You know it's Art Basel when...

You see a girl casually traipsing around in a dress and purse made entirely of white clothespins. The girl is Gisela Cerra and her husband, artist Gerry Stecca, is known for his clothespin art. A concept that takes A. Lot. Of. Patience. He hand drills, paints and connects each one by wire. Over and over again. It's his way, he says, of bringing attention to the environment and its a "nostalgic reminder of simpler times." Who knew the little ole clothespin could be seen in an entirely new light and used so creatively? Gerry's work can be seen during Art Basel and beyond at the Bakehouse Art Complex in Miami. http://www.gerrystecca.com/

Mayu

What’s glam now? Neckwear like Mayu’s ruffled scarves. Working in Peru as a Peace Corps Volunteer, Kate Robertson fell in love with the local artisans and their hand-knitting skills. The Chicago native decided to start Mayu because she wanted to support the artisans as her time with the Peace Corps ended. They knit luxurious accessories made with high-quality pure alpaca fiber.

Robertson has spent years forming not only a business relationship but also friendships with the artisans and says they’ve been taught valuable business skills and earn fair wages, while still being able to take care of their children. “They’ve given us a stronger awareness of struggles women have in developing countries to provide for their families. They feed our passion to keep Mayu growing.” Mayu sells a bunch of products, including the ruffle scarf and an alpaca throw. Robertson says, “once you wear a Mayu product, you will not want to take it of!” Find out for yourself, http://www.shopmayu.com/

Kanye West: Not Glam

Kanye West started it. His casually draped scarf arond the neck took off like wildfire and now we can't get rid of it. Oh Vey. Every man (!), woman and tween sports the look which we now have to pronounce is so over, so not glam. If we see one more person with the, oh so lightly draped, ethnically correct, scarf draped around their neck, we will roll our eyes and try to squash every desire to rip it off and scream, "Find your own style, damn it!" Breathe. We do think it is dying it's own natural death and making room for way more creative offerings. See our next post to discover what we're talking about. And Kanye, after the fiasco of the MTV Video Music Awards, we hope you will scurry away and think about ALL the choices you make. Thanks.

Vat, Chen, Thai

We love Thailand. Exotic, spiritual, colorful and profound, it is a country of mystery and discovery. That’s why when we saw 360 Jewels it took us back to the contradiction of chaos and calm that embodies Bangkok. Designers May Vat and Belle Chen's jewelry line captures the essence of Thailand and brings exoticism home. Their pieces will spark conversation and curiosity. Vat, who was raised in the U.S. but whose parents are from Thailand went there for the first time several years ago and found that, once there, she couldn’t pull herself away. She stayed for several years. The seduction: Clear blue skies; flavorful food and fruits; the emerald colored sea; green mountains; ancient architecture and precious gemstones. Chen, Chinese by descent, was actually born and raised in Thailand. Her passion for jewelry was sparked when she visited a crystal factory in her mom’s hometown, Salzburg, Austria. She began to collect jewelry and then making it out of threads, beads and, yes, crystals.

In May 1999, Belle Chen and May Vat became friends, introduced by a mutual friend (still don’t believe in destiny?). They soon both quit their jobs to follow their passion. Today, Vat sketches the jewelry designs while Chen searches for precious stones in gemstone factories and mines in Thailand. Their pieces are made from 18K gold and up and 925 sterling silver with natural stones. Each design takes 3-5 months from initial design to production. The signature collection is priced from $400-$800. Buy here, http://www.360jewels.com/

Ed Hardy-Not Glam

Love Kills Slowly and so apparently does over-exposure. We think too much success has killed the Ed Hardy cool factor. If we see one more Ed Hardy anything, we'll scream. A brand born on the rise and acceptance of tattoo and graffiti culture, Ed Hardy was the epitome of modern-day counter-culture attitude, the purchase of a Ed Hardy t-shirt, sneakers, sunglasses or other product was your monetary entry into what was once a cutting-edge club. But too much of a good thing is never actually good. When disgraced husband and father Jon Gosselin becomes the poster child for Ed Hardy trendiness (he not only wears the t-shirts every single day apprently, we hear he may also be entering into some sort of partnership with the company) then it's probably time to put your own products out to pasture. Not to mention every other person you pass on the street has some type of Ed Hardy clothing or accessory on. Great for the company's bottom line but doesn't say much about your own unique personal style. So we say, enough of Ed Hardy, they're officially off the glam list.

Zoe on Zoe

Rachel Zoe is a fashionista's wet dream come to life. Deliriously glamorous, stylish and trendy, we love her ability to meticulously edit every single piece of clothing and accessory on her body. Yeah, yeah, we like what she does for celebrities too but understand, when Rachel styles celebrities she's basically playing with Barbie dolls, getting to dress them up any way she wants: Her style not necessarily theirs. But when Rachel decks herself out, oooh, la, la. One's heart beats a little faster at all the delicious colors, textures and shapes she pulls together and arranges like a perfect symphonic performance. Her natural ability to coordinate and craft each outfit is born of a true artist aesthetic. She may be obsessive, completely self-absorbed, and lives in a one-dimensional world but her passion and talent are also positively orgasmic in their consistent perfection. Whatever it is, she's got it! http://www.rachelzoe.com/

Net-a-Porter

Unapologetic luxury and glamour. Even in a recession, Net-a-porter's website doesn't have even one sale sign or click-thru button, so bargain hunters beware. This is the online shopping destination for women who aren't afraid to indulge, and who haven't missed a beat even when real estate and stock prices are falling all around them. Net-a-Porter says they "offer the style-savvy customer exactly what she wants - unprecedented access to the hottest looks of the season from international cutting edge labels." And they're not even remotely kidding. See the latest looks from Alexander McQueen, Proenza Schouler, Philip Lim, Balmain and Burberrry (among dozens of others) sometimes before they hit major retailers. For women who are beyond Bluefly, and have graduated from eLuxury, Net-a-Porter is a heavenly trifecta of glamour, luxury and style on the web, bar none. Happy Shopping.... http://www.netaporter.com/

Prison Dining in Tuscany

As your waiter - who is serving a life sentence for killing his wife - is pouring your wine, the chef at Italy's Fortezza Medicea prison is lovingly preparing your broccoli rabe and pasta dish in the kitchen. His sentence is twenty years for armed robbery. That's exactly the scenario that's playing out at Fortezza Medicea in Volterra, near Pisa, Italy where diners are subjecting themselves to strict security checks and patiently waiting - sometimes for weeks - to get a reservation to the prison's well-reviewed restaurant. The staff of 20 mafiosi, murderers and bank robbers serving life - or very long - sentences are monitored by armed prison guards and all diners are cleared by Italy's Department of Justice. Each meal costs approximately 25 Euros including a glass of wine. A bargain that has law-abiding citizens willing to brave the 60-foot-high fortified walls, watch towers, searchlights and security cameras of the 500-year-old prison for what some are saying is a delicious meal. And why don't you catch a show after dinner. The prison is also known for its well-regarded theater company, Compagnia della Fortezza, with productions staged by 50 prisoner actors.

Kelly Girl

Kelly Wearstler Kelly Wearstler's style is dauntingly beautiful and whimsically unexpected. This fearless designer mixes shapes, colors, textures and styles that continually emit phrases like, "Oh no, she didn't!" but yet it always works. Wearstler's style is on stage in her 2004 book, Modern Glamour, a great how-to for anyone who wants to know how to emulate a room or their entire home in her signature looks and designs. In Modern Glamour, she reveals her decorating secrets and dramatic approach to design. Her most instructional tip: Think of your room in terms of shapes and forms, graphics, texture and color, masculine vs. feminine, and unusual details rather than just furniture and color. She also explains the need for "icebreakers" in a room. Wearstler is one of Hollywood's most talked about interior designers, and has led her Los Angeles–based interior design firm, kwid (Kelly Wearstler Interior Design), to national prominence with an array of noted residential and commercial projects. Hubby Brad Korzen also owns several hotel properties that Wearstler has stamped with her immediately recognizable style. And check out the KW store within Bergdorf Goodman the next time you're in New York. http://www.kellywearstler.com/

The Belle of the Malls

Bal Harbour Shops Rocks Fun, fab, glamorous. Compressing almost every luxury brand in the world within a few thousand square feet of space, Bal Harbour Shops, the number one mall in the country in terms of profit per square foot according to Women's Wear Daily, is an afternoon's escape from everyday life whether you have big bucks or not. From Neiman Marcus to Agent Provocateur; from Tory Burch to Brooks Brothers; from De Beers to Harry Winston, Bal Harbour Shops is the playground for Miami's wealthy and wannabes. Russian and Cuban housewives can be seen lunching during the week at the Shops' see and must be seen restaurant, Carpaccio and Carpaccio as well as the Miami outpost of New York hotspot, La Golue are packed on weekends with men and women who drop off their Bentleys, Rolls, Maseratis and Maybachs with the valet and dawdle for awhile, pretending not to have a care in the world. Bal Harbour Shops is for the glamourista who wants to shop, eat or daydream in the midst of the epitome of luxury. http://www.balharbourshops.com/

Glamour Junkies, Holla!

Glamour: Making it Modern. Here's a book after my own heart. It's everything that I've tried to tell you about what Glamour is. Flip through it at the bookstore or bring it home. Just having it on your coffee table may glam up your abode. From the Amazon.com review: Glamour. It's hard to define yet most know it when they see it. Today, glamour may still invoke the sophistication and refinement of the golden years of Hollywood art deco, but country, industrial and even nature glamour have joined the more traditional modes. The 21st century has brought glamour and her sisters, decoration and ornamentation back into home design news. Today's most cutting-edge homes embrace design of every kind from every corner of the globe. It's a marriage of disparate styles that finds no contradiction. Glamour is in vogue in homes that are castles (literally) and in one-bedroom rentals at the fringes of downtowns. Read more or order it at http://www.amazon.com/

Sensuous Glamour

The Tides Resort Unexpected, earthy, glamorous. I'm warning you now... you're going to see a lot of hotel posts here (but I won't overwhelm you) because I looove hotels. I find them - the right ones - crisp, sexy, efficient (when I want something, I get it almost immediately) and of course, anonymous. The right hotel will make you feel so good, you won't care about being a vigilant tourist. Your hotel becomes your destination. Miami Beach's Tides Resort makes me feel exactly like that. Just a block away from my condo, the Tides interior and exterior spaces were expertly designed by interior decorator, Kelly Wearstler who used natural materials and organic textures such as wire-brushed bleached wood, rope and shell and faux animal-hide accent rugs as well as nautical and tropical motifs all in a palette of pinks, beiges and sand tones. Together, the hotel's colors and materials create a masterful blend between the opulence of Wearstler’s interiors and the sea, sand and palm trees of the adjacent beachfront. The Tides is a quick escape whenever I need to decompress and relax. I think you'll love it too... http://www.tidesresort.com/

Aural Aphrodisiac

Hotel Costes CDs Seductive, sensuous, glamorous. Want to instantly transport yourself to Europe? Imagine for one night that you're in Ibiza, Nice or Cannes? Then the Hotel Costes CD series is your ticket to a one-night glamorous getaway. The music is sosphisticated and erotic with beats and chords that you can literally feel thumping their way through your body. You'll want to kiss and be kissed, writhe around your bed or dance your ass off when you hear every sensuous, sexy cut on their CDs. There is a series of about 11 Hotel Costes CDs that includes a Best Of. Buy one now if you're in the mood for an instant aural aphrodisiac. And who isn't? http://www.amazon.com/

Decompressed Sexy

The Standard Hotel Serene, calm, glamorous. Have you ever crossed the street or drove into a new neighborhood or stepped into a friend's home or a store and feel the air around you shift? All of a sudden you feel calm, peaceful or happy, just SWITCH, everything changes. Well, that's how I feel as soon as I walk into the lobby of Miami Beach's Standard hotel. From the frenetic pace of Miami's South Beach into the decompressed sexiness of the South of France. Sitting on a wide swath of Biscayne Bay, the hotel features the usual full-service spa, an above average restaurant and activities like bingo, movie nights and Love Life Sundays. They even boast an Artist-in-Residency program. But it is the Standard's wholeness that you'll remember. You'll want to be held in its soothing embrace forever... www.standardhotels.com/miami

Tribal Lust

Christian Dior Tribal Icon Shoes Courageous, amusing, glamorous. Have you ever seen shoes like this? Look at that heel! The first time I saw these tribal icon heels, and come to think of it, everytime afterwards, I swear I felt queasy in my stomach. Not in a bad way but because I lusted for them so much. You ever wanted a guy or girl so much you felt a little nauseous? That's how I feel. Raw, unadulterated lust. They cost $1,500 per pair so, unfortunately, I won't be getting them any time soon (you know, with the recession and all) but trust me, if they go on sale anytime soon I'm breaking down the doors of Christian Dior here in Miami to buy a pair. Yuuuummmmyyyy. http://www.christiandior.com/

Prime Celeb Watching

Prime 112 Celebrity-studded, great food, glamorous. Okay, this is just on a recent Saturday night. I sat down to a delicious steak dinner surrounded by Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees, Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat and renown artist Peter Max. Miami's Prime 112 is the center of celebrity in Miami. J-Lo or Madonna just finished a concert at the American Airlines arena? Then come here to see them up close. Brad Pitt or George Clooney in town to shoot a movie? This is where you'll find them having dinner. Jay-Z, Giselle Bundchen, Kim Kardashian, the list goes on and on. Pair hobnobbing with celebs with consistently great steak and seafood and to-die-for service; Prime 112 is the quintessence of the Glamour Quotient. http://www.prime112.com/

Rooms to die for

The Four Seasons Hotels Sensuous, rich, glamorous. I loooove the Four Seasons Hotels. Any one of them, anywhere, anytime. The Four Seasons set the standard for the four, five (even six!) star hotels and resorts that have popped up in almost every backwater in the world. But this is one of the originals. High standards, impeccable service, rooms to die for. Pay the price because what more could you ask for? http://www.fourseasons.com/

BG

Bergdorf Goodman's 5th Floor Youthful, fresh, glamorous. If you love trendy, top-of-their-game designers at prices that surprisingly are not off the charts, then check out the 5th floor of this venerable shopping landmark. C'mon, go in. Don't be intimidated. You'll love what you find. And don't let me even start on their great sales. Whew.... talk about orgasmic. http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/