Submitted by Chris M, horologist.

Not just a watch. Not just a video game console. It’s both! That’s right, BOTH! Because when you combine the power of knowing what time it is with the power of Mario jumping down a tube…You become an unstoppable force. Or at least that’s what I imagine the promotional copy for the Nintendo Game Watch sounded like.

Submitted by Melissa B, rhinestone cowgirl.

I wore them with my baggy t-shirts in the early-mid ’90s, and I thought they were so cool.

Cool, indeed. Like stylish, bejeweled “No Smoking” signs! I suppose they look a little less like that when worn. Still, I’m a sucker for rhinestones! Ah, the fashion of the ’90s.

What better way to celebrate the very last post of 2009 at Once Upon a Win than by sharing some of the best (or is it worst?) holiday sweaters submitted by you, our faithful readers? Below you’ll find a small selection of hideous holiday sweaters sent to us over the last week. Thank you very much to all of you who sent in pictures of your colorful, festive, and sometimes noisy holiday wardrobes!

The following nostalgic beauty was sent in by Aeris Dienes, who says:

This is a picture of my mother’s favorite Christmas sweater. It is the most hideous she owns. She has had this sweater for about thirty years, making it circa 1980 or so. She still wears this beautiful article of clothing (sometimes to black tie Christmas parties), but she also wore it to my school functions when I was in my delicate teenage years. Note: The sweater has multiple bells, and jingles quite loudly.

Once Upon a Win says:

We love that this is a truly nostalgic sweater, one with origins in the 1980s. We’re also impressed that the sweater is still being worn. Lastly, we think the fact that it jingles loudly is just pure WIN!

Alicia Hoge sent in this arresting sweater-slash-sculpture:

Once Upon a Win says:

Where to begin with this one? There’s just…so much of it. It’s like a Christmas sweater and a stuffed animal stitched into one enormous fashion entity. We just wish we could someone attempting to wear it.

Jill Petersen sent us this stunning Hanukkah sweater:

Once Upon a Win says:

We like that this sweater stands out from the pack. Usually, it’s all about reindeer and jingle bells and Santa Clauses. But this sweater takes what is great about Christmas sweaters and puts a Jewish spin on it. Who knows, maybe kitschy Hanukkah sweaters will become the next big trend!

Thanks again to all of those who submitted! We wish you all a very merry holiday season and a truly WIN New Year!

Submitted by Kimberly T, Project Runway finalist (season 3):

Fashion Plates were the Project Runway of the late 70s/80s. You would choose different fashion ideas from raised plates, place a piece of paper over it, and then rub with a special holder that held a piece of black crayon. You could then color your designs with the pencils included with the kit. There were endless combinations since the most plates were double-sided, and some plates had a pattern you could use to add texture. They also sold additional plates to use with the original kit (these plates were blue), and there were different versions, including updated contemporary fashions and even a New Kids on the Block version! I am not embarassed to say that I am in my 30s and still use my Fashion Plates. I break them out with my girls and give my inner fashionista a chance to shine!

Submitted by Laura E, cobbler.

No matter what generation you’re of, these were your kindergarten first-day-of-school shoes.