It seems that people still don’t understand the meaning of fashion – that it is still thought of as a frivolity; something belonging exclusively to the elite, with nothing to do with ordinary, daily life. This could not be wrong. Fashion is everywhere, and it has the power to radically transform your life. Fashion has replaced the space previously occupied by organised religion, and television – institutions which these days yield little power or influence over every day life. Fashion is inside all means of communication.

What are the revolutionary elements of fashion in this day and age? Perhaps not many, but like all contemporary cultural artefacts, it is nothing more than the result of hundreds of recyclings, repeated visions and visionaries. Arthur Rimbaud believed in the distortion of the senses to reach higher levels of perception – and fashion does exactly this when you think about it.

In the Western sense, fashion is the result of an organisation which is for the survival of an aesthetic which is placed in front of the rest in a competition of originality and daring. This is how the big designers of the world are the ones who mould the body of the men and women of today. And if you think about it, clothes are not something which is just added on top of the body, but the body is conditioned, and defined according to an immaterial concept – material which covers the body to give shape and meaning to the dress; in such a way, that one is displaced by that clothing. So when you find yourself buying discount H&M clothing at the end of the month, you are simply a cog in the wheels of this controlling system. You are part of this clothes machine – the clothes don’t belong to you, you just give it volume, and movement; you are replaceable, not indispensable.

And with all this in mind, the fashion industry continues to be unstoppable. Each year the number of designers grows, along with the resources for the manufacturing and creation of clothing. Even if New York, London, Paris and Milan continue to be the centres of worldwide fashion, there are still possibilities for the creation and production of alternative clothing, which is accessible to all. Just browse the web a bit, and you’ll find fashion made locally, of not only good quality but much more affordable, and produced using more natural and environmentally friendly methods.

Milan Fashion Week runs between the 21st and 27th of September, For more information on the shows, designers and events, you visit the website http://www.cameramoda.it/.

Alexa Ray

There’s nothing quite like finding one of the apartments in Milan and enjoying a week of glamour and beauty.

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Translated by: Poppy
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Generally, museums replicate what circumstances don’t say. In each event, the invent a new concept to sell tickets and art. Galleries work in the same way. The art business has become a range of discourses that have little to do with the current processes of the art of today but, with the voracity of time passing and, in the same way and with the same voracity, following cultural studies up to date. Politics has a lot to do with all of this and, in the end, nobody creates without thinking that they believe in something which is above the object that they produced, of the work itself. There isn’t a work which is exempt of its discourse: the interesting thing is that the work justifies that discourse, without the need of texts or pompous introductions. The decadence of current art just scares purists away and, on the other hand, asserting those that without a lot of talent can have great careers, via Facebook.

Design on the other hand, from its functionality and need regarding better ways of expression and dialogue with consumers, companies and all types of machinery of sense in today’s culture, is usually a field in the middle of the great emptiness of meaning that, at the moment, visual art leaves in all of its shapes. In fact, design is conditioned to comply efficient work, from whatever it is proposed, where t’s more effective and punctual in many ways. Furniture, interior and clothes design are examples. Milan is the capital of design and fashion in Italy. Maybe, today design is more honest because if has a fix market that doesn’t run out, that you’re always talking to and of which we all depend of.

The Triennale di Milano is a space where all the aforementioned combines. From design, graphic art, photography, paintings and art seminars , the Triennale is one of the richest spaces when it comes to contemporary culture and it’s now in Milan. Among the best in this exhibition which runs until the 28th of August, you’ll be able to see a photographic exhibition dedicated to the legendary and unique Pier Paolo Passolini. The exhibition explores the everyday life of this genius, who created masterpieces such as ‘Salò, 120 days of Sodom’ probably one of the riskiest films of all time, which was made in Italy. Salò is the crude story of a group of young people captured by a fascist sect in a mansion to be subjected to the most horrible and, at the same time, erotic rituals in which they all participate, sometimes, until they die. The exhibition presents on the other hand the everyday life of one of the most extravagant minds of Italian film. For more information on the Triennale di Milano visit its webpage: http://www.triennale.org/

Alexa Ray

That’s why, nothing better than getting apartments in Milan and be part of its hectic cultural agenda. As well as fashion, art is costly, and it will cost you a lot to ignore the fact that while they consume, others consume you.

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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More than a novelty or boldness of a designer fashion or another, the so-called plus-size women are taking the catwalks, shops and fashion magazines. This is nothing new and it doesn’t seem to be a fad at all! It seems that finally the great brands of the fashion world are leaving aside the canon of skeletal beauty of the past decades, a radical change in tone, “beauty is in all the forms, not only in thinness”.

This necessary change to health and happiness of women started from the fight against anorexia and bulimia established by Donna Donna Onlus, an association that has given respite to the world of fashion. On 2007 was the London catwalk establishing the requirement of their models wearing at least size 0, with the phrase: “London gateway without anorexia” and was the first to demonstrate against the stereotype of beauty, which until then, just four years ago, was indisputable.

From then until today, the scene has changed considerably. The last version of Fashion Week in Milan started with a parade of XL models called “Ladies of the Desert” by designer Elena Miro, which involved the “XL super models” Tara Lynn and Lizzie Miller, who showed their curves to the world. Moreover, the magazines V-Magazine and Vogue have devoted entire editions to fashion and XL models, with the slogan: “Curves up”

Today Milan is the city that marks the change with numerous boutiques for plus sizes, to name a few: XL Moda and Lady XL located at: Strada Statale Padana Superiore, 18, 200063, Cernusco sul Naviglio, Milan.

Just something else: Enjoy fashion, beauty and Curves up!

Luz Obscura

Beauty is present in a huge variety of shapes and colors, the secret is in knowing how to discover it and appreciate it. Rent apartments in Milan a city where beauty and fashion will surprise you.

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Translated by: Maria
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From where do we get the idea that fashion is frivolous? When was this idea imposed to us? The truth is, that along with the contemporary art evolution of the last thirty or more years, graphic designers, architects, decorators and, of course, fashion designers have been willing to take risks and venture into “the conceptual”: the idea over the object. And the results are clearly the most interesting, especially in the visual media like: Internet, television and magazines. The Fondazione Prada in Milan, founded of course by the Italian fashion label Prada, was created in the nineties in order to encourage interaction between art, fashion, architecture and design. In addition to various publications and activities, the Fondazione presents innovative exhibitions of contemporary art as: “Ex Limbo”.

This, exhibition presents materials that are commonly used in fashion shows but in a different way; from their useless or obsolete condition. The starting point of this project is the curiosity about the materials used; the reasons for which they have been preserved and how they have been used in practice. The Rotor’s work is to draw attention concerning the waste of our world, which after a significant splendor has been pushed aside and left in limbo, inviting people to have a second look at this forgotten fact. Fogazzaro exhibition space of Fondazione Prada presents a maze of elements that shows all the job included in the production of fashion shows.

The forms, presented in this exhibition, reveal structures and effects, as well as movement of materials that reject the definition of “things” like: “waste” or “rubbish”, shown as forms of knowledge through the sensory. Bordering the archeology of recent fashion world. This archeology from season to season shows industrial and architectural ruins that retain the essence of the style of what happened on the staging, giving us the opportunity to evaluate the chaotic, ruined, degraded and how lapses and re-emerges as a conceptual “Duchamp” gesture, in the world of design and architecture. Imagine a new Milan fashion geography locked in a gallery: wood, metal frames, mirrors and walls, polyethylene seats; waste conceptual of the fashion production.

About Rotor, I can tell you that this group was founded in 2005 in Brussels. Its members are Tristan Boniver, Lionel Devlieger, Maarten Gielen, Michael Ghyoot, Benjamin Lasserre and Melanie Tamm. Their main interest of conceptual work is focused on industrial materials and construction. On a practical level, Rotor is dedicated to the conceptualization and design of architectural projects. For more information, visit the website of Rotor http://rotordb.org/ and, of course, the website of the Fondazione Prada, Milan http://www.fondazioneprada.org/

SISTER RAY

What you should do is to get apartments in Milan and see this show by yourself. It will surely change your perspective about fashion and architecture, and show you how any building material always has a story that touches us all.

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Translated by: Hans
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Lea T started off working as the personal assistant for Riccardo Tisci, creative director of Givenchy. He always appreciated her femininity and used her as fitting model behind the scenes. She took on the role of his muse and now she is the face of a Givenchy campaign. Doesn’t this just sound like a dream come true? Well, the thing is, there is so much more to Lea’s story. Lea was born Leandro, child of Brazilian soccer hero Toninho Cerezo.

Her journey to being an avowed transsexual hasn’t been easy growing up in a macho, Latin-American, Catholic culture and the choice to be a woman was not an easy one, as it provoked the anger of her family. Growing up Toninho always conveyed the feeling that there was something wrong with his child and Lea herself was aware that her situation wasn’t simple. Being attracted to both girls and boys she later discovered that she might be happier as a woman. But it wasn’t until she met Riccardo Tisci that she fully embraced being a woman.

Tisci recognized the feminity of his friend. One night encouraged her to wear pumps to a party. Lea calls this moment a revelation. When Tisci came up with the idea to base his fall/winter collection around the theme androgyny, there was only one person that he undoubtedly wanted to be part in it. Lea agreed to pose in the campaign “in the name of all her transsexual friends.” Her confidence continues to grow and she is determined not to hide her transsexuality. The French Vogue featured an article on her and she even made the cover. The picture is extremely bold showing her nude, only partially covering her male genitals with her hand. Lea is a rising star in the fashion industry and we hope to see more of her in the future. For example, on the runway of one of the world’s fashion capitals Milan or Paris. And if you want to see one of those fashion shows I advise you to rent apartments in Milan and get some front row seats.

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!

It’s that time of year again. Milan Fashion Week is just around the corner, and it’s a time when all the beautiful people will descend onto the city. Hotels and apartments in Milan will be full to bursting with models, agents, designers and the fashion elite, and if you want to indulge in some people-spotting then now would definitely be the time to go.

Milan Fashion Week runs from February 24th to March 3rd, and designers and stylists everywhere will be frantically trying to make those last-minute arrangements. Controversy recently hit the shows, however, when it was revealed that Anna Wintour, American Vogue editor and true fashion icon, would only be attending for three short days.

This set the fashion world into turmoil with all the top fashion houses wanting to change their schedules so they could showcase their latest designs in front of the fashion monarch, with the most important houses re-arranging their shows to coincide her visit between February 26th and the 28th. Fendi, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana and Armani are just a few of those couture brands who wanted to change their dates, as they had previously been due to showcase their Autumn/Winter 2010/11 collections later in the week.

However, this angered some commentators who were furious at the effects this had on the behind-the-scenes workers of the shows, but when you have the opportunity to present your collection to the most influential fashion editor in the world I’m sure you wouldn’t mind a bit of inconvenience! The shows will of course still be going ahead, so if you’re lucky enough to have a seat at one of them make sure to double-check the schedules so you don’t miss out on any of the action.

Milan is arguably the fashion capital of the world, with Italian fashion being incredibly influential. A lot of the top designers hail from this part of the world and many houses still have their headquarters in Milan itself, and that’s what makes Milan Fashion Week such a big deal – it’s the benchmark for fashion shows everywhere.

The city will be buzzing over the next week making it the perfect time to indulge in every excess that it has to offer. So, if you’re after excitement, fashion and celebrities, book the next plane out and do not miss the Milan Fashion Week. Rent the best Apartments in Milan to find a suitable accommodation.

These next few days you’ll find Milan dressing up in its best clothes to celebrate its Fashion Week which begun with an art and culture parade in February. During March it is developing the next Autumn-Winter Fashion Week 2009/2010 that will finally end in Paris.

During the Fashion Week they will present thirty eight important labels. Milan has presented an image of a classic and elegant man. Maybe a business gentleman who takes care of himself and about his appearance: a man who does not forget his traditions but who looks to the future and adapts to the current times.

This week they’ll present the colours of next autumn – winter collections of some famous designers such as: Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Missoni, Prada, Max Mara, Fendi and Gucci. They will all be showing off their new clothing lines.

Together with the fashion collections, subjects from the world of cinema and literature will be shown as “Twelve suits for Milan”, organized by the Cervantes Institute. This is an exhibition of Spanish and Latin American designer’s creations. They will exhibit some designs of Devota Lomba, inspired by the novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude”, by Gabriel García Márquez.

This aspect of combining fashion, literature and movies heralds a new and clear evolution of the Spanish fashion that is being presented in Milan and a need to acquire new items with a touch of modernity.

These are just some of the wonders that you can see in the city of fashion. Rent Apartments in Milan and use these days to discover the latest trends in fashion “for the coming seasons.