It's been a big year for New York City retail (and not just because Racked was born in March). This week, we'll relive the glorious highlights and gruesome lowlights, beginning today, with the Year in Lines. Other things we'll recap: The most notable closing, biggest openings, lamest openings and the most important retail stretches the city has to offer. So, let's begin.

Waiting to get their hands on Kate Moss for Topshop at Barneys

On line, in line—whichever expression you choose, New Yorkers have done a whole lot of waiting this year. Here, the top five massive and ridiculous queues:

5) Kate Moss for Topshop at Barneys: You waited out of love for Kate, love for Topshop, or love of eBaying. When the doors to Barneys opened, everyone rushed in to find...a pitiful display of overpriced tank tops, dresses and skinny jeans. Now that the hype's died down, prices on the clothing have been slashed at Barneys and Opening Ceremony. Guess that was a waste of time.

4) Phillip Lim at Uniqlo: Members of the press got first dibs on designer Phillip Lim's collection for Uniqlo. The public was left to fight over the few cute plaid dresses and slouchy shirts left on the racks. All was gone in a matter of hours.

The people love Sarah Jessica Parker

3) Bitten at Steve & Barry's: Few celeb clothing lines whipped the public into a frenzy like Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker's collection for cheap clothing chain Steve & Barry's. With the mantra, "Fashion isn't a luxury, it's a right," Parker hawked bland tanks, tees, dresses and jeans to thousands.

2) The iPhone launch: Dedicated Apple fans camped out for days in anticipation of the iPhone launch. We imagine they were chagrined to find that all the waiting wasn't really necessary, as the phone didn't sell out immediately. We waltzed into the Soho store a few hours after the gadget's debut and many were still available. Adding insult to injury, Apple dropped the price a few months after the gizmo hit stores. We still want one, though.

At the scene of his H&M launch, Roberto Cavalli watches the frenzied crowds from the safety of a staircase. Below him, shoppers descend into utter madness.

1) Roberto Cavalli for H&M: Punches were thrown. Hangers were used as weapons. The phrase "Bitch, I'm gonna cut you!" was uttered by a man who, we think, meant what he said. All par for the course at the absolutely insane Roberto Cavalli for H&M launch. We managed to escape the retailer's flagship store shaken but unbruised—many others were not so lucky. All for some cheap-ass-looking animal print outfits. Oh the humanity.

Honorable mention goes to crowd scenes at the Anya Hindmarch I'm Not a Plastic Bag launch, the debut of Amanda Bynes' Dear line at Steve & Barry's and the opening of the MePa Apple Store, which will get play later this week.

Filed under Shop: OMG OMG, Amanda Bynes, Anya Hindmarch, Apple, Barneys, Bitten, Dear, H&m, I'm Not A Plastic Bag, Iphone, Iphrenzy, Kate Moss, Opening Ceremony, Phillip Lim, Racked Recap, Roberto Cavalli, Sarah Jessica Parker, Steve & Barry's, Topshop, Uniqlo

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