By CLAIR WINDSOR and LINDSAY E. SAMMON

After six months of intense competition and five elimination challenges, the stage was set for a dramatic FN Shoe Star finale that pitted two talents against each other.

The two remaining contestants, Melanie Maggio and Ryan Baker, were charged with convincing retail impresario Jeffrey Kalinsky they could design a small collection that would impress even the most discriminating buyers. The task: sketch six shoes and bring one of them to life in sample form. What's more, the line had to offer a fresh perspective while staying true to each designer's viewpoint.

In the final Shoe Star showdown, Maggio's high-fashion offering competed against streetwear from sneaker-loving Baker.

"Always give customers what you want them to have and not what you think they want," advised Kalinsky, who joined judges Michael Atmore from FN, Fred Allard of Nine West and FIT's Ellen Goldstein. "The customers need to be wowed more than anyone because they're the ones parting with the cash."

Each tried to do just that, but in very different ways. Maggio's six-style collection — which included a stiletto, a sneaker and a bootie — was inspired by geometry and contemporary art. Baker, meanwhile, turned to New York's upstate rural areas for his all-sneaker men's offering.

"Ryan really went back to his [design] roots with this collection," said Goldstein, referring to a sneaker line Baker designed in the competition's early rounds. "He took a comfortable, straight path with this one."

But it wasn't enough to top Maggio's collection, which even included a complete look-book.

"There aren't really new people and new ideas out there right now," said Kalinsky, " but I'm very impressed with [Melanie]. I would have bought four of her six styles."

Allard agreed, saying that Maggio's attention to detail and consistency throughout the competition is what enabled her to clinch a win.

Maggio was officially awarded her title and received the Swarovski-studded award at the FFANY industry party held in New York last Tuesday (see Faces and Insider on pages 6 and 7 for more), while second- and third-place finishers Baker and Cordero received $1,500 and $500 checks, respectively.

"I've been dreaming of working in the accessories industry since I was 12 years old," Maggio told FN at the event. "I'm really excited to join this industry and work for a great design team like Nine West."

The 2008 FN Shoe Star: