READing Your Style: Legends of the Zodiac - Aries

Oh joy, to the internet and how it makes life so much more convenient! I have finally found a useful purpose for Pinterest! Now, I have had a Pinterest account for a few months and it has taken me a while to take a liking to it, especially considering all the other social media platforms I already have. But this month, as I was searching for jewelry to feature for this here series on 'Jewelry for the Holidays based on Zodiac Gemstones', I found Pinterest to be a great tool as an online buying guide, especially for all my last minute gifters. What I have been able to do is create a ‘board’ for each sign of the zodiac, and based on the gemstone that correlates with each sign, I was able to scour other Pinterest boards, and ‘Pin’ jewelry that I found to be great buying options based on the gemstone I wanted to feature for each sign. Please visit and follow my Pinterest if you have one, and create on if you don’t, for I have found jewelry of all price ranges from different sources ranging from Bulgari to Etsy.com. If perhaps your “ballin’ on a budget”, I include more reasonably priced look-a-like pieces of the gemstones featured for each zodiac that are made of crystal, and even plastic. In my fashion, it’s all about the look and what your jewelry means to you, not the price! I was pleasantly surprised at how good a resource Pinterest is for shopping and selling. I say, if you are salesperson, consider Pinterest to display your product, especially if you have unique items. I can just imagine how many people want interesting, one-of-a-kind pieces, but don’t know where to go to shop for just what they want. For consumers, Pinterest is a great way to find those pieces, and for sellers, it’s a great way to market your pieces to the worldwide market.

The InMyFashion Pinterest

As I promised in my December Editor’s Letter, I hope you find the ‘Legends of the Zodiac’ stories from, ‘The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need’, as entertaining as I did. They are intended to educate and inspire more intimate and intriguing reasons for adorning oneself with such gems inspired by the zodiac. As I have always championed on #IMFblog, items worn with a certain intention make for stronger individual style, and in my fashion, the items we wear provide their own energy in the same way our personalities provide/receive energy from other people. If you think about it, it is interesting how the jewelry we wear, or see others wearing, can affect our mood. Whether it’s more of a mental process, or that gems/jewelry radiate a  certain “life energy”, there is something to be said about jewelry’s transformative qualities on our perceptions of ourselves or other wearers.   

Bravery, physical strength, sex drive, and fertile are qualities attributed to Aries, who are also known for their pioneering drive to forge new trails and rise to every challenge. Think about it, with Mars endowing them with healthy sexual vigour channelled into their powerful and energetic approach to life, no wonder the diamond associated with the element of fire, brings out the Arian personality with such egotistical overtones. (Read more from Frank Pilkington)

The first sign of the zodiac is represented by the Ram. In mythology, the Ram has always been courageous and enterprising, a lively, energetic animal able to bound over obstacles and rocky terrain.

The Story of the Ram begins in ancient Greece with a king named Athamus who ruled the province of Boetia. Athamus married a woman called Nephele, and they had two beautiful children, a son and daughter they named Phrixus and Helle.

After a time, Athamus grew tired of Nephele, and deserted her. He took a second wife, Ino, and they had two sons. Ino was a jealous and conniving woman who hated her stepchildren Phrixus and Helle, and set about plotting their deaths.

The first thing she did was convince the women of her country to roast the corn before planting it. This effectively cancelled out the crops that year. Famine swept the land. The king sent a messenger to the Oracle at Delphi to find out what caused the crop failure. Apparently, it never occurred to him to ask the women who planted the crops, but this is the sort of oversight of which some modern political leaders are also guilty.

Ino managed to bribe the king’s messenger to return from Delphi and tell the king that the crops would not grow again until the lives of his children Phrixus and Helle were sacrificed to the god Jupiter. The gullible king planned to have his son and daughter killed in order to save his people.

A quick shift now to Phrixus and Helle, who were tending their sheep. In their flock was a Ram with golden fleece. This Golden Ram had been given to their mother Nephele as a present from the god Hermes (mercury). Nephele, getting wind of what evil was afoot, begged the Ram to save her children. The Ram spoke with the voice of a man to warn Phrixus and Helle of their danger, then told them to climb onto his back. Then he flew with them across the sea.

Unfortunately, as they were crossing the strait that divides Europe and Asia, Helle grew dizzt and faint and slipped off the Ram’s back. She fell into the sea and drowned. To this day, the strait into which she fell is named after her, the Hellespont.

Her brother Phrixus, however, was carried safely to the land of Colchis. This put an end to the plot of the villainous Ino, though it does not seem to have done much to relieve the famine or to have brought King Athamus to his senses.

Rather ungratefully it would seem, Phrixus killed the Golden Ran as a sacrifice to Jupiter, who in turn placed the Ram’s likeness among the stars in heaven to honor him for his heroism.

à la mode: Behind the Hedgerow

A spread I have been meaning to report on from Town & Country's 2013 September Issue is 'Behind the Hedgerow', which reminded me of one of my favorite movies directed by, Sofia Copppola, Marie Antoinette (2006). While the setting of the spread takes place in Kent, England at the Squerryes Court house, the beautiful greenery, and hedgerows are vaguely reminiscent of the maze of shrubs at Versailles in Paris. The movie, which was a visual feast, and earned  an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, has been a movie of which I have gained much sartirial inspiration and imagination from as of late for its ornate display of clothes. In my fashion, the movie, was simply a cinematic 18th century fashion show than it was about the the historics of that period of time in France; but, in my fashion, the thing that was said about Marie Antoinette and her costume, is that whether we are royalty or not, life is about being daring enough to push one's limits outside of the norm, and show that we are free to create a life for ourselves that is enjoyable for oneself, and titillating for onlookers. 

I found on YouTube a 2007 lecture from the University of Michigan by author, Caroline Weber, in which she discusses her book, 'Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution', which is an overview of the queen's excessive overdress and underdress, which contributed to her rise in political power, as well as her decline in public approval which led to her demise at the Guiotine. The Austrian-born Princess litrerally used fashion as a means to establish her own power at Versailles within the not so welcoming French society. Because of Antoinette's foreign roots, cultivating the French public's approval was difficult to gain because of her inablity to entice her husband to bed and produce an heir to the throne in the first 8 years of their union. According to Caroline Weber, Marie Anotinette was a renegade of fashion, and in my fashion she is a representation of the notion that fashion is not about following rules, it's about breaking them. More so than what she actually wore in the early part of her role as Queen, in my fashion, the French became entranced and attracted to Marie Antoinette for her valor in wearing what she wore. While it was typical of the Queens in the past to gain respect by being the bearer of children, keeping hiden behind the accomplishments of her husband, the King, Anotoinette's bold attempts to escape the constraints and conventions of the formal royal French court commanded respect in a more ostentatious manor by changing perceptions on what a Queen could look like. Her infinitely personalizable pouf gained her the most notoriety helping her to become the center of attention for the burgeoning fashion press, which our modern fashion media owes credit to her.

        

In my fashion, Marie Antoinette is perfect inspiration during this season of jewelry excess. In the royal French court, the protocol was that if you were a member of the royal family one had to look the part of a royal every minute of everyday of one's life. The idea behind it was that in order for the people to worship their King, and to recognize him as a supreme power, he needed to look more divine and more majestic than anybody else around him. This principal extended to his royal family, and every little detail of one's garb reflected one's position in the court's hierarchy. Stylist, Hannah Teare, did a fantastic job in the fashion story I feature here of depicting such a concept in modern terms. In my fashion, this is such a dreamy fashion spread that really accentuates the use of wearing opulent accessories to look of a majestic stature. Imagine walking down a busy street wearing look 5 or 9! I am sure there would be quite a few traffic jams as drivers would be awestruck by such a fanciful look. I am in love with the idea of elevating the everyday, and making life as exciting as possible, and I just wish people were more courageous in their fashionable expression to were a headpiece like that in look 4, or to go out walking the dog in a dress like that of look 2. I do realize that life does not call for us to have to wear such exaggerated looks on a daily basis, but being a person who does so, in my fashion, says to the world that you are a participant of what the times are about, and you encourage vivacious living. To me, dressing excessively is about promoting living life to the fullest despite the shortcomings and banality of everyday living.  As Helen Keller said, "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."

EDITOR'S LETTER: December 2013

This coat I found at The ARTisan Cafe at Stoney Point Shopping Center is a wonderful find that is on my wishlist this Christmas! In my fashion, this unique coat says everything I need it to say about me, and I absolutely love the jewel detail on the sleeve. It's intricate, subtle and gorgeously made (all the qualities I am about, if I do say so myself). 

Now that we are officially into the 2013 Holiday Season, tis the season for exuberance! In my fashion, this is the most glamorous time of the year for everyone. When it comes to holiday parties, family gatherings, and the celebration of the New Year, this is the time to be as decadent as possible. It's all about dressing to impress, and what's more impressive than over the top jewelry. This holiday season, your jewelry says everything! All around me I am noticing that the style that stands out the most is all about jewels, and embellishment, and regalia - adorning oneself with fantasy. In my fashion, what is sexy in the summer is skin; but during the winter, jewelry is the new skin. In the cold we are all covered in layers of clothes, so how else is one suppose to catch the eye of that boy across the room at a holiday dinner party. Don't be afraid to think out of the ordinary with how you wear jewelry this season (especially wearing jewels in one's hair as suggested in the December 2013 issue of Vogue). That's why I am so excited to feature the Swarovski Elements Horoscope Calendar in my READing Your Style Series on Astrology. In my fashion, they are excellent visual inspiration for one's imagination as we ponder the extent to which we can create uniquely regal looks for oneself during the holidays.

In my fashion, I am sure I would attract many head turns, and I would be happy to tell anyone to visit The ARTisan Cafe to find other ethnic inspired clothes, accessories, artwork, made by local artists. I will be posting more of some of the merchandise you can buy from the store on my Instagram. Hint: A great place for unique gift ideas!

As you know, #IMFblog is always about thinking outside the box, and how to be 100% unique. With my recent fascination in the zodiac, the point I am trying to send home this month is that by delving deeper into our zodiac and gaining a deeper understanding of our astrological influences, one may be able to conjure even more clever and unique looks to shine above everyone else and say exactly what we want our look to say about ourselves. I love when people want to know why I am wearing a certain item. I think with clothes we should always aim to show people something they haven't seen before. It's about generating intrigue in oneself, and gravitating the people whom you can create a dialogue with. I like when I get to go into detail about why I am wearing an item because it allows me to express my point of view and the way I see the world. Its empowering to know that others are interested in who you are, and in many situations it helps to create greater connections between the people we meet. In my fashion, life is all about learning from other people. Nothing we wear is an accident, and the clothes we put on tell a certain story about ourselves and explains what we are all about. One exudes strength in character when there is a certain intention put into the look we put together for ourselves; that strength of character is what I like to call, style. Hopefully, the stories I share this month about each sign of the zodiac proves entertaining enough for you to inspire world-shaking conversation with old family members, new friends, and potential mates. The idea is to not only impress with your jewelry, but also to go as far to impress others with whats on your brain.

READing Your Style: The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need

Going back to The 10 Rules to Live By which I focused on last year in December, my focus on Astrology this year in December piggybacks on the notion that by understanding our true selves, we can work towards allowing our strengths to flourish, as well as understand our problem areas associated with our personality type. The behavioral psychologist, Carl Jung, who pioneered the concept of the 16 personallty types for the The 10 Rules to Live By is said to have believed in the concept of astrological influence having said this: "We are born at a given moment, in a given place, and like vintage years of wine, we have the qualities of the year and of the season in which we are born." All this month I have been doing research to bring to #IMFblog on the science of Astrology. When I suggested in my last Serious Style post, Too Fat, Too Thin - Will We Ever Be Content?, that looking at a profile of your Sun sign might be a eye opening method of self-discovery, I decided to do a little investigating on my own to support the validity of my suggestion. With all the speculation surrounding Astrology, and because it has been substantially unsupported by scientific research, I wanted to find the reasons why it is that Astrological claims can be so accurate in accordance to the questions we have about our lives. Why is it that a lot of people find their personality traits to match the profiles of their astrological Sun sign? All this past month I have been reading, 'The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need' by Joanna Martine Woolfolk, to tap the origins of Astrology and find out what makes Astrology valid. Historically, for over 5000 years, Astrology is one of the oldest living sciences, and was highly regarded in ancient civilizations. Ancient astrologers charted the movement of planets and stars, and made predictions about eclipses, upheavals, famine, and fortune, and Astrology was inextricably linked to religion. The patterns that the stars form in the heavens were given names and worshiped as gods. With all twelve signs of the zodiac put together, we are able to see a picture of human beings - our bodies, minds, and emotions, and of all the surrounding world in which we live. Hundreds of years before the time of Christ, Greek philosophers formulated the theory of Man in Microcosm,  in that the human is the miniature version of the cosmos, and by charting the heavens at the time of your birth, Astrology can serve as a stairway leading into your deeper self. Many people will read the profile of their Sun sign and say, "This does not describe me accurately, " and dismiss Astrology, but knowing what your Sun sign is just a piece of the puzzle. There are other factors at work that account for the differences we have in our personality compared to whatever Sun sign we are associated with. Woolfolk's book tells you all you should know about the whole topic of astrology in which you will learn about Sun signs, Moon signs, Ascendants, Planets, and Houses, and how these factors interact to shape your life. What I aim to do in this coming month is focus on the story of Astrology by highlighting the legend behind each sign. To me, this understanding will help you to understand the origins of your planetary influences in your life and figure why our zodiac profile describes the personalty traits that are strongest within our individual selves. Like I said before, understanding our Sun sign is a small piece of understanding the whole of ourselves, and Woolfolk's book gives a better understanding of how to understand ourselves through the jigsaw that is Astrology. In my fashion, the legend behind each sign could be used as clever inspiration to use as representative of our personality in our everyday looks.

German Vogue and SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS teamed up to produce a series of images for a 2013 Horoscope Calendar

For a clearer understanding of the ways which you can represent your zodiac through your fashion is through the Swarovski Elements Horoscope Calendar. Swarovski Elements is a brand of the Swarovski franchise that specializes in providing creative talents in the world of fashion, jewelry, accessories, interior design and lighting with the latest on-trend crystal innovations. Swarovski represents one of the best in jewelry design, and this holiday season, with the trend I am seeing in elaborate jewelry design, their Horoscope Calendar images make perfect visual focus for this upcoming zodiac series. For the past few years, they have partnered with German Vogue to create a series of images for the coming years Horoscope Calendar. In my fashion, the images shot by an amazing photographer, Lado Alexi, are breathtaking! Above you will see the Vogue Covers for each month in 2013, but to represent the coming posts for this series I chose to feature his work from the 2012 calendar to depict each of the signs I will highlight this month. Check out the video below to see the making of the 2012 calendar, and then take a look at the Making of 2013 Calendar to stay up to date on this campaign. I am sure the 2014 calendar is currently in the making. 

READing Your Style: Scent on a Journey (Part 2)

In my fashion, perfumery is a beautiful craft, and after watching the 2nd installment of BBC's Perfume series, 'Bottling a Memory', one is able to understand the esoteric art of creating fragrances. What I find so interesting about perfumers is that their craft involves having a deep understanding of something that is essentially invisible. Can you imagine having so acute a sense of smell that you can memorize, distinguish, and understand how to mix raw materials that have the power to evoke euphoric memories? Think about it, when we smell something good, you have a break for a moment, and unconsciously our minds record what that scent made us feel like. Perfumers understand that relationship, and that emotional connection between scent and memory. 

For me, I can look at a dress, or bag, or shoe that has no label, and distinguish by its details and construction who and where the dress was made. Like International Vogue Editor-at-Large, Hamish Bowles, I can look at a dress and say what region a dress was made, or whether it was made in the 18th century London, or America during the Edwardian Period. Perfumers make similar distinctions between the way things smell. The few chosen students who are selected by the school of the global leader in the fragrance industry, Givaudan, have to memorize over 500 raw materials and learn how to mix them by dissecting the chemical elements and core contents of a blend of scent notes. Using their noses, they have to figure what elements will translate into something that  can be worn, and smell alluring on the human body. Essentially, with fragrances, people want to experience "transport"; transport to what in our minds is most beautiful with out any visual stimulation. Transport to a beautiful memory. Knowing what aroma chemicals exist to create a scent of lasting impression requires a poetic sensibility towards chemistry, and the imaginative nostalgia of the human experience. They are what is needed to inspire the memories of the future. Continuing from the 1st Part of READing Your Style: Scent on a Journey taken from the November 2013 issue of InStyle, the next type of fragrances they teach us about are spicy scents.

WHICH OF THESE AROMAS ATTRACT YOU THE MOST?

Earthy Woods OR Vanilla OR Deep Incense

*Earthy Woods: 

DO YOU PREFER A PEPPERY, A POWDERY, OR A WARM FINISH?

PEPPERY:

Bottega Veneta 'Eau Légère

Musk, oak moss, and pink pepper craete a robust base, though a whiff of light gardenia emerges too.

POWDERY:

Krigler Oud
Sumptuous 75213

Woody notes mix with amber, cinnamon, and vanilla, producing a sensual fragrance that could easily be worn by a man or a woman.

WARM:

Christian Dior Gris Montaigne

The aroma of moss and patchouli brings warmth to the skin; jasmine and rose add a feminine touch.

*Vanilla: 

HOW SWEET DO YOU LIKE YOUR PERFUME?

SWEET:

Intense by Dolce &Gabbana

A delicious confection of fig and vanilla that remains sophisticated thanks to orange flower and tuberose. 

SLIGHTLY SWEET:

Guerlain Shalimar Ode à la Vanille

Delectable caramel, cocoa, and vanilla are balanced by floral jasmine and earthy iris.

NOT SO SWEET:

Diptyque Eau Duelle

Grounded by intense amber and spices, the vanilla doesn't smell a bit cloying.

*Deep Incense: 

DO YOU LIKE THE SCENT OF FLOWERS?

-If you DO like the scent of flowers:

Terry de Gunzburg Ombre Mercure

Iris, jasmine, and rose, play as big a role here as patchouli and vanilla.

-If you DON'T prefer the scent of flowers:

Tom Ford Sahara Noir

The combo of frankincense and wood accords makes for an unforgettably exotic experience.

Bit-O-Inspiro 43

In my fashion, images are fast replacing words as our primary language. They define our ideas of beauty, truth and history. In our age the photographer is king, not the philosopher. I would love to hear what you think about that?

READing Your Style: Scent on a Journey (Part 1)

The Holiday Season is approaching and, in my fashion, if you are anyone smart, you would be thinking of Christmas gifts now instead of waiting til the last few days before the big day (like I always do). Lately an aspect of style which has caught my fancy more than ever before is the use of fragrances. The model that I used for last month's Editor's Letter for October, Sophia, is a dear friend of mine, and her acute sense of smell, and obsession for fragrances is an ongoing topic with her. If you recall this year's Valentine's Day post, you will remember I spoke a little about how scents played a significant role in courting women, and sending certain messages to others. In my fashion, smell is an interesting sense when you really think about it. It's such a subliminal sense, but what most of us don't happen to realize is that perfume is liquid luxury. Smells affect our emotions by evoking memories, and when someone gets a whiff of your perfume, it leaves an extra impression in their mind. Perfumes help to remind us of romance, sex, happiness, and beauty, and in my fashion, the wearer, no matter what they look like, will always leave some hint of intrigue. Its all about the image one has of you after you have left the room, in my fashion. Think about the picture that famed perfumer, Jean-Paul Guerlain, paints for us in Part 1 of the below BBC Documentary, Perfumes: From Scent to Sale: 

"The most beautiful girl in the world: she takes off her dress, she takes off her make-up, and what's left? The charm of her voice and her perfume. A woman can be ugly at daytime and wonderful at nighttime."

I will be covering the three part documentary series in next 2 parts of this series, but in the above video you can learn some interesting facts about perfuming and the intricate business of bottling liquid luxury. Jean-Paul Guerlain, while having made a racist comment in an interview in October of 2010, and having been found guilty of in French Courts for committing a threat to “public order”, his families legacy for being one of the world's oldest perfume houses since 1828, The House of Guerlain is a great point of reference for learning about the beautiful craft of perfuming. While going to Bed, Bath, and Body Works is always a good option for buying gifts for friends, co-workers, and family members we may not know too much about, to receive a specially made fragrance from a high fashion designer puts the icing on the cake for our more intimate relationships with our moms, girlfriends, boyfriends, dads, and close friends. I found a wonderful guide in InStyle Magazine's November 2013 issue called, "Scent on a Journey", which offers some great comparisons of the perfumes out on the market. In my fashion, if you are unaware of how to think about buying a perfume and what a more discerning reason of why you are going to buy a perfume, either for yourself or someone else, the article asks some great questions in flow chart format to use when you are going to a store spritzing those little pieces of paper trying to find just the right scent. Continue visiting #IMFblog throughout November to find out how to distinguish between the floral, spicy, and fresh scents out in the market. 

FLORAL FRAGRANCES: 

If your happy place is smack-dab in the middle of a blossoming garden, look below to pick your next bouquet.

WHICH OF THESE AROMAS ATTRACTS YOU THE MOST:

             

White Flowers OR Roses OR Fruits and Flowers

*White Flowers: 

WHEN YOU WALK INTO A ROOM, DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO NOTICE YOUR FRAGRANCE?

-If you DO want people to know your fragrance:

DO YOU PREFER A SLIGHTLY SPICY OR A SWEET SCENT?

SPICY:

Boucheron Place Vendôme

As sparkling (with pink peppercorn, jasmine, and orange blossom) as the City of Light itself

SWEET:

Estée Lauder Modern Muse

Jasmine and tuberose smell elegant with a delicious dose of vanilla.

-If you DON'T want people to know your fragrance:                                                                                    

DO YOU PREFER A POWDERY OR A SWEET MIX?    

POWDERY:

Issey Miyake L'eau D'issey Absolue

It's light yet addictive with subtle freesia, lotus flower, and a hint of heady tuberose.

SWEET:

Lolita Lempicka Elle L'aime

Bergamot, lime, and neroli put a yummy spin on the soft pairing of jasmine and ylang ylang.

*Roses: 

DO YOU ENJOY BOLD ROSY BLENDS?

-If you DO enjoy rosy blends:

Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb Explosion

Peppercorn and saffron enrich the aroma of Turkish and Moroccan roses.

-If you DON'T enjoy rosy blends:                        
                             

DO YOU PREFER AN EARTHY, A FRESH, OR A POWDERY FINISH?

EARTHY:

Marni Rose

The rich, rosy fragrance deepens on the skin thanks to spicy cardamom and patchouli. 

FRESH:

Kenzo Flower in the Air

It's subtle, like a breeze blowing over blooming rose bushes. 

POWDERY:

Clé de Peau Beauté Rose Synactif

Creamy notes of musk and white woods make this delicate yet warm.

*Fruits and Flowers: 

DO YOU LIKE A HINT OF SPICE IN YOUR PERFUME?

-If you DO like a hint of spice in your perfume:

 Fendi L'Acquarossa

Juicy tangerine and plum brighten the heart of magnolia and rose, through the woody patchouli-spiked base comes through too.

-If you DON'T like a hint of spice in your perfume:      
                                                                 

Jimmy Choo Exotic

Blackcurrant, passion flower, and raspberry are charmingly sweet but not dessert-like.

EDITOR'S LETTER: November 2013

Do you believe in Astrology?

Based on my last Serious Style post, "Too Fat, Too Thin - Will We Ever Be Content", I was inspired to learn more about Astrology, and what we can gather about ourselves from the meanings of our astrological signs. From my research so far, what I have found about the subject of Astrology is that it is an ancient belief system that spans farther than the simple Horoscopes we entertain ourselves with from newspapers and magazines. British astrophysicist, Dr. Percy Seymour, has postulated that planetary influence operates through a form of magnetism which humans are sensitive, and that the nervous systems of humans and animals act as aerials to detect the vibrations of the Earth's fields. Plainly put, when one looks into ancient mythology, based on the certain characteristics of the planets observed by ancient astronomers 5000 years ago beginning in Mesopotamia, the planets actually influence our personalities and how we operate on Earth. For example, Jupiter is associated with leadership, success, and optimism. Mercury influences intellect, communication, and the winds. Mars is associated with aggression, wars, and anger. Venus deals with matters of love and romance. Pluto is associated with the underworld, death, and endings. Saturn rules our sense of duty and responsibility. Uranus is believed to be a planet of surprise, while Neptune is believed  to be a planet that deals in disillusionment. 

Do you find your Sun Sign to be an accurate description of yourself?

Based on Dr. Seymour's belief in planetary magnetism and influence, it is thought that the planets have ways of governing how we act on Earth, and their influence can be attributed to the individual growth, success, and failures of people, animals, buildings, and even entire countries. How this relates to style intrigued me because astrology suggests that our personalities are the result of when, where, and what time we were born, and where in the solar system the planets were positioned in space at that time. Astrology also suggests that we can pretty much map out the likely events to come in our lives based on that information, which in my fashion, is quite mind boggling, considering this is a science that has been highly regarded in the past and used quite successfully by our ancestors, but not so much anymore in our modern society. I find it fascinating that when I read profiles of my Sun Sign, Pisces, I discover that it describes me quite accurately in most occasions, and I sometimes learn things about myself that I would probably learn and understand about myself much later in life. I find that understanding our Sun Signs may unlock the answers to how we can better deal with our lives. So this month, I plan on elaborating on this subject so we can come to a clearer understanding of how an emphasis in astrological beliefs may help to enhance our style, and the ways of living for ourselves. 

Do you believe that the stars may define who we are?

I find the story of how the The Three Wise Men found Jesus fascinating, because they are said to have been astronomers who understood a prediction of the birth of a new king by working out the time and place of the birth of this king from their astrological observations. They discovered that through a rare association of planets in the solar system, there would be a child of Jewish origin who would be born and grow up to become King of the Jews, which turned out to be Jesus of Nazareth. Considering we are approaching Christmas, and the Holiday Season, I found this topic most appropriate to delve into as, in my fashion, there might be something to be said about Astrology being a viable way of understanding our own purposes in life more clearly. Astrology offers insight and help with problems in our personal lives, hence horoscopes, but astrologers use Natal Charts which a more detailed and specific explanation of the individual in question. I plan on elaborating how The Stars Define Us, and how Astrology can be an x-ray into a person's nature in these coming months. Let the Holiday Season begin!

Serious Style: Too Fat, Too Thin - Will We Ever Be Content

In the above video, Vogue Contributor, Andre Leon Talley, spoke with Oxford Union Society earlier this year and it was published on YouTube, May 8, 2013.  He spoke to the Oxford students about his life and the important people who shaped his view of the world. To begin with he said, "No one has just popped out of nowhere. You are what you become because of where you came from,"and, "anyone who distilled in you something to go forward and to achieve your dreams is an important person." He claims that two women were primary for who he is today: his grandmother, Minnie Francis Davis, who taught him style and the core values of life built around church, and Diana Vreeland who taught him how imagination pushes you to solve your own problems in the real world. He emphasized that self-invention is key in life, and that one must create their own diorama/persona based on what our passions are. In my fashion, regardless of what we look like, inventing a unique and recognizable persona of ourselves is what will lead to our content.

I, personally, was very blessed to have had parents who worked together all my childhood to encourage me to be a strong, capable, and confident, God-fearing man. A bit of advise I always carried with me from them is to, "Never be last." I remember my mom telling me this in middle school when I was about to run a race at my school's track meet, but for me this always equated to, "Always be first," having been the type to realize the benefits of being a consummate overachiever. I realized that if I was going to be top dog in all that I did, I was going to have to believe in my abilities above everyone else, and also that I was just as good as anyone who was striving to be first against me. In my fashion, my parents confidence in me had helped to build the confidence within me to see myself as great.

In my fashion, the genius of Diana Vreeland's logic comes from her belief that one should, "Push their flaws," making their flaws the most beautiful thing about them. In regards to my theme for October, "Social Identity, Self Improvement", the first step involves self-appreciation. In the panel discussion above, "Too Fat, Too Thin: Will We Ever Be Content", at the UK Vogue Festival this past April, an audience member asked the panel, "How do you get yourself to like yourself?" The panel, which included, Daisy Lowe, David Gandy, Patsy Kensit and Christa D'Souza, were astonished to hear that the girl who asked the question worked out six times a week and was still unhappy with her appearance. Patsy Kensit, instructed that first, one must surround themselves with wonderful women and great people who adore you, but not in a egotistical way, but more people who bring a sense of serenity into your life. It sort of goes back to what ALT was saying about the fact that having that person in your life who distills in you something to go forward and to achieve your dreams is an important person. Appreciate the people who are in your life who appreciate you, and don't seek approval from anyone else outside that circle because they are the one's who understand where you have been and where you plan to go. The second half of how to like yourself, she postulated, is that one should start appreciating things in your day, and start noticing the things you do appreciate about yourself. But one might then ask, "Where does one start?"

I am a mystic and intuitive Pisces.

I have found that when it comes to appreciating ourselves, it may be hard to do when we can only think about those negative aspects of ourselves we wish to change immediately. In my fashion, the reason I am so adamant about understanding history is because the stories of our past can be quite inspiring, because if you notice, history doesn't really repeat itself, it rhymes. From what has happened in the past we understand what to do in the here and now. In "Too Fat, Too Thin", David Gandy said that the key to nutrition and being fit is education. It's the same with style and finding ways to appreciate our being.  Where do you come from? Look at your country of origin: fill yourself with knowledge of the past and find similarities between your life and the lives of historical figures; dig deeper into your heritage, and take time to understand the trails that your ancestors blazed through history. Before we can unlock the future, one must unlock the keys of the past. Now to some, this next piece of advice may seem ludicrous, but in my fashion, one way of seeing ourselves more clearly for who we can appreciate ourselves for being is to seek guidance from one's horoscope profile. I have always found it interesting that while horoscopes can seem unreliable, vague, and made-up, the profile of the sign that we are born into tend to describe our personalities very accurately. Maybe you don't have to necessarily take what is said to heart and confine yourself to what is believed to be true of who you are, but I find that reading our signs personality traits may help us to be more aware of personality traits that we can be proud to have of ourselves. If you read your profile, and find that you can attest to the fact that some of your natural tendencies match what is said about your sign, perhaps it may help you come to grips with aspects about yourself that you can appreciate about yourself, and work to enhance those endearing qualities. It is those qualities that make us unique and most happy to exercise when we understand that those qualities are our strengths in life and when we act accordingly can bring us that personal gratification we search for within ourselves. We all have strengths and weakness. In my fashion, self love is the most endearing aspect of style, and style is really about learning how to enhance one's strengths while being aware of our weaknesses, and learning how to live with them.