Retailers turn the page with looks built to last

If two words characterize holiday catalog offerings this year, they are "practical" and "flexible." With the economy in a slide and consumer spending uncertain, most catalogs are going for looks that can extend beyond the season. Even where patterns are decidedly winter in theme, often they are shown as coordinates that can layer into standard cold-weather sets. Of course, there's always room for opulence on the upper end, but this year the focus has shifted to quality, color and construction rather than fussy details.

The La Notte embroidered bed is one of nearly two dozen bedding ensembles presented in Pottery Barn Bed + Bath's holiday catalog. The textiles-rich book also offers sheets, towels, duvets, basic bedding, blankets, rugs and window treatments.

Let's hear it for the boys. Company Kids makes a concerted effort to pull more boys and gender-neutral designs toward the front of its winter/holiday catalog, going for seasonal patterns rather than short-lived holiday designs. Here, Frosty Flannel Friends features a snowman quilt and sham that can be layered into plaid flannel bedding for a holiday look.

Restoration Hardware has said that it would step up its home textiles offerings as it overhauls its assortment, and its holiday catalog nods in that direction. The book's 77 skus of home textiles are predominantly shown in cross-merchandised settings. Here, French Floral & Striped Throws are merchandised with a daybed.

Bloomingdale's By Mail goes for the opulent in its offerings, such as Class Creations' Baez Bedding, which features rich tapestry stripe components. High-end table linens constitute the bulk of home textiles offerings.

Horchow Collection features a variety of textiles for the cold-weather season. Here, a tropical theme coordinates across two pages, with Menagerie Linens from Fieldcrest, an embroidered towel set and an imported Tabriz panel rug.

Domestications' book is unabashedly holiday-oriented, with the Fa La La La La sheet set, Holiday Wishes cotton quilt and other decidedly Christmas-themed offerings. It's also resolutely promotional, with most pages trumpeting percent-off deals and its cover announcing 0 percent interest payments for five months.

Warmth and light predominate the holiday book from Cuddledown of Maine. Colors run the gamut from rich to icy pastels, but even saturated hues avoid heaviness. Here, the Tashkan Paisley bed, with 270-count sateen sheets, is made in Israel.

Coldwater Creek's home catalog for the holidays focuses on the warm and cozy, such as the Weekend In Vermont ensemble, with woven chenille duvet cover and shams on embroidered, 200-count cotton sheets. In fact, Coldwater manages to show 16 beds, numerous rugs and assorted dec pillows without once resorting to a snowflake.

The Neiman Marcus holiday catalog may be light on home textiles — limiting its offerings to two bedding collections — but the textiles shown are premium: Anichini's TAJ Collection, with Italian-made, 600-count Egyptian cotton sheets; and Sferra's over-the-top Mellissimo 1,020-count Egyptian cotton sheets and pure cashmere blanket.