RETAILING

‘Tis two months before Christmas and all through the malls, small specialty shops are decking their walls--with ornaments and trinkets and whatever else will make for a merry, green Christmas.

At Brea Mall, shoppers will soon browse for toys at Wild About Animals--and for other stocking stuffers at the Goodie Bay, Wahoo Costume Jewelry and the Christmas Guild.

In Costa Mesa, South Coast Plaza already has the Stocking Stuffer and two Christmas Guilds. A third shop, Popcorn Palace, is set to open any time. And by Thanksgiving, the Costa Mesa mall will also have the Cookbook Nook, Let’s Wrap and House of Almonds.

Meanwhile, arch-competitor Fashion Island is already beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Three shops opened at the Newport Beach center on Sunday: Once Upon a Christmas, a handmade ornament shop; Poltix Sleuth, a shop with Hollywood set decorations; and Treasures by Fredrick. (No, not that Frederick--this one is a pearl importer.)

By next week, Fashion Island will have its tree trimmings shops, too: Mrs. Anderson’s Homemade Treasures and Christmas Dazzle. Besides decorating your tree, Christmas Dazzle’s elves will custom-decorate your entire house.