SHOP TALK : What Malls Are Offering as Season Gets Into Gear : Stores are displaying a variety of holiday gift items that range from “Noel” necklaces to Rap Man Santas.

Rip van Winkle could wake from his long nap tomorrow, stumble into just about any Ventura County shopping center, and be absolutely, 100% sure, that Christmas is coming.

If the merry Muzak didn’t give it away, if the persistent red-green-white decor wasn’t enough of a clue, then those specialty items displayed in shop doorways and aisles would convince him that it most definitely ‘tis the season.

You’ve seen those holiday products. How could you help but see them? They jump out at you, nearly tackling you as you walk by. Admit it. You’ve probably even tried on, turned on or eaten a few.

But in case you haven’t, we hit a few malls last week to see what the merchants--hoping to catch us in a holiday spirit--are bombarding us with.

First stop, the Esplanade in Oxnard.

Blueberry-flavored candy canes. Enough said. Bobs Designer Canes come in boxes of a dozen at Sears. Price: $2. True, the blueberry canes are kind of non-traditional--they are, after all, blue. So for the more conservative shoppers there are strawberry flavored canes in white and red.

By the way, the boxes come with a nutritional sticker on them. Did you know candy canes have no fat? And only 80 calories per stick.

Also at Sears, you can find the usual Christmas garments. Festive socks, featuring Santa, Frosty, “Ho, Ho,” and bells go for $4.99 in adult sizes, $3.99 in juniors. You can pick up some reindeer flannel pajamas for $22.99.

A few shops down from Sears is a place called Music in the Box. Just try to ignore the Treasured Memories handcrafted porcelain musical statuettes. “Images from a gentler era, this collection is a welcome reminder of cherished family feelings,” says the ad. Cost: $49.95 for Puss ‘N Boots, $69.95 for a Santa scene.

At a place called Afterthoughts, you can add to your holiday wear with a large selection of accessories.

Green blinking necklaces and red star necklaces imprinted with “NOEL” are $10 a pair. For those who don’t feel like committing to a one-day-a-year accessory, the store is selling year-round holiday packages--30 pairs of stickers that attach to your earrings, for $3.

And don’t forget Champs. Yes, even the sporting goods store has Christmas merchandise. An attractive, sturdy, baseball cap, with Santa’s likeness on the front and his name on the back, is going for $19.99.

At Buenaventura Mall in Ventura, the big thing is holiday clothing. At the Broadway, a cotton blend sweat shirt with Frosty, skiing bears, or an excerpt from “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” goes for $28; a reindeer sweater with matching socks, $32. You can also choose from a variety of silk holiday ties with Peanuts characters, for $19.99.

At J. C. Penney you can pick up a cotton blend Christmas turtleneck from Arizona Jean Co., in junior sizes, for $12.99. Christmas socks can be had from between $4 and $4.75. At the other end of the mall, Claire’s Boutiques has Christmas socks at two pair for $6.

While you’re at the mall, check out Thrifty’s dancing, battery-operated Rap Man Santas and Jingle Rap Trees for $9.99.

At The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks, the holiday trappings are a little less obvious, but they’re there if you look closely enough.

Actually, you don’t have to look too closely to spot a blue-and-silver-haired Hanukkah troll wearing a Star of David sweater. It’s going for $8 at Robbie’s Hallmark store. Robbie’s also has a Noah’s Ark menorah--with rabbit, walrus, cow and giraffe as candleholders--for $55.

As for clothing, Bullock’s is selling a Jennifer Moore Christmas sweater, a ramie/cotton blend, for $59. The Broadway has a $40 ramie/cotton sweater from Hasting & Smith.

And the Accessory Lady has Christmas socks from between $5 and $7.

Leo Smith is a regular contributor to Ventura County Life. Write to him at 5200 Valentine Road, Suite 140, Ventura, 93003 or send faxes to 658-5576.