{ top ten / twenty ten }

last year around this time, i did a recap of my ten favorite costumes of 2009. it was really fun to look back on my first full year of blogging, and i've been excited to do it again this year!

while working on this post, it was interesting to note evolutions in both my personal style AND in my blogging style. besides my hair color, a lot has changed in the past year. in a way, i feel like i've come into my own, and it's been incredibly creatively and professionally rewarding. i can't wait to see what 2011 brings ~ i already have some life-altering projects in the pipeline, and quite simply could not be more excited about the future. so, this peek into the past will be fairly brief:

{ above left: seduced by sparkle // above right: fresh perspective }

{ above left: the lightness // above right: fethers falling }

{ above left: taffeta and tulle // above right: condiment colors }

{ above left: of flocks & feathered frocks // above right: citizen/bazaar }

{ above left: a few favorite things // above right: a vision softly creeping }

have you been reading long enough to remember them all? if so, thank you! if not, thank you too; i'm glad you're here now!! did you have a favorite look ~ either listed above or left out? let me know in the comments below.
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of course, the last year has been about a lot more than just outfits. i welcomed a new love into my life, in the form of one very cuddly papillon puppy:

i also had the immense honor of designing my own handbag for coach (which sold out in just a few short days!)...

...as well as appearing in an ad campaign for the same brand, plus similar projects for forever21 and 12by12:

i poured blood, sweat and tears into the launch of an eponymous jewelry emporium:

i moved into (and decadently decorated) a new apartment, joined (and wholeheartedly embraced) facebook, and teamed up to collaborate with really fabulous brands including ralph lauren, erin fetherston, josie natori and primary|new york (whose next collection i'm already consulting on!). all told, 2010 was really a banner year!! 2011, bring on your best.

{ 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?