Must-have. . . DOG

Lust for canine crossbreeds has reached fever pitch this year, as dog lovers have discovered the novel joys of the labradoodle (a labrador/poodlecross); the dorgi (a dachshund/corgi-cross); and the goldmation (a golden retriever/alsationcross). One crossbreed, though, has created more hype than all the others: a pug/beagle cross called the puggle. Sylvester Stallone has one, Uma Thurman has one, and Graham Norton has one (although why this should be a reason for their popularity is anyone's guess). More importantly, increasing numbers of Irish doglovers want one. Any puggle puppy on the market is bought for anywhere up to 3,000 . . . twice the price of a pedigree pug pup.

Must-have. . . NIBBLE

The olive and kettle chip has had its day. Cult edible of de jour, tapping into the global demand for Japanese cuisine and as served up by the chicest of hotels and the most clued in of hosts are wasabi nuts. These peanuts (but they can also be macadamias or almonds) are coated in a thin, crispy coating, slightly sweet tasting and flavoured with the Japanese horseradish, wasabi. There's a fine line between pleasure and pain here: Some are slightly spicy; others will leave your eyes watering and nose dripping. High fat, high carb, high protein, they're not for the timid and therein lies their appeal. Get them at www. funkypepper. co. uk.

Must-have. . . BAG

Vilified as "Frankenstein's handbag" and with a price tag of �23,000, the 484, or Tribute Patchwork, isn't a bargain. But in terms of hype, Louis Vuitton's new bag has been a triumph. Stitched together from samples of 15 denim and leather bags from the company's spring/summer collection, this limited-edition was available by appointment only. The design was apparently conceived in collaboration with Louis Vuitton's anti-counterfeit department.

Monstrous as it is, perhaps the Tribute Patchwork signals the zenith of the it-bag phenomenon, which began in earnest in the late 1990s when Fendi's squashy, envelope-shaped Baguette spawned waiting-lists worldwide. It-bags have evolved since, and the status conferred operates in various ways. There's the smug self-satisfaction that comes from carrying a classic handbag (a quilted Chanel 55.5, say), while for the trend-conscious, twice-yearly purchases of a seasonal bag design costing at least 850 and laden with baubles or logos is a must.

Must-have. . . TECH

The Nintendo Wii ( 269.99) was launched last December . . . and if you haven't got one yet, then you're not alone. Not only did the Wii sell out immediately, it's continuing to fly out of shops, leaving would-be owners gnashing their teeth. Its popularity is down to three things: it looks cute, with its simple lines and hotter-than-hot white casing; it's super cheap (for a games machine) and it appeals to those who've never thumbed a joystick in their lives. Unlike its predecessors, the Wii eschews a chunky controller in favour of a "Wiimote" . . . a slender, tactile, motion-sensitive box . . .for players to wave with abandon while playing games that look set to be future classics. If you do manage to wangle a Wii, you'll be in good company . . . 6,030,000 people worldwide have bought Nintendo's console already.

Phones are the other key gadgets for 2007. To its fans, the LG KE850 Prada phone (around 600 without contract) isn't just a hi-tech mobile, it's a fashion accessory par excellence. Prada-designed, its style credentials are rock solid and so are its technical capabilities. Controlled by a touch screen and with tri-band function so you will get coverage in the US, the Prada phone is packed with software.

This is all very impressive, but the title of 2007's must-have handset goes to Apple's iPhone, even though it won't appear in shops for several months. Described by its maker as being "five years ahead of the competition", the iPhone has it all . . . the brand, the technology and the looks. It makes its debut in America this summer (at around $499) and will appear in Europe later in the year.

Must-have. . . CAR

Hot on the heels of the Mini (the original rehashed Mini Cooper, launched in 2000) and the Mini Mk II, (the rehashed, rehashed Mini Cooper, launched earlier this year) comes the Fiat Nuova 500 . . . a remake of the 1957 classic Fiat Cinquecento. Small, economical town cars are very now, and just as the remade Mini became the vehicle of choice for media types and other urban fly-by-nights, it is no surprise that the Fiat 500 is already capturing our miniature-loving hearts.

Sadly, not due in Ireland until 2008, there is much excitement about its arrival and naturally, a waiting list. For those dedicated followers of automotive fashion, being on the waiting list is as much of a status indicator as getting the keys to the actual car.

Must-have. . . HOT TICKETS

Thinking about heading to Oxegen/Electric Picnic/Justin Timberlake this summer? Whatever your musical bag, you should be so lucky. Whether it's dance, country, rock, indie or electronica, gig going is at an all time high and the chances of you picking up a listing guide and randomly picking a concert to attend is, frankly, laughable. Oxegen sold out in a matter of hours, and while Electric Picnic tickets go on sale tomorrow, all the boutique accommodation . . . pod pads and tepees . . . has already sold out. Other red-hot numbers include George Michael on 7 June (extra date added due to popular demand); the Rolling Stones in Slane (on sale this Friday and tickets a whopping 131.50); the Beach Party in Portrush on the June bank holiday weekend. . . the list goes on. To really do things in style, you should also possess an all-singing, all-dancing, access-allareas VIP pass, but getting your hands on one of those is an entirely different story.

Must-have. . . TOP TABLES

Here's a theory. If you want to run a restaurant which is booked out every night, with a waiting list, all you have to do is open somewhere new.

Granted, your tenure at the top of the restaurant chain might only last two weeks, by which time the fashion pack will have moved onto culinary pastures new and the critics had their say, but the fact remains: Irish diners love to be first at the latest hip eatery in town. Just try getting a weekend table at two of the latest additions to the Dublin restaurant scene, either Saba on Clarendon St, Dublin 2 or the Winding Stair on Ormond Quay. Currently causing much excitement is the reopening of Lock's in Portobello, Dublin 2, which is now under the management of Kelvin Rynhart (ex Bang Cafe) and Teresa Carr (ex Chapter One) with Troy Maguire (left, formerly of L'Gueleton) in the kitchen. Also, watch out for a new Yamamori in what was formerly Condotti, beside the Ha'penny Bridge and, as if one needed anymore proof that dining on this side of the Liffey is really on the up, Cafe Bar Deli is set to open up in what used to be GUBU on Capel Street.

Must-have. . . CELEB BEAUTY

Estee Lauder was the slightly conservative grande dame of the department-store beauty hall until the former Gucci designer Tom Ford broke new ground for the brand in 2005, when he turned his attentions away from fashion to eye shadow. His aim was to "be the first true luxury brand of the 21st century", signalling he was acutely aware of his star power and would be aiming for the upper price brackets.

The tactic appears to be paying off. Ford, famous for his seemingly post-coital ad campaigns for Gucci and own matinee idol looks, signed up for four makeup ranges. His free-standing brand launched in December.

It seems unlikely that Estee Lauder would have dared to market limited-edition golden "minaudieres" (rigid handbags) containing just a lipstick and a powder puff for 600 without his appeal.

Ford repeated the trick when he launched a perfume called Black Orchid. Sold only in Brown Thomas, the fragrance is already a bestseller.

Must-have. . . FASHION

Karl Lagerfeld, Lily Allen, Viktor & Rolf and Madonna: they've all done it for the kids. That is, clubbed together with a mass-market retailer to produce budget versions of the expensive threads with which they're usually associated. As H&M first discovered in 2004 with its milestone Lagerfeld tie-in, a big name and a small price guarantees hysterical publicity and queues around the block.

Two days after the global launch of the McCartney and Viktor & Rolf lines, H&M had sold half of all its stock, with the latter's �320 wedding dress, rather bizarrely, the biggest draw. In fact, says a company source, while Lagerfeld and McCartney (2005) generated a real sense of expectation among consumers, "by the time it came to Viktor & Rolf last year, customers didn't know what they were queuing for". They simply knew that a bargain was to be had.

Formerly unrivalled on the high street, Topshop had to stand by and watch as H&M profited from women scooping up armfuls of its designer-approved economy fashion. Topshop moved to rectify the situation last September when it emerged Kate Moss would be "collaborating" on a collection for Philip Green's fast-fashion store. "Our customers identify with her, " said the retail mogul, demonstrating some hard-won insight into the teen psyche.

As the hype moves into its sixth month . . . the first items don't even go on sale until 1 May . . .the model's satin flares and poppyprint dresses look set to be the most successful celebrity tie-ins of the decade. The question of how much of the collection was actually designed by Moss is, obviously, irrelevant.

Must-have. . . BOOK

If you want to be the only person on the planet on 21 July not comparing page numbers, weeping buckets and finding out who gets offed in the most heartbreakingly public death scene since Princess Diana, then don't buy the new Harry Potter. If you do want to have any part in the national conversation for the summer, pre-order a copy now.

Author JK Rowling received a �3,000 advance for the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, in 1997. Ten years later, she is richer than the Queen. Indeed, such is the power of Potter, on the weekends the last two novels were launched, the number of children requiring emergency hospital treatment almost halved.

Waterstone's is already gearing up for the midnight launch of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and expects record queues. Rowling says two characters will die in the final book, so it will be "look-away-now, fingers-in-theears". And don't think adults are exempt: 60% of readers are teenage or older.

Must-have. . . BIKE

Clive Sinclair's A-Bike ( 220) is already one of this year's bestsellers. Despite its designer's mixed credentials (Clive's C5 "car" was an '80s disaster story), this foldaway bike is one of the hottest, not to mention greenest, ways to get around town. So what makes it so special? It weighs just 5.5kg and folds down to 67x30x16cm (26x12x6ins) . . . small enough to fit inside a rucksack for easy commuting. And while it may be small, it's hard to ignore. Tiny wheels and a telescopic structure enable the A-Bike to fold away to only 25% of its assembled size, but it rides like a normal bike. And its unique looks make it an attention grabber on the streets. The designers set out to change the way people see two-wheeled transport, and it's certainly achieved that.