No age group is easy to buy for, but some are definitely more demanding than others. The thought of finding suitable Christmas gifts for teenage girls strikes terror in any shopper. Tastes at that age change with such speed that what was absolutely the height of fashion last week can fast be considered passe. What adolescent girl, for example, would now regard the Spice Girls as arbiters of anything but consummate naffness? And which of their replacements on the pop market would it be advisable to buy? The wisest course is to avoid anything which might be subject to the vagaries of teenage taste. These include all major items of clothing, because whatever size you buy, it will be the wrong size. Even a cursory glance around the retailers will tell you there is only one style being worn this season and it is covered with embroidery and beading. Plain dresses simply do not exist; everything is smothered with elaborate decoration. Opt for the same emphasis when looking for teenage girls' presents and stick to accessories, where expensive mistakes are less likely to be made. Here again, the beads and embroidered threads abound, along with feathers and fur (real and fake). Accessories are a burgeoning field in fashion, so the choice this season is bigger than ever before. Every category, from bags to headbands, comes with extra detailing and relatively modest prices.

Making a selection of six pieces was something of a challenge and meant leaving out lots of additional possibilities such as diamante tiaras and patterned tights.

You will face the same problem when it comes to present buying over the next few weeks. And if the thought of traipsing around the shops making decisions seems too much, there is one other accessory which would be welcomed by every teenage girl: a mobile telephone. Eircel's Ready to Go or Esat Digiphone's Speak Easy are the wisest options; otherwise your gift could continue to run up bills throughout the year ahead.