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.