Hinting, awfully trendy item (2-5)
I believe the answer is:
in-thing
'trendy item' is the definition.
(the 'in thing' is a fashionable thing)
'hinting awfully' is the wordplay.
'awfully' indicates an anagram.
'hinting' is an anagram of 'IN-THING'.
(Other definitions for in-thing that I've seen before include "Fashionable object (sl.)" , "Fashionable item or activity" , "Fad" .)