The guessing game starts in earnest each fall and reaches a fever pitch as the new year settles in. Who will be on the Houston Chronicle Best Dressed list?

It's Houston's version of the fashion Oscars. And this year marks the 28th go-round for socialites who have either jumped for joy or considered slitting their wrists at the outcome.

These women take Best Dressed honors very seriously, believe me. Having been involved in the process for 18 years, I've seen it all. There are those who launch campaigns each fall, courting past honorees who have the power to submit nominations. There are contenders who try to schmooze, if not outright bribe, would-be judges. There are those who, if they fail to make the list, schedule trips on the dates of the announcement party and the Best Dressed luncheon to avoid what they perceive as personal embarrassment.

And, of course, the whole thing is supposed to be top secret. But, each year, at least a few of the birdies chirp. So it's never a complete surprise—as was the case this month when anyone with an ear to the ground could have picked up the names of five honorees without much effort.

Likewise, the rumors of who's in and who's out fly. Sometimes in the wrong direction. There are those not-so-infrequent and truly painful incidences in which a woeful fashion maven, who did not make the list, receives congratulatory flowers from well-meaning friends who thought otherwise. Ouch.

The suspense was over Tuesday night when the 2010 honorees were announced at a cocktail reception in the couture salon of Neiman Marcus. Congratulations to loyal March of Dimes supporter Danielle Ellis and to Eileen Lawal and Phoebe Tudor, who each rise to Hall of Fame glory, this having been their third round in the ranks of racehorse fashionistas. All three are long-time veterans of the Best Dressed ranks, proving that one should never be dismayed by a year or two on the sidelines.

Familiar with the spotlight that shines so brightly each year on the catwalk at the Westin Galleria Hotel are second-time Best Dressed honorees Courtney Fertitta and Merele Yarborough.

Newcomers to the heady world of high-fashion elite are Greggory Burk, Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein, Courtney Hopson, Katherine Le and Susan Plank.

Don't think that this honor is based strictly on the best closets in town. You cannot work your way onto this list without serious community involvement. That means chairing, giving and working in the trenches for the city's non-profits. If you want to be included in these ranks, community service should be job one.

Cheers and applause welcomed the expected and the unexpected honorees as they were announced by Houston Chronicle president and publisher Jack Sweeney. As is tradition, they were presented colorful nosegays and escorted to the center of attention by Neiman's general manager and party host Bob Devlin. The cameras flashed in a paparazzi-like blitzkrieg.

Also on Tuesday night's program were the mother-daughter duo of Sheridan Williams and Kristen Nix, both Best Dressed honorees last year, who chair the March 31 Houston Chronicle Best Dressed Luncheon and Neiman Marcus Fashion Presentation benefiting March of Dimes. That event, headlining Oscar de la Renta, takes place at the Westin Galleria Hotel. And, yes, you can still get tickets by contacting March of Dimes.