When we think about a model on the catwalk, immediately we think about a tall and extremely thin woman. And it is no coincidence that this should be the first image that comes to mind when talking about models, because since the fashion world stopped being an elitist sphere in order to become a vehicle for the beauty industry, models began to embody these new beauty standards. Since the “supermodel” era of the 90s these figures of the fashion world became something more than just models, they became role models for all the young girls striving to be as thin and desired as them.

With the turn of the century the beauty standards on the catwalk changed, since in the 90s these girls became even more famous than the designers and their collections. And this is when the famous phrase “Models should be a clothing rack” came about. A phrase that would later cost these designers the worst campaigns against anorexia on the catwalks, because these “racks” turned into “skeletons where you could hang the clothes and the lifestyles of these women”. Anorexia became ubiquitous and ended in a few model deaths.

In 2007 the organizers of the London fashion week raised attention to this problem promoting the event with the slogan “London, catwalks without drugs and anorexia”. And after that, naturally, the most important catwalks joined them. Nowadays world famous designers demand models with a healthy BMI and size 36. The last designer was Lorenzo Riva, one of Balenciaga’s former students, who supported the concept that thinness couldn’t be the only beauty standard around.

Thus, he joined Nadia Accetti, president of the association “Donna Donna onlus”, which promotes campaigns against anorexia: “Together against eating disorders”. Thanks to institutions like this the big fashion houses and catwalks couldn’t keep their eyes closed, especially since a model is not only a clothing rack, but indeed a role model for women all around the globe.

Nowadays the fashion world tries to engage with the real world and make small steps into making their models into representatives of more realistic beauty standards.

If you are interested in fashion and want to see these changes happening on the catwalks then you should go to Milan. Rent apartments in Milan, and enjoy your stay in the world’s biggest fashion capital.

If you stroll down the streets of Milan, you’ll see a two part sculpture called “Needle, Thread and Knot” that symbolizes Milan’s dedication to the world of fashion. You can admire this sculpture in the Plaza Cardona, an important area adjacent to the railway station Cardona. The gigantic sculpture has strings placed under the earth and features the colours of the subway lines, whose end is located across the sidewalk, marked by a sculptural representation of a final knot. Its curious and colourful perspective harmoniously integrates with the classic building in the background.

The sculpture was created by renowned sculptor Claes Oldenburg and his wife Coosje van Bruggen.

Oldenburg was born in Stockholm (Sweden) but when he was just a boy his family immigrated to the United States. He graduated from the Chicago Latin School and later studied at Yale University and the Art Institute of Chicago. He is considered one of the pioneers of Pop Art happenings made some part of his sculptures which are characterized by using very simple materials such as cardboard, fabric, plaster, paper, plaster etc. Almost all his works from 1962 are large scale.

In 1977 he married the artist Coosje van Bruggen. She became an essential collaborator with him, offering advice and working together to reconstruct and relocate their works around the globe.

In all his works, both individual and those made with his wife, Claes uses common, everyday objects. In some of them he is looking for interactivity with the viewer. He received the Wolf Foundation Prize for the Arts in Jerusalem and the Schock Prize of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. If you do not want to miss this extraordinary sculpture don’t think twice and come to the birthplace of fashion. Rent apartments in Milan and enjoy the sculptures of Oldenburg.

Michelangelo Merisi, better known as Caravaggio, is a famous artist who was born in 1571 in Milan and died in 1610 in Porto Ercole. Now, for the first time the supposed remains of the artist are on display to the public in the port city where he died.

Presumably, because the experts are only 85% certain that they are the remains of Caravaggio. For this event the city authorities held a ceremony “to give a decent burial.”

The urn which has his remains will be on display throughout the month of July in the enclave Forte Stella along with pictures of the various stages of the research to determine if indeed they were his remains.

Caravaggio’s remains were buried in 1610 in the cemetery of San Sebastian in the city where he died, and many think he died there after fleeing from Rome because he had been sentenced to death for having committed a murder.

The research to determine if the remains were of the artist was conducted jointly by researchers from four Italian universities and initially they had to exhume the remains of more than twenty persons among whose remains Caravaggio’s remains could possibly be found. After subjecting all of them to carbon-14 testing they narrowed it down.

At this time, they performed DNA testing and compared results to DNA of the offspring of the sister of the painter, called Caterina Merisi, but as the line of succession was broken, a DNA link could not be determined. The next step was to make the same analysis to people who called themselves Merisi or Merisio (a derivative) and found that many had similar genetic conditions.

In the city of his birth, many of his greatest works such as “Supper at Emmaus” or “fruit basket ” are on display. You can rent apartments in Milan and enjoy not only his paintings but also pay your respects to his homeland.

The Museum of Contemporary Photography Cinisello Balsamo, on the outskirts of Milan, hosts an exhibition of 18 images (and video) by the German photographer Karen Knorr (Frankfurt am Main, 1954) from the “Fables” series, made between the years 2003 and 2008 until September 12, 2010

Early in her career Knorr, became interested in social reportage, and aligned herself with the new trend developed by British documentary photographers such as Martin Parr, Anna Fox, Pauil Seawright, Keth Arnatt and Eileen Perrier while living in the UK. She became known to audiences and critics with her series Gentleman (1981-1983), a report on English clubs for men. Later she turned her attention to the study of the relationship between nature and society.

The images displayed in Milan are from this phase of her creative journey. The viewer who visits the exhibit will wonder at large-format photographs which highlight contrasting natural elements with formal settings and the overlap between the wild and cultural and artistic expressions of human beings. The main protagonists of the photographs are animals, alive or stuffed (birds, foxes, wild boars, fawns etc.) which are placed in atypical and surprising contexts, like cultural and artistic venues such as museums or historic buildings (the Carnavalet Museum in Paris, the Musée Condé in Chantilly, Chambord Castle Museum of Hunting and Nature of Paris, the Villa Savoye and the Museum of Orsay)

Knorr has exhibited her works in prestigious cultural institutions, and also given classes or lectures at the Tate Modern, the University of Westminster, Goldsmiths, Harvard, and the Art Institute of Chicago. She currently teaches photography at the University College of Creative Arts in Farnham.

Do not miss the opportunity to admire the works of this unique photographer. Admission is also free. Stay in the heart of the Lombard capital, to enjoy the best shops, bars and apartments in Milan. For more information on museum opening times and how to get there, consult the the Museum of Contemporary Photography website http://www.mufoco.org.

There is a well-known relationship between the economy and skirt length. It’s called the “Hemline Index” and it has found a correlation between skirt length and the economy. Basically, there is an inverse relationship between hem length and the stock market. When things are better, and shares rise, so do skirts, while during periods of economic scarcity, hemlines lower. Lean times don’t lend themselves to liberal fashions like mini skirts…

History proves this effect, right up to the present moment. In 2009 “maxi” dresses hit the trendiest shops, just in time for the stock market crash. These dresses reminded us of the quaintly romantic maxi’s of the 70s, (which also appeared in a tough moment for the global economy). As things are not much better this year? Well, expect another year of long skirts, even more sober than seventies flavoured maxis from last year. The long skirts of 2010 don’t have that happy hippie vibe. Diverse designers such as Yohji Yamamoto, Louis Vuitton, Haider Ackermann, Ann Demeulemeester and Missoni sent long skirts with a serious attitude down their runways. They have an edgy, historic look to them and the streamlined, dark skirts were styled with boots or platforms for a strong grunge air.

These skirts aren’t exactly romantic; rather, utilitarian is the key word. They seem to be inspired by widows and the hijab. Seriously, you’ll see this fall! As in the nineties, the secret to this trend is the fashion of anti-fashion- it’s a response to years of excess and ostentation. Skirts that reflect the moment are stylish, cool, subversive, serious and a bit bleak. Even respectful. If you rent apartments in Milan, international capital of style, for a cool-hunting trip you are certain to see this trend in full swing.

Of course, one need not be a slave to fashion. For me, using long heavy skirts is not very practical, because I’m a klutz and they can get caught in subway doors or bicycle wheels. I think I’m going to keep on rocking mini skirts and hope that it will improve the economy!

I must admit that I have an almost twisted weakness for spike heels, more serious than most, though I realize that among women a certain fixation with shoes is common. The pleasure they give me as I put together a variety of outfits which showcase this particular type of heel is an almost an inverse reflection of my malnourished bank account.

This is a world full of eroticism and fetishes, among these, spike heels fall pointedly into the category of sartorial excesses nearly always deemed “perverse.”

But in defence of my dark weakness I must focus on the bright side, and there are many men who are tremendously excited by this small object of worship, especially when ensconcing a sex object par excellence, a pair of bare feet.

Perhaps it will seem exotic for someone to make love to a pair of feet, but do not dismiss the pleasures of podophilia without experiencing them for yourself. Just trust us, perform regular pedicures and prepare for pleasure. Some men have a weakness for high heels, but it generally stems from a deep love (inconceivable for some) of feet in general… Feet are very sensitive and you may excite them with gentle kisses, and caresses; provoke ecstasy in your partner with a few gentle strokes of their most sensitive areas with your feet …

The tingle of a slender heel in your groin, or gradually peeling off gorgeous nylon stockings with your tongue before delicately washing the beautiful feet before you … a humid lick between the toes has you nearly bursting into preorgasmic tears… you buy the most exciting heels and try them on before sex play … let’s step back …

If you find these images exciting, we’re pleased to inform you: it’s quite likely you love feet and these are your fetish and your object of worship. Enjoy your sexuality in harmony with your partner and live out your erotic fantasies … An ideal way to do so is rent apartments in Milan, where you can buy some of the most elegant shoes in world, sure to make your imagination sizzle…

While we have a common perception that humans have the potential to be mindless, bloodthirsty killers (think serial killers, overzealous soldiers and suicide bombers), there is always another side to every story.

In scenes of war, we are immune to the fields of raging soldiers who fire indiscriminately. Interestingly, only fifteen to twenty per cent of fresh soldiers aim to kill. The rest aim high, don’t shoot at all, or pretend to be busy doing something else. It is not only the distaste for taking human life that stops these newbies of battle from aiming to kill. Geneticists have discovered something that is common to all creatures on the planet with DNA: We will all give our lives, or take another life, in the interests of the greater good.
This basically means that we are genetically programmed with a strong sense of justice. If we believe strongly enough that what we are doing is right, and good, for the human race as a whole, we will invoke death to make it happen – whether it is our own or someone elses.

It is this kind of genetic programming that allows for religious fanaticism, terrorism that leads to huge numbers of deaths, and yes, even suicide bombings by the faithful. It is not the pursuit of death and destruction that necessarily motivates these people, but the pursuit of a higher good – a better way of life for all humanity.

There is also the natural defense mechanism. We defend our own lives, and the lives of our children. In some cases, defending our children is even more important to us than defending ourselves. This argument was brought to bear in an Italian court room when the father of a raped child was tried for the brutal murder of the suspect in the child’s assault. The defense didn’t know about our genetic quest for justice, but they certainly knew about self-defense, and pleaded this in an interesting argument that essentially boiled down to a simple equation: Child-rapist equals threat. Threat must be eliminated. Simple biology at work, no matter how far in advance the murder was premeditated. In the end, the jury didn’t buy it, but thousands of other parents did, and a massive protest was mounted, with protesters arriving from all over Europe, renting apartments in Milan for the duration of the protest, eventually helping to lead to the father’s release.

The New York group Scissor Sisters will be on tour this summer in Europe to promote their new album “Night Work” and share their hilarious camp style with fans. They will play July 21 at Castello di Vigevano, a few kilometres outside of Milan, which will be their last stop in Europe before continuing their tour in Australia and Japan; you should see them now here in Europe! Like anything they do, the concert promises to be an event filled with dramatic, emotional touches, and above all, rhythms that will encourage you to dance until dawn.

The group was born in 2000 in New York, and its history has many references to musical culture and acidic politics of the city. In fact, when members Jake Shears and Babydaddy met Ana Matronic one Halloween, she was dressed as a “a reject from Andy Warhol´s Factory” and Shears was dressed as an “back-alley late term abortion.” The name the group resulting from the slang term “Scissoring” (a sexual practice especially popular among lesbians, which involves, ahem, doing the scissors…) and refers to LGBT culture. The group has many gay fans, but that doesn’t mean you should consider it a “Gay Group,” because music has no sexual orientation. Theirs is music that encourages everyone to dance, mourn and laugh. In the United Kingdom they have managed to be number one on the charts with their first album.

They do count Elton John as a major hero (and have even recorded with him!), and among other influences, they talk about ABBA, Pink Floyd, Duran, Supertramp, Siouxsie and the Banshees and David Bowie. Enjoy the show a stone’s throw from Milan in a romantic castle. After the concert, your feet will certainly hurt from all the moves you’ve been busting. To relax there is nowhere better than the apartments in Milan, reserve yours today!

The Chinese artist Zhang Huan is a kind of contemporary Fakir. His means of expression is the body and his preferred technique is performance art. Huan´s stoic attitude towards his body, which serves as his primary creative instrument, makes for thought provoking and dramatic performances. For him, the human body not only gives us proof of our identity, it also makes up its own language.

One of his most memorable performances took place in Beijing in 1994. He sat on a public toilet with inadequate sanitary conditions in one of the most humble areas of the of the city, and smeared his body with oil and honey. Within a few minutes, his body was covered with all kinds of insects, who were attracted by the sweet smell of food. Unperturbed, Huan carried on and unflinchingly endured the tingling physical and mental discomfort caused by the pests that swarmed around his body.

Like the fakirs, Huan has developed an ability to detach from his body and the limitations it imposes. Through the use of his body, and not without a certain degree of violence, the audience may connect with his art, empathically feeling his performances as if they were being inscribed in their own flesh. Via performance, he draws attention to cultural issues such as globalization, alienation and loss of spirituality in an increasingly Westernized culture. In 1999 he emigrated to the United States, and was faced with a pluralistic culture, which has been adapted – in a superficial way – all kinds of exotic lifestyles like yoga or tai chi … Huang often focuses on this dilution of ancestral culture, whose essential features more and more are trivialized as fads.

The Palazzo Reale in Milan takes a startling look at this Chinese artist during the show “Ashman,” which opens in July and will last until September 1st 2010. Do not miss this groundbreaking experience and rent apartments in Milan.

We are in the midst of a sexual revolution. In recent years the industry that produces sex toys has grown more than 30% a year, and generates millions and millions a year in sales. But there’s a catch: many of the sex toys on the market today are not exactly ecological, and one study found that a high percentage contain dangerously high concentrations of toxic substances such as phthalate esters, which both the EU and the U.S. have already prohibited for use in children’s toys. Many toys use batteries that are difficult to recycle or contain heavy metals.

But there is a solution: more and more innovative companies are developing eco-friendly sex toys! We’re here to tell you about some, so you know where to look …

Enjoy your vibrator anywhere in the world, without wasting energy. Only eight hours of sun exposure gives you up to an hour of hot leisure time and good vibrations with the vibrator “Solar Bullet.” Or if you prefer to crank it, check out “The Earth Angel.” Pulling on the handle just 4 minutes will give you more than half an hour of vibration. Another benefit: it is makes much less noise than a traditional vibrator.

Returning to the super important of toxic substances, it is very important to choose the material of your sex toys wisely. A vibrator shouldn’t be a cancer stick. There are many materials used in sex toys besides toxic PVC, which are natural or at least non-toxic, and have the advantage of being much more aesthetic than crappy plastic dildos (yes I am indeed thinking of a particularly tasteful made in china model which an ex gave me…it sounded like daddy’s electric shaver and looked even less sexy…). Consider testing sex toys made of glass (very beautiful and easy to clean), wood, stainless steel, silicone, or if you can get, cyberskin, which has an incredibly real touch. Toys in Babeland is great company to check out.

Whatever toy you choose, you’re sure to get hot but not bothered…. Rent apartments in Milan, where the first sex shop in Italy opened up in 1972. There are many more today, and as the world capital of fashion, you’re sure to find a toy that follows the eco-friendly trends of 2010.