{ top10 / o'nine }

i recently mentioned that my family loves tradition ~ but our 'traditions' aren't terribly 'traditional.' one of our favorite things to do is come up with nonsense words/sayings and integrate them into our shared daily lives.

last year, my brother painstakingly put together an illustrated dictionary of our familial inside-slang, called 'the dictionary of dude' {note: we call our patriarch 'dude' instead of dad}. anyway.... one of my favorites from among the family vernacular is 'TOP10,' which is officially defined as follows:

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TOP10 -adjective [top-ten]: 1. particularly noteworthy 2. indicating the great value of an artistic work (rarely related to or synonymous with any actual list, either real or imagined) EX: "did i like it? dude, it was top10."

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we use this phrase a lot ~ as in: 'wow, those enchiladas mom made tonight were totally TOP10.' or, 'OMG, that skirt is so TOP10; you have to buy it!'

although, by definition, 'TOP10' rarely bears any relation to real numbers, i thought that ~ as we come to the conclusion of my first full year of costume blogging ~ it would be fun to actually outline TEN of my favorite 2009 costumerlies {click any pic to jump to its original post}:

bette davis eyes {left}: eleven months later, i still love the combination of this balenciaga dress + self-made fur chubbie / the last glamourai {right}: this pic represents how i felt this year ~ like i finally became a 'real' new yorker (it took a few)

i love short shirts {left}: my preferred proportions of 2009 ~ the crop top + pouf skirt / cyberpunk gypsy {right}: this top is so special that i only wear it about once every year ~ but it's easily one of my most TOP10 pieces!

bands of bling {left} & on a jet plane {right}: this was THE year of the pouf-pleated harem pant. thus, they deserve a double mention.

among my favorite designs of 2009: twinkle toes {left} & glamourwraps {right}

my top2 of the top10 head-to-toe looks: hair, bare, and every wear {left} & two tone / new tone {right}

finally, because i have a hard time playing favorites in my own wardrobe {and because the definition of 'TOP10' is so fluid}, honorable mentions belong here, here, here, here... and HERE

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and that, mes sœurs, is my style in 2009! big thanks to those readers who have been following long enough to remember them all!

which was your favorite? did i leave anything out that you really loved? have you any words of wisdom for the new year?