Medium-sized totes include the 11 1/2-by-10 inch “Two of Hearts,” $30, available in 10 colors, and the 13 1/2-by-12 inch “About Face,” $36, which comes in nine colors. Some colors may have to be back ordered.

All the bags are available in black-on-black. Despite all the vibrant colors to choose from, customers “historically” still prefer black, says Richard Haugen, yalpak.com’s chief operating officer. This is a New York City bag, after all.

Asian or retro?
For flashier reversible wares, cyber shoppers may have to look to the Left Coast. Marlene Wong Doutaz, designer/owner of mushutreasures.com, makes a series of what she calls Mushu-style reversible totes. Mushu, in this case, refers to the family mutt, who was named after the Chinese dish because the lab-retriever mix is also part Shar-Pei, a Chinese breed.

One side of the tote features traditional Asian fabrics or retro-style prints, dotted with images of Dalmatians to dim sum. The other side is a subtle solid color.

The totes are available in two styles, also named after furry family companions. The 14-by-10 inch Bailey comes with natural or black bamboo handles. The BART has 1 1/2 inch polypropylene web shoulder straps. It measures 18 by 10 inches. Bailey and BART are also mixed-breed canines. Both styles are available in an Asian print for $65, or a retro design for $70. Divide by two and that’s $32.50 or $35 per tote.

The company also makes a micro-fiber “Mushu” tote, which has black on one side and a blue or brown animal print on the other side. It comes in two sizes. The full-sized 13-by-11-inch tote sells for $65. The mini, which measures 7 1/2 by 6 inches, costs $40.

The company also sponsors a monthly contest in which shoppers who sign up for the company’s electronic newsletter are automatically entered into the drawing at mushutreasures.com. The prize is, not surprisingly, a handbag. Until the end of this month, shoppers can also enter a second contest at stylediva.com to win a Mushu-style, Asian-print tote, retail value $65.

Beyond cool
Remember power beads? I still wear mine, especially the pink ones. But this season, what’s really hip are reversible bracelets, made out of duct tape, at vanessajean.com.

Vanessa Jean, designer, company owner and Yale graduate — class of 2002 — hand makes each bracelet in her New Haven, Conn., apartment. “I rarely leave the house without a piece of duct tape stuck to me somewhere it shouldn’t be,” Jean says.

And like power beads, the bracelets come in a wide variety of colors, from pretty princess pink to multicolored camouflage. Jean picks up the standard silver tape from a local hardware store. She special orders the other 19 colors from a tape broker. “Who knew such people even existed?” she says.

But unlike power beads, the 1 1/4-inch bracelets have a snap closure, and each side is a different color. At $5 a pop, that’s $2.50 per bracelet.

Vanessajean.com also stocks reversible placemat-and-coaster sets for $5. Jean also makes belts, which aren’t reversible, but should be.

Standard, funky
Several mainstream manufacturers, though, market reversible belts, especially for men. Styles range from a funky light blue camouflage-print belt, $4.99 at bewild.com, to a high-end, Italian-made $165 leather belt at saksfifthavenue.com.

Timberland.com may have the best selection of moderately priced reversible belts. The simple nylon belt, $15 — olive on one side, black on the other — is a no-brainer. The reversible leather and cotton canvas belt, priced at $29.50, is the most popular belt in the company’s collection, says a company representative. There are also two reversible brown/black leather belts. One has a smooth surface; the other is slightly textured, or “distressed” as they say in adspeak. June 12 —

This summer, Martha Stewart may be too busy fielding fans’ e-mails at marthatalks.com — a Web site set up in response to her federal indictment — to conjure up novel outdoor entertaining tips. But that’s OK. We appreciate you, Martha. We can, however, dig up some ideas of our own. And a good place to start is by browsing the cyber aisles of this summer’s sizzling hot e-sales.

One sale that's definitely a sizzler this season is crateandbarrel.com’s first-ever cyber summer sale. Hundreds of items are marked down as much as 50 percent, and many are way cool.

Take for example, the cherry red condiment caddy, reduced from $15.95 to $7.95. The plastic caddy, a crateandbarrel.com exclusive, holds four glass jars — each with a metal lid and metal serving spoon. The approximately 3 1/2-inch jars are just the right size to hold enough ketchup, relish or mayo for toppings on grilled meat or soy products. (Be careful: Soy dogs can explode on the grill but soy burgers grill just fine.)

Even city dwellers, without access to a patio, outdoor garden or summer home, can make good use of the caddy. I know. I bought one. As a matter of fact, I made quick use of the caddy after a friend almost dared me. “You’ll never use that,” he said, knowing full well that I have enough cute household servers to fill a small store. (One of my faves is the chip-and-dish bowl that plays the “Mexican Hat Dance” song.) So one very rainy weekend day, I christened the caddy at an indoor picnic on the living room floor of my cozy Brooklyn apartment. It was the hit of the party.

Must-haves on sale
But the caddy is not the only catch at crateandbarrel.com’s sizzling sale. Other irresistible items include the set of six hand-blown glass umbrella swizzle sticks, reduced from $14.95 to $9.95; earthenware serving bowls, decorated with colorful veggies and marked down almost 30 percent; and island cooler glasses, each wrapped in an aqua, orange or bright green wheat-straw holder. Each cooler costs $2.95, reduced from $3.95. A set of six coolers sells for $17.70, discounted from $23.95.

And let’s not forget the practical items, such as the lime-green glass margarita glasses, reduced from $6.95 to $4.95 and the sturdy picnic basket with wooden handles, marked down from $39.95 to $27.95.

The sale will run until the inventory is low, says a company representative. The “leftovers” will then be shipped to brick-and-mortar outlet stores or posted in a cyber outlet, where merchandise can be reduced as much as 80 percent.

Solutions for $10 or less
For other clever outdoor gadgets or props, head over to the on-sale section at solutionscatalog.com, known for “products that make life easier,” or as a company representative says, products for “time-starved, female homeowners.” I wonder if you really have to own a home to qualify.

Best bets can be found in the $10-or-less sale section. The green bottle opener, shaped like a frog, is ergonomically designed and also made of recyclable plastic. It’s on sale for $5.90, reduced from $8.50.

On sale are also some decorative items for the tabletop. Baby dress-a-gosling statues, marked down from $14.50 to $9.90, come with festive attire for entertaining during the summer, spring or winter and on several national holidays. Adorn the polyresin young goose statuette with its miniature plastic swimming tube in the summer or place a festive hat on its head for Independence Day. Now that’s the Martha spirit.

Other summer sizzlers
Gardeners can also pick up some hot deals in the clearance center of smithandhawken.com, which is stocked with garden tools and accessories, and the cyber outlet at plowhearth.com, known for its “products for country living.” Check out the topiary animals in the yard-and-garden sale section. The faux topiary bear and deer are made of “lush, natural-looking artificial greens,” and are reduced from $119.95 to $79.95.

So make Martha proud this summer. Be creative. But stay tuned. From the response she’s received from her fans already — at least 40,000 e-mails in the first few days — it looks like she may be back in full force some time soon.

June 5 — No matter what Dad’s interests are, there’s something on sale that will satisfy him. Of course, today’s deals might not be as good as the one Dick Cabela offered for just a quarter back in 1962, but, hey, that’s OK.

If Dad has to have designer labels, consider the twofer on the Polo Ralph Lauren cotton pique shirts at cyber outlet bluefly.com.

To jumpstart his business back then, Cabela, of Chappell, Neb., placed an advertisement in the back of Sports Afield magazine that read, “Free introductory offer! Five hand-tied flies … 25c postage … handling.” The unusual ad generated responses from fly-fishing fans across the country. More than 40 years later, the store called Cabela’s publishes its own national outdoor magazine and sells thousands of brands of outdoor equipment and apparel designed for a variety of sports, from archery to kayaking. Right now, one of the best deals is the buy-two-get-one-free offer on cabelas.com’s new-and-improved pique knit shirt.

The new version of the three-button shirt with a collar is made of “beefed up pre-washed yarns.” Each shirt sells for $19.95. So two shirts total $39.90. Throw in the third shirt, divide by three and each shirt costs $13.30 — not bad for today’s market. The shirts, which are available in small to extra-extra-large, come in five muted colors — sage, slate blue, burnt orange, natural and yellow.

Polo Ralph Lauren casual shirt, now available at two for $59.95 at bluefly.com.

If Dad has to have designer labels, consider the twofer on the Polo Ralph Lauren cotton pique shirts at cyber outlet bluefly.com. These three button shirts with a collar come complete with the Polo logo, and are now available at two for $59.95. The casual shirts, which sell for about $35 to $40 at bluefly.com, typically retail for about $52.50-$62.50.

The sale shirts range in color from subtle plum to bright green. Also, check out the striped shirts. How about the black-and-white striped shirt with one bright orange band pictured above? The twofer ends June 11 at 8 a.m. and the last day to order for delivery before Dad’s Day is June 12 at 9 a.m.

Loaded with deals
Cabelas.com’s summer sale section is also loaded with other goodies, and some items are reduced as much as 50 percent.

The wheeled stowaway at cabelas.com is reduced from $99.99 to $49.99.

If fly fishing is Dad’s thing, the wheeled carry-on bag designed for anglers makes a great gift. The 22.5-by-14 inches stowaway, which has a special pocket and two Velcro straps to hold a fishing-rod tube, is reduced from $99.99 to $49.99.

Still stumped? Head over to the bargain cave. The permanent sale section has close to 9,000 items. Enough said.

Other cyber sale sections chock full of guy stuff include normthompson.com and its sister store earlywinters.com. Both companies are owned by Norm Thompson, the Hillsboro, Ore.-based company that has made a conscious effort to reduce waste and use recycled materials in its everyday business practices.

Garb to gadgets
Normthompson.com, a West Coast L.L. Bean of sorts, stocks mostly casual and outdoor apparel, plus some gift items and gadgets. Items in the sale section are discounted 20 percent to 50 percent. Recent finds include a chrome corkscrew, marked down from $49 to $37.90, and a canvas barn jacket, reduced from $68 to $29.90. Earlywinters.com offers a similar selection as normthompson.com but caters to the active outdoors type.

Save the date: Ironically, both normthompson.com and earlywinters.com will host summer warehouse sales after Father’s Day. Select items, available in limited quantities, will be reduced 50 percent to 75 percent. The earlywinters.com warehouse sale will run June 11-17. The normthompson.com warehouse sale is scheduled to start on June 25 and end on July 1.

Free fork for the grill
Hickory Farms has launched a unique offer just in time for Dad’s Day: Order select meat items for the grill and receive a temperature probe valued at $12.99. This electronic fork, a hot item from seasons past, lets Dad know whether what’s on the grill is rare, medium or well done.

The thermometer fork, valued at $12.99, is free with certain orders from hickoryfarms.com.

The fork is available with any order of the meat packages featured on the company’s promotion page. Selections include a six-, 12- or 24-pack of premium steak burgers, priced from $22.95 to $74.95, an assortment of Pfaelzer filet mignon, $34.95 to $189.95, or a pack of two cheddy brats — German-style smoked bratwurst filled with cheddar cheese — priced at $19.99.

To guarantee arrival on Father’s Day, cyber shoppers should place their orders by 11 a.m. on June 9 for standard shipping; June 11 for express delivery; and June 12 for rush shipments.

Hammocks for summer
June 3 — After some difficult times in my life, a friend of mine recommended I sit on a beach for 10 years and let the rest of the world catch up. Indeed, sometimes more is accomplished by doing nothing. With that in mind — and with the hope that the summer will finally bring some sunshine here on the East Coast — I ventured into cyberspace to look for a hammock.

These days, hammocks are sold by several online vendors, from small cyber shops to mainstream companies, including the “products for country living” plowhearth.com and Kent, Wash.-based recreational equipment shop rei.com.

It’s difficult, however, to make price comparisons because many companies have their hammocks specifically made for them, either by hand or machine. For example, Freeport, Maine-based llbean.com carries an exclusive line of hammocks, made by “industry leader” Hatteras. The hammocks, available in cotton or polyester, range in price from $99 (for medium-sized hammock) to $129 (extra-large).

Hand-made hammocks
On the other hand, mexihammocks.com, a small cyber shop in San Antonio, Texas, has a line of hammocks specifically made for it by Mayan craftswomen. The company only sells “original Mayan Mexican hammocks” or “hamacas” as it is called in Yucatan. The hammocks range in price from $47.95 for a family-sized hammock, which holds up to 800 pounds, to $69.95 for a jumbo hammock that can fit up to six people.

When selecting a hammock, obviously personal preference is key. One-stop shop hammocks.com may have the best selection online. The Omaha, Neb.-based company carries about 75 hammocks made in Mexico, Nicaragua, Brazil, China, India and the United States. Prices range from $49.77 for the Sling Thing, a portable free-standing hammock, to $483.89 for the large Grand Caribbean hammock, mounted on a Roman arc stand.

Regular features at hammocks.com include a “super sales” section and “today’s deals,” which doesn’t necessarily change daily. In the super sales section, merchandise can be discounted as much as 50 percent. Free shipping comes with select items in either section.

The company also runs a monthly “win a free hammock” contest. The prize is a Mazatlan Mayan hammock, valued at $89.97.

As for doing nothing, hammocks.com even has a gift item that promotes the idea. The “accomplish nothing gift package” sells for $29.95 and comes with a T-shirt that says “accomplish nothing,” a coffee cup, some coffee and a Jimmy Buffet CD. I’d ditch the coffee and include some herbal tea instead.

Patio closeouts
Surprisingly, I also found some discounted hammocks at patiocloseouts.com. The Irvine, Calif.-based shop carries a mix of patio-related items, from umbrella stands to outdoor furniture covers. A quilted, blue-and-white striped hammock chair, which retails for $170, is now $66. A traditional rope hammock with stand runs $74.99.

All items are last year’s styles or overstocks, or have been discontinued by the manufacturer, says Chester Deitz, a company co-founder.

Patiocloseouts.com also stocks some unusual outdoor items, such as a terra cotta planter that “wraps around” a patio umbrella. In total, the site has about 100 products from five manufacturers. One advantage to shopping at patiocloseouts.com is the “in stock”-counter feature, which lets consumers know exactly how many items are left in stock. On the down side, some descriptions of sale items do not include the retail prices.

In the long run, finding the right hammock for the best price may be easier than accomplishing nothing, especially in our society. But just shopping for a hammock may be a step in the right direction.

Cool head for summer
May 15 — In recent years, U.S. stores have stocked canvas knock-offs of the Aussie-style field hat that has been a common site in the Australian outback for more than a century. Serious shoppers, though, won’t settle for anything faux, not even a wide-brimmed topper. And although a trip to Australia might be a welcome shopping excursion, the most economical way to land a deal on Australian-made hats — and other Aussie goods — is in cyberspace.

Most Americans are familiar with Australian bush hats made of sturdy leather or canvas. One of the most popular hats in Australia, though, is the finely made Akubra, a felt dress hat that dates to 1871, and was worn by Australian soldiers in World War I and II.

Several stores stock Akubras, which the villagehatshop.com, a San Diego-based millinery shop, describes as the Australian version of America’s Stetson.

Akubra’s Snowy River hat, which sports a braided leather band, is named for Australia’s Snowy River, which inspired A.B. “Banjo” Paterson’s to write the famous 1890 poem “The Man from Snowy River.” The poem then inspired the 1982 movie of the same name, which shows off Australia’s brilliant scenery.

Fine felt hat
The hat sells for $99 at australia-fare.com $105 at everythingaustralian.com and $115 at villagehatshop.com.

Since the prices vary by only a few dollars, it pays to compare shipping costs. Shipping rates to the United States from the Vancouver, British Columbia-based australia-fare.com are actually less than the shipping fees at the two U.S.-based shops.

For example, at everythingaustralian.com, it costs $13.95 to ship an order that totals between $100.01 and $150, compared to $10 at villagehatshop.com for an order between $100 and $200. Tally all the figures and the totals come to $105 at australia-fare.com, $118.95 at everythingaustralian.com and $125 at villagehatshop.com. In the end, australia-fare.com had the lowest price but that may not always be the case. The Canadian dollar is currently worth less than the American dollar, so the exchange rate favors U.S. customers.

Service vs. price
Adventurous types might consider shopping at one of the Australian-based millinery shops, which sometimes even have the best price. But concerns about customer service and international shipping may send cyber shoppers stateside. International shoppers also have to contend with conversion rates.

For example, I found the Snowy River hat at Sydney-based hatsdownunder.com for $60 and at Cairnes, Australia-based strandhatters.com.au for $104.95 (Australian), which is equivalent to $66.

I sent both companies an e-mail to confirm the prices. It’s been at least two weeks and I haven’t heard back from either of them, whereas all the U.S.-based companies mentioned above responded to my queries within 24 hours.

Shipping at both Australian-based sites is equivalent to about $19, which although higher than domestic rates in the United States, still makes the Australian-based sites a better deal.

Consumers also have to consider the time it takes to ship the goods overseas. Air shipments may take up to 11 work days, and surface transportation may take as long as 12 weeks, according to the postal guidelines at hatsdownunder.com. In the time it takes for the hat to travel here, a reality show may have come and gone.

Classic bush hat
If the number of brands is any indication of a hat’s popularity, the classic bush hat still ranks high. Different brands feature different styles, which range from a simple canvas hat with a cord tie to a sturdy leather hat decorated with real crocodile teeth.

Crushable hats or hats that fold up are quite popular Down Under. Barmah is one company known for crushable hats — most of them fold up into a drawstring sac.

The current collection of the water-repellant canvas, leather or suede hats is displayed at the company’s Web site. Consumers can’t purchase the hats directly from Barmah but several online shops sell them. Denton, Texas-based suncatcherhats.com has the best collection of Barmah hats online. The canvas Drover, priced at $39.95, is available in five colors.

Villagehatshop.com stocks BC hats, a lesser-known brand of the Australian bush hat. These hats, named after its founder Bill Connor, run the gamut. The classic wool hat, which comes with a leather hatband, sells for $35. The water-repellant leather hat, decorated with crocodile teeth, costs $84.

Truly Down Under
Villageshop.com has a sale section but Aussie-made hats rarely find their way into it, says Fred Belinsky, the company’s president and founder.

Other makers of bush hats are Foxfire and Australian Bush Co. Foxfire hats, available at australia-fare.com, range from a crushable, canvas hat for $25 to the “Aussie Outback,” $42.50, an oiled leather hat with a braided hatband. Australian Bush Hats are available in nine styles at everythingaustralia.com for $49.95 to $79.95.

The most unusual Aussie hat is the corked hat, the kind seen in sketches on Australia by Monty Python’s Flying Circus. The cotton hat, now worn only by tourists, has corks suspended all around the brim. Australian outback workers used to wear a similar hat to keep flies away from their face while keeping their hands free for work. The hat is $11.95 at everythingaustralian.com and $12.49 at australia-fare.com. Just remember those shipping fees.

Two-for-one stock
Most Aussie cyber shops also have a hefty food aisle, primarily designed for expatriates who crave foods from home. Popular items include Vegemite, the Australian equivalent of American peanut butter, Tim Tams candy bars and meat jerky, made of kangaroo, crocodile or emu, a large Australian bird resembling an ostrich.

Aussieproducts.com, which boasts more than 2,000 Australian products, has the best deals. Recent finds on the two-for-one clearance rack include hazelnut praline Tim Tams, priced at two for $3.50, and a 500 gram box of Uncle Tobys Traditional Oats, two for $5.95. The San Jose, Calif.-based site takes a novel approach to clearing its cyber food shelves: It posts a warning on certain products that it sells beyond the expiration date. The expired policy only applies to one brand, Arnott’s, and the biscuit company recently changed its expiration period from 12 to eight months, says Christyne Napier-Roden, owner and founder of aussieproducts.com. After several Australian customers asked if they could purchase them for half price, Arnott’s products were added to the two-for-one section, she adds. One Arnott’s product, now in the sale section, is the Tiny Teddy Dippers, priced at two for $3.50. “Tiny Teddy Dippers are a small sugar biscuit that you dip into chocolate that has been warmed in the microwave,” says Napier-Roden. “The kids just luv ’em!”

Products plus a yarn
Eucalyptus and tea tree goods also line the shelves of many of the Australian product shops. Prices vary slightly among the Australian superstores online. But each retailer did have a story to tell about the native plants.

John Hawkings, co-owner of everythingaustralian.com, wanted me to know that eucalyptus leaves are actually poisonous, although koala bears in Australia eat them. The oil from the leaves can be used to help along a cold, just as Vick’s Vapor rub is used in the United States, he says. Everythingaustralian.com has the best stash of eucalyptus products, including the new hot item eucalyptus Kleenex tissues.

In recent years, tea tree products have migrated to the shelves of American pharmacies and health food stores. The tea tree is not a tree but a shrub or small bush found in the countryside north of Sydney. When Europeans first ventured to Australia, they noticed that the aboriginals put the oil on wounds or cuts, explains Skilton. “Being typical Europeans, they made a cup of tea out of it,” he remarks. So the oil became known as tea tree oil.

Other Australian-made items not to be missed are clap sticks, a percussion instrument originally used in tribal rituals, and didgeridoos, long wooden musical instruments made from a log hollowed out by termites. Both instruments are listed in the “what to buy” section of the Australian Tourist Commission, which also has a “handy” international currency converter to make sure consumers get the best deal.

Harry Potter goods
March 11 — Wouldn’t it be nice if we muggles could take just one shopping trip through magical Diagon Alley? Of course, there’s no magical shopping district in the brick-and-mortar world, so muggles have to look elsewhere to fill their Harry Potter-inspired wish lists. Recently several readers sent in e-mail requests for various Harry Potter items — some of them featured in the books or movies. With the help of some wizard-like shopping techniques, I found them on the Web.

One reader, Robert Armstrong, was having trouble finding Harry Potter scarves. Actually, Potter scarves are everywhere. The most obvious stop is Warner Bros.’ online shop wbshop.com (the company closed its brick-and-mortar “studio” stores in 2001). Warner Bros. sells its licensed Harry Potter merchandise to other retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us, but not all of them stock the scarves.

Warner Bros. makes this exclusive acrylic scarf.

The official burgundy-and-gold striped acrylic scarf, which shows off Gryffindor’s house colors and has seven-inch tassels at its ends, sells at wbshop.com sells for $24.95. At 62 inches, it’s long enough to wrap around a person several times, to ward off a chill while reading about the stormy quidditch match in book No. 3. And if there’s any doubt that this is an authentic Harry Potter scarf, look for the little golden “snitch” embroidered next to the Harry Potter logo at one end of the scarf.

Few retailers have dared to make an acrylic knockoff but I found a Harry Potter-like scarf at greatlookz.com, a cyber shop based in the California foothills near Yosemite. The four-foot-by-nine-inch scarf has four-inch fringe at its ends. It sells for $15, significantly less than the Warner Bros. scarf.

Handmade scarves flourish in the online auction world, and ebay.com has become the hot spot for these knitted or crocheted scarves. At the online auction site, you are also not limited to Gryffindor’s house scarves. There are plenty of green-and-gray striped scarves, which would make any Slytherin resident proud. Less common are the black-and-yellow striped Hufflepuff scarves and the blue-and-gray striped Ravenclaw scarves. Bidding for most scarves starts at $9.99 to $12.99.

What’s even cooler than a Harry Potter scarf are these sweaters, modeled after the ones Mrs. Weasley makes for Christmas gifts. The washable-wool sweaters sold at the British shop thekidswindow.co.uk are made to order. So expect to wait at least 28 days before they’re delivered. You do, however, get to pick what initial appears on the front of the sweater, which comes in midnight, green, cocoa and cranberry. Prices range from $82.50 for six-months to two-years-olds, to $132 for adults.

Backpacks, too
Backpacks featuring the shields of the Hogwarts houses are another popular Harry Potter item, but the choices are limited. Backpacks with Gryffindor and Slytherin house shields exist. Several individual sellers and storefronts at ebay.com sell them. And now that ebay.com lets its cyber storefronts sell merchandise at a fixed price, you can purchase it in real time rather than wait for the auction to close.

One St. Paul, Minn.-based shop on eBay, LRL-MINN, has two styles for each house. Gryffindor packs come in red; and Slytherin in green. Both styles sell for $9.99. One pack has a mesh compartment that attaches to the front of the pack. The other pack features two zippered front compartments and side pockets.

Backpacks for Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were nowhere to be found, despite the fine reputation of those house members. In fairness to all house members, you could opt for a backpack with the Hogwarts’ shield. The school shield contains the mascot for each house. The lion, I assume, is a symbol of Gryffindor house members’ courage. The Slytherin snake is a good reminder of its residents’ slickness. The eagle speaks of Hufflepuff members’ loyalty. And the badger must have a certain wit to represent Ravenclaw residents.

Hogwarts backpacks are available at the West Warwick, R.I.-based gift shop christmasbank.com, which carries everything from cigars to Nine West leather jackets. The backpacks, available in two styles, are stashed in the kids’ section. They cost $19.95, reduced from $25. The blue denim pack has a large front pocket. The black-and-burgundy pack has a smaller front pocket.

Wbshop.com also plans to introduce a Hogwarts backpack this June, just in time for the debut of the fifth Harry Potter book, says a company representative. The backpack, which will retail for $19.95, will have the school shield and the words “Harry Potter” embroidered on it.

Is it a cape or a throw?
Anita DeLeon, a San Antonio native now living in the San Francisco Bay Area, wanted to find Harry Potter capes in adult sizes.

In my mind, Superman wears a cape when he flies around outside, and Harry Potter and his friends wear cloaks when it’s cold outside. But many Harry Potter fans and some dictionaries use the words interchangeably. So for the purposes of this column, I will too.

Children’s capes or cloaks are easy to find. Adult-sized cloaks are a tougher task. If you’re small enough to get away with a kids-sized cloak, rubies.com makes a costume that comes with a 40-inch, black-polyester cape. The Harry Potter dress-up box set sells for $19.99 at amazon.com. It includes a wand and eyeglasses like those worn by Harry Potter.

Your best bet in kids-sized capes, however, is the fleece throw. The navy blue, fleece blanket fastens with a Velcro closure and “magically transforms” into a cape. The throw measures 26-by-40-by-44 inches and is abundant at ebay.com. Bids start as low as $3.97 at Joplin, Miss.-based ebay.com store Fabfreebird’s Variety Shop.

A few cyber shops do stock adult-sized cloaks. The East Lansing, Mich.-based wizard shop orderofmerlin.com has an adult-sized chamois cloak for $139.95 and a lined wool cloak for $219.95.

You can find cloaks a bit cheaper at Halloween costume shops that stock “theatrical quality” costumes for adults. Hauntedplanet.com, for example, has an adult-sized hooded cloak for $122. It comes in black, blue, green, cranberry, silver and gold, and is listed on the “best page” under costumes.

If it’s a cape, cloak or throw, it really doesn’t matter. Just enjoy the ride. But wait ... do you need a broom for that?

Potter goods on sale
Jan. 28 — The fifth book in the Harry Potter series made amazon.com’s bestseller list five months before its expected release on June 21. It almost makes sense that a book about the wizard world could top the charts before it even exists. News of the book’s coming release sent me scouring the Web for shops where muggles could preorder it. Despite what we were taught in muggle school, I found that early birds don’t always get the worm — but they can get some cool wizard goods.

At the posting of this column, the book’s publisher, Scholastic, had not set a price for book five, “Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix.” The hardcover release of the last book in the series, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” went for $25.95. So most cyber shops have settled on a preorder price of $17.97 for the hardcover of Harry Potter’s next adventure, which would be about 30 percent off retail if the book is priced the same as “Goblet of Fire.”

Several cyber retailers have jumped on the preorder bandwagon, including amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and booksamillion.com.Booksamillion.com offers club members a 10 percent discount, which brings the price down to $16.17. Club membership cost $5 a year.

One cyber retailer, however, has smartly separated itself from the pack. Bookworms and wizards alike can preorder the Potter book from overstock.com for $14.99. The time-limited offer is expected to run until the end of February, says a company representative. The Salt Lake City, Utah-based shop, known for discounts on electronic goods, added books to its inventory last October.

Being a Harry Potter fan, I couldn’t stop my cyber-shopping quest with the book. I set out to see what else was on sale. Lego sets, action figures and collectible dolls don’t interest me, nor do videos or CDs. I did, however, find a few practical items for aspiring wizards.

A new wizard watch could certainly come in handy, especially if you’re counting the hours to the release of the new book. What exactly is a wizard watch? It’s a watch that simply features a character or theme from the Harry Potter books. Fortunately for muggles, wizard watches abound in cyberspace, and many at wholesale prices.

Los Angeles-based watchcart.com has a series of simple-yet-sophisticated watches with leather bands. Each watch in the collection sells for $14.95, reduced from $49.95. The Lorus watches come with a one-year warranty.

The watchbands fit a child’s or small-boned adults’ wrist, says shop Web master Dan Beam, who wears one. He weighs in at 170 pounds and measures 5 feet, 10 inches. For larger sorts or Hagrid-sized beasts, the watch bands can be easily replaced.

Troy, Mich.-based sterlingtime.com stocks a slightly more whimsical collection of watches, a result of a timely collaboration between Fossil and Seiko. Unfortunately, some of the watches displayed on the Web page are no longer available, such as the black or brown strap watches with collectible tins. But a few watches with brightly colored cloth bands are in stock and priced at $12-$13, marked down from $25-$30.

No doubt, studious types will gravitate toward the watch that features our bookish friend Hermoine. It sports a purple band. The Hogwarts emblem watch, complete with a yellow-and-royal-blue band, has unisex appeal. I’m not quite sure who would wear the Lord Voldemort watch — someone about to make some mischievous, perhaps.

Nighttime
There’s not much talk about wizard sleepwear in the Harry Potter series. But what’s better than snuggling up with your favorite Harry Potter book on a cold winter day? Having Harry Potter sheets to sleep on, of course. I found a flannel twin set at The Collector Connection, a mom-and-pop shop in Holly Springs, N.C. The twin set, priced at $29.99, contains a flat sheet, a fitted sheet and a standard pillowcase. It comes in a vinyl backpack with a Harry Potter logo and canvas straps.

Another cozy, cyber shop called, grannysgeneralstore.com has a poly-cotton blend twin set for $27.99. The Watertown, Wis.-based shop also stocks some slumber party musts, like wonderful pizza plates at four for $13.99.

Now that the fifth book is officially on its way, I decided to pick up where I left off. I read the first two Potter books last year. Now I’m in the middle of “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” and I think it’s the best yet. It has less violence and fewer blow-by-blow accounts of Quidditch matches (I still find anything related to sports tedious, even in the wizard world). And who needs Freud, when there are dementors? But I can’t give it all away; read the book yourself.

Teri Goldberg is MSNBC.com’s shopping writer. Write to her at

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