2010 Blue Ribbon Pieces Countdown, Part 5: Inspired by Maria Lani’s cunning chicanery of the twenties Parisian haut monde—whereby Lani caused quite the scandale and swindled the likes of Chagall, di Chirico, Léger, Matisse, Modigliani and Soutine—for Spring 2011 Galliano elevated these theatrical Art Nouveau platforms with the juxtaposing modernity of a sharp Bauhaus heel.

And so I tip my (Stephen Jones for John Galliano) hat…

2010 Blue Ribbon Pieces Countdown, Part 4: On this Christmas Eve 2010, I can think of no accessory more fitting to feature than Charlotte Olympia’s Christmas “Eve” shoe. A festive play off one of the most iconic shapes from her sublime Spring/Summer 2010 “All About Eve” collection, Eve seemingly took a sip of the spiked Christmassy Nog—only to be made boundlessly merrier in patent green with intertwining holly leaves all tied together with lush holiday red berries. 

These super limited-edition Christmas “Eve” shoes are exclusive to the Charlotte Olympia shop (56 Maddox Street, London W1S 1AY) and with only 12 pairs available—one for each day of the holidays, clever—it is high time to alert the elves and/or appropriate loved ones of this ultimate seasonal heel. And so, I tip my (Santa) hat to the brilliant, talented and fetching Charlotte Dellal, yet again…

2010 Blue Ribbon Pieces Countdown, Part 3: While I have already thoroughly fawned over Hannah MacGibbon’s soon-to-be must-have Spring 2011 Chloé ballet flats, I would be remiss to wind up 2010 without broaching the exquisitely constructed handbags churned out in tandem with that off-duty ballerina inspired collection. The season’s bow motif extends to this thoughtfully conceived purse—at once sturdy, refined and playful—its perfection lies in the meticulous details: an ideal size, a smart chain, distinctive coloration, elegant rivets and a delightful bow.

This bag is no doubt wait list material. And so, I tip my hat to Hannah… again.[above] Chloé Spring 2011 bows, in runway form

2010 Blue Ribbon Pieces Countdown, Part 2: From 1997-1998, I embarked upon an altogether awkward phase during my desperate attempt to grow out my poker-straight bangs. It was throughout this unwieldy stint that I took many a’ dodgeball/softball/soccer ball point-blank to the face owing to being unable to properly see just about anything courtesy of my too-long fringe encumbering my already hopeless faculty of sight.

My first go at alleviating the whole ‘hampered-vision situation’ was by taking a cue from Alex Mack and reverse-tucking my bangs into a backwards varsity cap, daily. Thankfully my friends had the good sense to make fun of me whenever I sported said cap… and needless to say I swiftly abandoned the Mack Hat Plan of Fringe-Attack.

I distinctly recall receiving two ‘98 Chanukah presents in particular: a selection of good ol’ Goodie barrettes from CVS and an exquisite hand-carved wooden hair clip from Vermont—the latter of which I subsequently lost just a week later while on a field trip to The Franklin Institute. Devastating.

Fast-forward a decade and change: Barrettes—especially any of the wooden sort—have indubitably been quite the sentimental fixtures throughout my life. Rodarte’s sixties-style pyrite-sprayed wooden and celery-green plastic hair pieces [above]—artisan-crafted by Kate and Laura Mulleavy themselves to match the heels of Nicholas Kirkwood’s sky-high collaboration Spring 2011 runway wedges—were inspired by California Redwood trees and festooned with ornate branches, butterflies and beetles. 

And they are actually going into production. And frankly, well, I’m pining (har har har) for them. And so, I tip my (Alex Mack) hat…

2010 Blue Ribbon Countdown, Part 1: I have already sung my deepest praises for the practical — well, comparably speaking — Spring 2011 Prada WEBO (wedge-espadrille-brogue-oxford hybrid), but Miuccia’s swirly-twirly gumdrop of a lace-up wedge is the stuff of North Poleon legend. And so, I tip my (elf) hat…

“I tip my hat to…” — a review of the year’s highlights in a daily homage — 12/20/10 through 01/01/11 (coming soon).

2010, three minutes ago – in my pajamas (aka in the softest old oversized polo “borrowed” several years ago from my mom) in Manhattan, NY; attempting to make six magazine deadlines on time, plan for a taping, finalize a photoshoot…

2010 – at Jane Leslie & Co. in Kingston, PA; cuddling with my mom’s puppy Oliver