One apparel notion that has been selling, retail executives said, is the new Ralph Lauren Polo Bear clothing. Instead of his famous polo pony, Lauren has been putting the image of a cuddly bear onto things like T-shirts and dress shirts.

Bears can also be found screened onto the back of a jean jacket, handknit on the front of a sweater or embroidered as a jacquard down the front of a tie. There are also stuffed teddy bears, at $450. The Polo/Ralph Lauren store at 72d Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan sold out its stock of 200 bears over the weekend.