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.