An Addendum to the Maxi

Guys don't be shy to rock the look too...

Maximize Your Maxi

Long skirts are in.... and Jewish women everywhere rejoice! Long hemlines once reserved for the modesty of Orthodox Jewish women and frumpy hippie chicks, have taken over the runways this fall. Apparently the leggy look of the micro mini is out and the modest maxi look is in.

For Orthodox Jewish women who are required to wear skirts below the knee, this trend means that their mandatory dress code just got a whole lot hipper. For the rest of us, this is a nice way to avoid wearing tights as the fall weather creeps in.

Personally, I am on the fence about this look. For shorter women, like myself, wearing a billowing shirt down to my ankles is not the most body flattering look. I would opt for a below the knee pencil skirt, or a flowy a-line skirt that hits mid-calf like this oh-so-gorgeous gal.

I have heard complaints from the opposite sex regarding the maxi skirt trend. My answer to that -- add a slit to the look! Nothing sexes up an outfit like a little peek-a-boo of leg. So as fall approaches let your hemline down, but be sure to wear something fitted on top to counter balance the billowy silhouette.

Corduroy! Cord-awry.

I've never really been a fan of corduroy. It always reminded me of high waist fupa chunky winter school uniform pants and that sort of sickly feeling you get when you realize summer is over and school is about to begin. The dark navy blue color often found in the drab color collection of many private school outfits, definitely doesn't compliment any skin color instead, promoting the undertones of green and purple as though there is a constant florescent light above you. Navy blue uniforms should stay where they ought to be...in the Navy.

AHHHHHHHHH! GET OUTTA TOWN!

ANYWAY, to get back to corduroy -- there's something really depressing about it. I'm not sure if it's due to the navy uniforms I was forced to wear as a kid or because the hippie generation popularized it as a staple of smelly, "homeless," grunge, that sort of torn brown dreadlock cords, frayed at the bottom from walking around in Birkenstocks at Woodstock all day.

Perhaps I will rediscover corduroy, as many are doing this fall, by finding the perfect soft italian cotton corduroy blazer like this one from Adam Kimmel. Although this particular cord jacket will set you back over $1000, one can easily find a cheaper, yet stylish option at Modasuit for only $190!! What I like about these jackets is that you can wear them with pretty much anything either to dress yourself down or to make your casual outfit a bit more refined. These jackets are proof that corduroy blue and brown doesn't have to be depressing or monotonus. You can even add your own unique touch by purchasing these awesome suede elbow patches which compliment the "Wales" rib texture of classic cord fabric fantastically! What sets these beautiful blazers apart from the dreadful fabric the hippies and school administrations choose is the thickness of the cord. Uniforms tend to be made out of shitty textile due to the fact that they have to be mass produced. Thick corduroy usually results in a heavy, stiff, overly old fashioned look, whereas the too thin cord looks like a horrible cheap velvet drape. The trick is to find a medium blend that will show the best aspects of corduroy, while still maintaining style and texture -- in other words, stick to 100% cotton blends or a medium weight pinwale.

Hippies -- step aside in your cord-awry.

Bulgarian Belligerence

Should you be wandering the Lower East side looking for some fun, may I recommend you turn down Ludlow and head into Mehanata. The outside looks dingy and run down - totally unsuspecting. Walking by, one would never guess the debauchery that dwells inside.

Mahanata is Manhattan's own Bulgarian bar - and I must say, those Bulgarians know how to get down. The bar itself is situated with wooden swings instead of bar stools. A sign above the bar reads "No shirt? Free shot!" and is indicative of the bar's hedonistic atmosphere.

A live band plays what I can only assume is some form of Bulgarian disco/techno and belly dancers provocatively shake their way around the dance floor. There are hookahs to smoke and characters to meet. But the true gem of this hedonistic hideaway awaits you downstairs.

Down a dark staircase you will find the ice room. There are silver statues of naked female bodices jetting out from every wall. A bartender outfits you with fur coats and Russian military garb and before you know it, you are handed a shot glass made of ice, and thrust into the sub zero ice room. From there you are given 2 minutes to down as many shots of vodka as is humanly possible. A bucket sits in the corner for those who don't fare so well. Sloppy good ol' fun ensues.

This experience is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach, but if you're feeling adventuress - check it out! I hear the scene gets increasingly out there as the night goes on. Word is it's one of the best places to go to get laid in the city - so yeah, if that's the kind of fun you're looking for...

Don't huff the computer cleaner...unless it's fucking hilarious

So, I'm not sure if any of you have watched the A&E show "Intervention" but there's an episode about a girl named Allison who huffs computer cleaner. Although it is a very sad thing to be addicted to, it also happens to be quite hilarious to watch. You should watch the full episode if you can. Here's the funniest line in the show.

Never have I ever wanted someone to relapse so badly.

Sleep tight everyone, don't let the Allison bite.