MOD Magazine: Volume 1; Issue 4; Fall 2012

boyNYC

boyNYC By: Ashlyn Hill

By: Ashlyn Hill

Kickin’ it with the guy behind the trendy brand, Jake Stein.

your city’s fashion? And where does BoyNYC fit into that? gold or a kick ass design either!

MOD: Tell us about yourself and your brand BoyNYC?

Jake: BoyNYC is a brand that

encompasses all things I find to be beautiful in the world. As a vegetarian and animal activist, obviously most of my designs are inspired by animals and nature.

At a very young age, I felt more of a connection and bond with animals over people and decided altogether to stop eating meat (I ate meat almost every day until I was 12, quitting cold turkey pun intended). Also, I am a boy who believes in fairytales and the unknown. I am a romantic and will be until the day I die. I think jewelry is romantic in general because so much of the significance behind the piece isn’t just the actual design or even material, but who got it for you, and where you were (mentally and physically) at that time in your life. Jewelry tells a story and is a memory all on its own. - It doesn’t hurt if it’s solid

MOD: Why did you want to come out with an accessories line that was aimed towards a unique sense of style?

Jake: I honestly didn’t even

think about what type of style it may be perceived as - but rather just designs I would buy myself. I also aim for originality, something extremely hard to achieve these days - but maybe that’s why it could be titled “unique sense of style?”

MOD: Who would be your ultimate client to see wearing your pieces?

Jake: Mary-Kate Olsen because I know she knows good design.

She is a left-handed Gemini just like me, and I know she loves her accessories! - so to have a design worn or “approved” by her would mean a lot.

MOD: How would you define

Jake: I like to call it “grampiechic.” My friends will tell you I’m really a 90-year-old man with good taste. I dress for comfort over style - but thank God everything I own is stylish. I do so much running around the city, and between school and sitting in freezing classes all day, I need to be warm, cozy and ready for what the day brings. BoyNYC plays into that because I have lots of errands to do for work, so I have to be dressed for possible meetings as well as comfort for classes.

MOD: When did you realize that this was your niche (intricate/ unique pieces)? Why did you become a designer?

Jake: I didn’t really think of it as a niche, just a boy who loves jewelry and fashion. I personally was custom making some pieces just for me; but when my friends asked for them and then word spread and students hunted me down around campus or online

to buy them, I just figured, “why not?” Becoming a designer wasn’t ever something I aspired to be, but like many cases it just sort of naturally evolved organically.

MOD: What was the first piece you ever created (if possible a pic would be nice) Jake: The first piece of jewelry I ever designed is my favorite motif of all; the man vs. animal cuff (a human skull and a dino skull).

Not only being about the duality of a Gemini but also this eternal struggle that I think all human beings struggle with. We have such primal urges yet society and laws/rules are inflicted on us trying to make us “civil” and proper, it’s just a concept I always respond to, it’s a beautiful motif and I think the symbolism is eternal – no matter in what culture you are raised. ‘Man and beast’ are always connected and paralleled, and I choose the skeletons because I believe anatomy is true beauty. I like to strip away the earthly nonsense of flesh to its core to show two skulls at their finest, at their truest, and therefore most beautiful.

MOD: Describe the general process you go through to design and make a piece become reality?

Jake: It really depends on the piece: sometimes they come to me in a dream, or I’m inspired by a story, a scene in a movie, something from a friend, or even just walking around every day life. If I give myself rules and parameters, like a time frame, to make new pieces, it’s not fun anymore, and I believe that will be reflected in the collections. I never want to take that kind of beauty away from the design process - to kind of design for design sake.

MOD: How long does it take for you to construct one of your pieces?

Jake: Depends, usually 2 weeks but can be up to a month to get the right details and weight etc.

MOD: Who are your favorite people to work with? (Clients, models, magazine etc.)

Jake: My publicist, Malorie

Kaye, of course. She always gives me exciting news and always has a smile on her face. Also, my mom because she’s my number 1 fan. All business owners that contact me for possible collaborations or carrying boyNYC are always flattering and sweet as well. I love just doing business and commerce with independent shop owners all over the world, and seeing how my collections fit in with their other collections. You can tell a lot about the type of person somebody is by what they choose to sell in their own store. Also, as a former Paper Magazine intern, I have to say they are a great magazine/ company that I worked with.

MOD: What are some of your accomplishments as a designer?

Jake: Too many for such a

short period of time: balancing emerging and establishing myself as a designer, producing multiple collections, growing up, getting my undergraduate degree, and still trying to have a normal, young life before I “grow up.” Also, getting front covers and celebrities like Beyonce to wear my jewelry isn’t so bad either.

MOD: Who are some of your favorite designers and why?

Jake: Designers I love and respect are: Proenza Schouler, because they went to my school and have sky rocketed to the ultimate department stores ( Neimans, Saks, Barneys); The Olsens, because they’re amazing, obviously; Kathy Rose (Roseark), her pieces always amaze me they are sculptural, fine and delicate.

MOD: Where can we find BoyNYC? Jake: shopBOYnyc.com, in

New York (Trash and Vaudville on St. Marks and The Pixie Market in the lower East side), Nina Segal in LA, InkedMag.com, TheOliveshoppe.com, Omorphia.net, Custard Boutique in Georgia and North Carolina - Internationalally: Quintessential in Singapore. Also, there are some great sale pieces on sites like Bluefly.com, and Max and Chloe!

MOD: How do you select your models when presenting your lookbook, online promotion etc?

Jake: I usually model any clothing and I don’t like the jewelry for the site on somebody, unless it’s an editorial or fun photo shoot. Usually, magazines choose the models or celebrities if it’s being shot for an editorial or market page.

MOD: Where do you gain inspiration from for each piece/collection?

« Bear and his Beau and Dino Skeletal pieces from BoyNYC

Jake’s design sketch for his “man vs. animal” cuff »

Jake: It really depends - everything and everyone. It can be something I see that day, something my friend wears, something I learn about in school, a classic portrait or piece of art, even something I find in my grandma’s jewelry box. I hold no prejudices when it comes to design and inspiration.

MOD: How would you define your personal style? And does that resonate into each collection?

Jake: I try not to let personal style interfere with designing new pieces, but at some point, it always does. My personal style (when it comes to jewelry) is extreme. I either want some bad-ass heavy metal with skulls and spikes, or I like things really dainty and simple like a tiny diamond and solid gold band. I am weird like that. But we all have moods.

MOD: What are some of your fashion goals?

Paper, Bazaar, Vanity Fair - for shopping, Barneys.com. But I never really shop online because shopping is my cardio and therapy - I clear my head and touch fabrics to feel good. A book I loved and just finished, Never Let Me Go, was brilliant and so much better than the movie.

MOD: How did you start out in the fashion world?

Jake: By being born! - No, I joke. (But I was a very fashionable baby.) I guess, I just went to New York City - and going to the #1 design school in the world (Parsons) helps. with the fashion industry MOD: What are some of your favorite colors/textures to work with?

Jake: With jewelry, I love oxidizing everything, giving it that “antique” aesthetic and it’s a finish that can go on any metal (rose, gold, silver, etc.) and makes a design look completely different.

Jake: To grow an empire, own multiple businesses, guest edit and write commentaries for magazines, etc.

And of course tocontinue designing and expanding my company.

MOD: Where can read-

MOD: What are some of

Jake: It’s therapy for me. Also , I love getting new additions to my own personal collection of jewelry!

your favorite magazine, websites and/or books?

Jake: I love Nylon, Vogue,

ers find out more about you?

Jake: www.shopBoynyc.com MOD: What do you like best when designing a piece?

team Up Your Fall with

omething ultry By: Katherine Laurin

A recipe to cure your post-summer blues: Take one part jilted good girl ; Add a splash of haunted boy with a heart of gold; Serve steamy with a twist of tough-as-nails grandmother.

when she learns of an outstanding warrant that prevents her from obtaining her liquor license. The bogus charge forces June back to her tiny hometown, Sultry Springs, TX, where she is relegated to a month of community service under the watchful eye of her first love and ex-best friend, Luke Gallagher.

D

ebut-author Macy Beckett opens her Sultry Springs series with the delightful romance Sultry with a Twist. June Augustine (née Mae-June July Augustine – really!) is on the verge of achieving her dream of opening an upscale martini bar

setting. If you’re searching for something fun and light to bring back the heat from the bygone summer days, pick up a copy of Sultry, which releases this month, and settle down with a cool glass of sweet tea (you’re going to need it!).

Steam factor (on a scale from one to steam room) = Enough to fog the mirrors in your bathroom and flush your cheeks.

June left Sultry Springs nine years ago with her tail between her legs and her heart shattered by the boy she grew up with. In the dry county of Sultry Springs, working in a bar is a sin worthy of condemnation and June’s formidable grandmother, who raised June after her alcoholic parents were killed in a car accident, never approved of June’s line of work. Her time in Sultry Springs allows June to mend the fences with her only remaining family as well as the longtime object of her affection and frustration.

MOD: This is your first published novel, right? When did the idea for Sultry take root and what got you to put the pen to the page (or fingers to the keyboard)?

Sultry with a Twist delivers a heart-warming experience with well-developed characters you want to simultaneously root for and smack upside the head. Beckett does a commendable job drawing the town of Sultry Springs with all the charm and stereotypes that make for a colorful

Macy: Sultry with a Twist is my second book, but yes, it was the first to sell.

Inspiration struck in late 2009, after I finished drafting my first novel, Alienated (coming in 2014 from Disney Hyperion).

Out of the blue one morning, June and Luke’s characters appeared to me in the

A Chat with Macy Beckett Author Macy Beckett recently chatted with MOD about her inspirations for Sultry & more!

southern voice or to create the town of Sultry Springs, Texas? Drink copious amounts of sweet tea? Have Steel Magnolias playing continuously in the background while you wrote?

Macy: Haha, no. I didn’t have to. I’ve spent most of my adult life in the South. I graduated from college in Texas, then moved to North Carolina and Kentucky before finally settling in Ohio. Grammy Pru’s voice is strikingly similar to that of my own “MeMa,” a country girl who was born and raised on a farm.

MOD: Sultry places a lot of emphasis on coming home in both June and Luke’s stories. Did you find a sense of catharsis in having each character face down their past mistakes?

Macy: That’s an interesting

question, and I really wish I could say yes. But if we’re being honest, I simply thought it would make an interesting story.

Sultry with a Twist is the first installment of the Sultry Springs series. What can readers expect from book two (due out March 2013)?

shower, and I knew I had to tell their story. But I wasn’t free yet. Alienated needed A LOT of work (five total rewrites), and I was committed to finishing it, so I created a Word document called “Next Project” and jotted down notes for June and Luke’s romance as the ideas came to me. About a year later, I sat down to write Sultry with a Twist and finished in less than four months. I think the reason it flowed so easily is because I’d been daydreaming about June and Luke for ages, and they felt real to me.

MOD: One of your main characters served in the military and according to a short bio about you, you grew up in

a military family. How much did your experience as a military brat influence your or your character’s perceptions of the armed forces?

Macy: My experience as an Air Force brat influences me a great deal, because there’s a military character in my Alienated series, too. I loved growing up on bases and posts all over the world, and I have the utmost respect for our armed forces. That’s probably why a career in the army was Luke’s dream and why his OTH discharge affected him so deeply.

MOD: Did you do any specific research to give your characters an authentic

Macy: I’m glad you asked! A Shot of Sultry pairs Trey with Luke’s long-lost sister, Bobbi Gallagher. I love Trey. He’s such a funny (and smokin’ hot!) character, and I had an absolute blast writing his story. In A Shot of Sultry, you’ll also meet Colton Bea, the hero for the third book, which will release in the fall of 2013.

MOD: Finally, June is known for her outrageous cocktail concoctions. What’s your poison?

Macy: I’m a simple gal—put a glass of

red wine in my hand, and I’m happy. But when it comes to mixed drinks, I won’t say no to a pomegranate martini!

ARC courtesy of Macy Beckett and Sourcebooks.

Sam & Nate

New Talent

By Betty Holloway

Pop/rap duo, Sam Andazola, 21, and Nate Andazola, 19, are hitting the music scene right out of their home in Cedar Crest, New Mexico. MOD asked the musical brothers about kick-starting their careers with their new single Fell in Love with Love and about their experience trying out for NBC’s The Voice.

MOD: How long have you been performing?

Sam/Nate: It has been three years of of-

ficially singing and performing together; but we have been playing together since we were in grade school, for talent shows and recitals.

MOD: What instruments do you play?

Sam: I play piano, guitar, and drums.

Nate plays guitar, bass, and drums. But I’d really love to learn to play the cello, violin, and saxophone.

Nate: Yeah, me too.

MOD: What genre of music do you most identify with?

Sam/Nate: Probably pop even though a lot of people might hate pop-rap.

MOD: How has your family supported you when getting started in the music biz?

Nate: Our little sister doesn’t support

us at all. She actually hates us. (Laughs) But really our whole family’s support

is amazing. Our mom’s crazy about promoting us. She gives everyone our business card and tells everyone about us. She’s been totally committed to being our “momager.”

It’s amazing.

Our dad really believes in us too.

We think most dads would tell their sons to go get real jobs and not to waste their time on music, but he’s really supportive. With all that said, we couldn’t do it without any of them.

MOD: What was your inspiration for

MOD: How has performing affected

MOD: I saw your audition tape for The

your life at school?

Nate: Honestly, it has been tough

because we do school online now. It has kind of killed our social life, but it’s worth it! The friends who are most important will be there at the end.

MOD: What’s the coolest place you have ever performed?

Sam: We can’t actually pick one place, but for the Camplified tour, we performed up and down the East Coast.

That was really cool!

MOD: Who are your musical role models?

Sam: I’d have to say Chris Brown. I

also love listening to Boys II Men. Their voices are amazing.

Nate: Eminem, Lupe Fiasco, and

Angels&Airwaves—I love them all.

the song Fell in Love with Love?

Sam/Nate: Well, we had just come off

of the Camplified tour and were heading back home from NewYork. We stopped in Atlanta to see a friend and had no idea we would be producing anything, but ended up writing and producing the whole song within four hours. We pulled off the music video the next day after looking for girls at the mall to be in the video the night before.

MOD: If you could meet any celebrity, who would it be?

Sam: Peter Jackson ‘cause I’m a total

nerd when it comes to the Lord of the Rings movies! But I would also like to hang out with Rodney “Darkchild” Jenkins just to learn from him.

Voice. If you get chosen, do you have any idea who you will pick as your mentor?

Sam: Nate feels like we’re expected to

choose Usher because we rap, but we kind of want to throw off everyone and join Blake Shelton! We also love Adam Levine’s music and Shakira…‘cause her hips don’t lie!

MOD: Do you have any hidden talents?

Nate: I can wreck on Call of Duty.

(Laughs) But we both enjoy anything athletic. We both play basketball and can shred on the snow board.

Listen to Sam&Nate’s music at: www.samandnatemusic.com Also, check out their audition tape for NBC’s The Voice streaming at: www.nbcthevoice.com

Horoscopes By: Danielle Arias - StarsMoonandSun.com

Aries Planet of Amore is placed in family fire sign of Leo from September 7th until the 1st week of October, making Aries Sun natives feel particularly attractive and in jovial spirits. Make use of this feel good energy until Mercury, planet of the mind, enters your opposing sign of Libra on the 17th, quickly followed by the Sun on September 23rd. Libra, the sign of partnership, ushers in equal day and night as well as the fall season. For individuals born under an Aries Sun this marks a month long period of friction and attempting to balance your needs with the needs of other.

Aries is represented by the pioneering ram, ruler of the 1st house in astrology and directly across we have the Libra Sun signified by the scales ruler of the 7th house of partnership.

During this transit you will encounter individuals with opposing views; more often than not these will be individuals you are in a relationship with whether that is a personal partnership or working one remains unseen. Aries is a born leader with the desire to keep forging ahead, during this transit it is essential to listen to other peoples point of view or perhaps solicit a 3rd party to mediate.

Your sense of urgency is

heightened once Mars enters family fire sign of Sagittarius on October 8th making it hard to keep your fiery nature under wraps. This tension should alleviate a great deal once the Sun leaves Libra on October 24th, until then make the word compromise the name of the game.

Aries is known for their pioneering tendencies and possessing the desire to go where no man or woman has gone before. With Mars, planet of action, placed in Sagittarius, along with Mercury, over Halloween, Aries Sun will desire to suddenly do something unplanned and out of the ordinary. Apple bobbing and haunted houses aren’t for you so pack up your bags and head to Salem, Massachusetts, Bhangarh, India or Oaxaca, Mexico. Just make sure to return prior to Mercury going retrograde on November 6th.

Mercury is known for causing delays in travel, lost plane tickets, deleted hotel reservations and major errors in communication. Mercury will begin its retrograde movement on the 6th and continue in its apparent backward motion until November 26th when it will head direct in Scorpio. Try to plan Thanksgiving close to home, pioneering ram!

Taurus Venus, planet of love and beauty is working its way through your 4th house of home placed in fellow fixed sign of Leo. You may experience some friction within the household with transiting Venus in hard aspect to your natal Sun. This could be due to your propensity to overspend while Venus is place in grandiose Leo until the 4th of October. Mars planet of action and aggression is also opposing your Sun in deep sea diving water sign of Scorpio in your 7th house of partnership.

The Taurus Sun is concerned with the depth of the pocketbook where as Scorpio is concerned with the depth of the soul. You may feel at odds as you struggle with the importance of the tangible and non-tangible. Venus may offer a tiny reprieve when planet of love enters fellow earth sign of Virgo on October 4th, but for much of the month you will face challenges from others that possess opposing views as Mercury enters Scorpio on October 6th.

Disagreements and misunderstandings are likely when the Sun follows suit and enters Scorpio on October 24th. Lay low on Halloween, alluring

bull perhaps rent scary movies, carve a pumpkin and prepare some ghost shaped sugar cookies. Taurus Suns have a natural affinity for home and food, so you should find this enjoyable.

Much of November is riddled with similar challenges, as the Sun in early degrees of Scorpio till November 21 st continues to oppose your natal Sun. You are ½ way through your solar year having celebrated your birthday approximately 6 months ago now is a time of planning and rethinking before taking action.

With Mercury heading retrograde on November 6th till the 26th you may find yourself reconsidering your past methods of doing things, you also may experience some Thanksgiving mishaps such as burnt croissants and a bakery that for years sold you pumpkin pie is suddenly out of business. Take a breath Taurus you have many other holidays to display perfection.

You should feel a slight reprieve when Mars planet of action enters dear friend Capricorn midmonth.

Taurus Stars:

Aries Stars:

Robert Pattinson, Jessica Alba, George Clooney, Megan Fox, Bono, The Rock, Penelope Cruz, David Beckham, Cher, Sofia Coppola, and Donatella Versace “Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their days off that are the mostintriguing.”

- Aries Fashion Designer, Vivienne Westwood

–Taurus and designer Alexander Wang

Lady Gaga, James Franco, Mariah Carey, Kate Hudson, Fergie, Joss Stone, Leighton Meester & Victoria Beckham “I am attracted to people who make this effort in knowing what suits them - they are individual and stylish.”

Gemini Those born under a Gemini Sun will feel especially alive and joyous till the beginning of October when Venus leaves the Queen of the zodiac and into perfectionist seeking Virgo. Venus will transit the lower portion of your solar chart including your house of community, this marks an excellent time to become involved in charitable organizations, perhaps plant a tree in your area. For single Gemini’s you are likely to attract potential suitors simply by riding your bike or strolling through your neighborhood.

Those of you that are already committed are encouraged to take advantage of Venus’ trip through your 5th house of romance home to creativity and love affairs. Romance is on the agenda for the light hearted sign of the twins as others find you are more charming than ever. This is an excellent time to listen to music, arrange a night out filled with dancing or simply host a movie marathon at your house.

Mars planet of action and drive enters your opposing sign of truth seeking Sagittarius on October 8th where it will remain until mid November, Gemini represents the day to day thinking, the way in which we communicate with siblings and those in our immediate environment.

Sagittarius is concerned with the BIG picture and our relationships to the world at large. These two opposing forces will infuse you with an immense amount of energy as well as a competitive spirit.

As Mars in Sagittarius travels through your partnership sector be prepared for a battle of wills with partners, both business and personal.

Please be advised Gemini friends your ruling planet Mercury enters your opposing sign of Sagittarius on October 30th indicating miscommunications and arguments are likely, furthermore Mercury is scheduled to turn retrograde on November 6th. Mercury will continue to travel backward into sign of depth and analysis Scorpio where it will remain until it heads direct on November 26th. Gemini is particularly susceptible to the effects of Mercury’s reversal more so than other signs, so take heed and perhaps host a Thanksgiving pot luck dinner in lieu of long distance travel. Invite friends over and suggest they each bring a different dish or perhaps ever 2 dishes as this period often marks a time that events do not run smoothly.

Mercury rules delays in travel and breakdowns in electronics make sure your stove is turkey ready. Happy Holidays!

Gemini Stars:

Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Portman, Elizabeth Hurley, Mark Wahlberg, Lenny Kravitz, Adriana Lima, Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen

“Fashion breaks my heart”

- Rapper/Producer & Gemini Kanye West

Cancer Cancer Suns are feeling the warmth of Venus leave them as the planet of amore heads out of the home and onto display in ego oriented Leo. The luckiest times for love for you are the first week in July while Venus remains in your home sign and in late November around the 23rd when planet of love enters the smoldering sign of Scorpio. A natural rapport exists between the water signs as they are receptive, nurturing and feel everything intensely.

Mother earth Cancer may feel at odds when the Sun enters Libra, sign of the scales on September 23 rd marking the beginning of fall. Prior to that on the 17th, Mercury planet of communication entered the indecisive sign of Libra. Cancer a maternal water sign is concerned with feelings and is led by emotions where as Libra an air sign is prone to thought and analytic responses.

This tension will dissipate when Mercury planet of communication moves from the mind to the soul of Scorpio on October 6th along with the Sun on October 24th. Please take advantage

of the water and earth sky combination from the 23rd of October till the 28th when The Sun and Mercury are in water signs along with Venus in detail oriented Virgo. Earth and water nourish one another, just watch out for the tendency to seek perfection in loved ones as Venus in Virgo tends to demand. This is a wonderful time to crawl out of your shell and head to a Halloween Party adorned in costume with a plunging neckline of epic proportions.

Mercury planet of communication will retrograde from the early degrees of Sagittarius all the way back to the mid degrees of Scorpio from November 6th till the 26th you may experience a breakdown in communication with loved ones, delays in travel are likely and some of your kitchen appliances will suddenly appear on their last leg, just in time for Thanksgiving, fun times ahead! Cancer the mother of the zodiac and ruler of the home always keeps an extra stash of food and wine for times just like this; no one leaves your home until they have eaten, drank and mended their wounds. Be prepared.

Cancer Stars:

Tom Cruise, Pamela Anderson, Gisele Bundchen, Ed Westwick, 50 cent, Lindsay Lohan, Selena Gomez, Jessica Simpson, and Lisa Rinna

“I believe that my clothes can give people a better image of themselves - that it can increase their feelings of confidence and happiness” - Designer and Cancer Giorgio Armani

Horoscopes By: Danielle Arias - StarsMoonandSun.com

Leo Venus planet of love returns to your sign for the 1st time since August 2011. The King and Queen of the zodiac are ready to hit center stage until the 1st week in October.

Venus placed in Leo have the stars of the zodiac longing to spend money, dance on table tops and essentially shine.

Oops! Not so fast with Mars’ transit in fellow fixed sign of Scorpio until the first week of October you may be faced with confrontations from others, it is essential to effectively communicate and clear the air so you can continue to shine! The last few weeks of September should be stellar with the Sun and Mercury traveling through Libra and Venus planet of beauty placed in your home sign, you are fabulous and you know it! Get out and socialize, perhaps do some back to school shopping and grab a leisurely lunch with friends.

On October 6th, planet of communication leaves indecisive Libra and enters into the sign of depth, Scorpio. Mercury in hard aspect to your Sun indicates you are likely to have disagreements with others if you haven’t cleared

the air by late September; arguments will likely come to a boil prior to Mercury heading off to Sagittarius on October 30th. With Mars having entered fellow fire sign of Sagittarius on October 8th you are feeling particularly assertive andmore than willing to go to battle. May I suggest allowing water to pass beneath the bridge, Leo has always been more of a lover than a fighter with Mercury and Mars in Sagittarius and Venus entering sign of rulership, Libra on October 29th gather your fans or friends and head out to a party where you can turn heads and bask in the glow of being you.

Please be advised Mercury ruler of communication turns retrograde on November 6th where it will remain right through Thanksgiving and turn direct on November 26th.

Expect delays while traveling, you may want to skip hosting a dinner entirely and head to your favorite restaurant, just make sure you triple confirm your reservation. Mercury is often to blame for miscommunication, electronics going haywire and delays in just about every area of life.

Leo Stars:

Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock, Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron, Sean Penn, Stephen Dorff, Mila Kunis, Mary Louise Parker, Vivica A Fox, Betsey Johnson “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening” - Designer & Leo CoCo Chanel

Virgo From September till November your mind will be preoccupied with thoughts of self, values and those in your immediate environment. In the 1st week of October Virgo Suns can rejoice that Venus planet of love and beauty has found its way into your home sign. Venus in Virgo is discriminating in love, particular and often a seeker of perfection. Try to admire loved ones and accept them as they are while Venus is in your home sign and Mercury planet of the mind enters penetrative Scorpio on the 6th. Love is certainly in the air for you my neat, detail oriented, punctual Virgo! Once the Sun enters Scorpio on October 24th and is placed in the same sign as Mercury along with Venus in your home sign you must pack up that antibacterial hand gel, throw on a French Maid or Nurse costume and work your way around the floor at a Pre-Halloween Happy Hour. Virgo being the sign of service to others; can make light of their care taking instincts and ask a fellow partygoer if they need their house cleaned or temperature taken. Break the rules, Virgo friends, its time you let loose.

You may feel some friction

once Mercury heads into fellow mutable sign of Sagittarius on October 30th, the result is frustrating communications with others and delays in travel especially when your ruling planet of Mercury enters its apparent retrograde motion on November 6th till November 26th. Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, although Gemini and Virgo are not friendly signs they both are concerned with their immediate environment where as Mercury in Sagittarius has their mind on the universe and world at large. Now with Mercury not only being placed in sign of detriment but with it heading backwards you can be sure to lose paperwork, have your computer malfunction and experience sudden cancellations or no shows on Thanksgiving.

Remain open Virgo friends, I know you want everything just right but this holiday season whether it’s burnt buns or a turkey that hasn’t defrosted on time, smile and make do.

By the end of November you will feel more stable as Mercury will go direct is friendly water sign of Scorpio and Mars planet of action enters family earth sign of Capricorn on the 18th.

Virgo Stars:

Nicole Richie, LeAnn Rimes, Jimmy Fallon, Mark Anthony, Cameron Diaz, Beyonce , Salma Hayek, Blake Lively, Jennifer Hudson & Stella McCartney “This is what I think is modern. Its like wearing a coture jacket with a pair of jeans” -Designer and Virgo Karl Lagerfield

Libra Happy Fall Equinox! Libra sign of the scales ruler of equality is the third of the cardinal signs and ushers in the fall season thus delivering us equal day and night.

Libra known for their poise, social graces and timeless fashion sense will enjoy the Sun in their home sign until October 24th, marking the start of a brand new solar year Happy Birthday!

With Mercury planet of communication entering the diplomat of the zodiac on September 17 th your mind will be alive and full of ideas; self expression is heightened until October 6 th when planet of communication enters the deep soul searching sign of Scorpio You will find yourself feeling great and attracting new suitors once Venus planet of love enters your home sign on October 29 until the end of November so make sure you do what you do best, socialize! Turn on the Libra charm and host a Halloween party where everyone must bring a single friend! Those already in a relationship will find they are walking on a cloud of emotional bliss. This transit only happens once a year so

enjoy every moment of it!

With Mars having entered the fire sign of Sagittarius on October 8th in pleasing aspect to your Sun you will feel like a million bucks till mid November.

Please be advised Mercury planet of communication will turn retrograde on November 6 th this tends to serve all of us with communication mix-ups, if you met someone and they haven’t called it may very well be that they have lost your number or even their phone! Mercury causes more than the average hiccup in terms of communication and will also deliver us more than the average delays in travel. Remember to pack an extra set of pajamas in the event you cannot make it home from a relative’s house after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Everything should return to normal when Mercury turns direct on the 26th plus or minus a few days. The Sun will have entered friendly fire sign Sagittarius on November 22nd giving you the gusto to keep going!

Libra Stars:

Gwen Stefani, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Isaac Mizrahi, Avril Lavigne, Matt Damon, Will Smith, & Catherine Zeta Jones “I don’t design Clothes I design dreams” -Designer & Libra Ralph Lauren

Scorpio Things are heating up for you deep swimming water sign both in and out of the bedroom. Mars in Scorpio is smoldering hot with an unmatched intensity. Things may slow down a bit for you once Mercury, planet of the mind enters cardinal air sign Libra on the 17th followed by the transiting Sun on September 23rd.You will still have energy to spare as Mars continues its visit in Scorpio until October 8th when it will switch to truth seeking Sagittarius. However, you will not be left out in the cold as Mercury planet of thought enters your sign on October 6th, giving your mind an unmatched penetrative ability especially in the last week of October when the transiting Sun enters Scorpio marking the start of a new solar year.

Happy Birthday! With the Sun and Mercury in your Sun sign and Venus having entered family earth sign of Virgo as of October 4th for a month long stay; the weekend prior to Halloween is an excellent time to go out with friends. Scorpio ruler of the 8th house home to death and rebirth would make an excellent Vampire or you could

just people watch with cocktail in hand, forever the true voyeur.

Drum roll please - Mercury planet of communication and travel is set to turn retrograde on November 6th where it will remain till the 26th, yes Mercury will be in apparent retrograde motion during Thanksgiving, causing you concern over travel plans, their very well may be confusion surrounding which family member is hosting the holidays this year so call ahead and double check. Mercury will begin its retrograde motion in the early degrees of Sagittarius and work its way back into the sign of Scorpio.

Mercury retrograde in your home sign will cause you in particular increased frustrations stemming from lost emails, perhaps your oven will not heat up or you will find you are sitting in an extended amount of traffic anywhere especially from November 15th till the 26st.

With Venus entering your home sign on November 23rd while Mercury is still in retrograde you may hear from an old love or acquaintance hoping to solidify dinner plans.

Scorpio Stars:

Leonardo DiCaprio, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Sean Combs,Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Gosling, Anne Hathaway, Demi Moore & Katy Perry “Fashion is about change and, for me, the philosophy is always the same ... that the clothes have to be really modern and make women look really beautiful” -Designer & Scorpio Calvin Klein

Horoscopes By: Danielle Arias - StarsMoonandSun.com

Sagittarius Venus planet of love and beauty will be bestowing blessings to the far reaching Sag this fall, first when Venus enters fiery and proud Leo on September 7th until October 3rd, both signs share a lot in common so when Venus in fixed fire sign meets the on the go Sag the result is passionate though not necessary lasting.

On October 12th, planet of drive, Mars enters your home sign of the archer making you courageous and more then eager to blaze new trails. Active and highly energetic with Mars in your home sign you are willing to complete tasks and take on any challenges.

Just watch for know it all argumentative tendencies early in November as Mars transits your solar 1st house of self.

On October 30th Mercury enters the sign of Sagittarius, not the easiest placement for Gemini ruled Mercury, Mercury is more concerned with the immediate environment and Sagittarius possesses far reaching thoughts beyond the mundane, in any event mental

capabilities will be strong.

Make use of this Sagittarian energy till November 6th when Mercury will begin its 3 week long retrograde journey in Sagittarius transiting all the way back into Scorpio. Being that Mercury will retrograde in your home sign you will notice the affects of breakdowns in communication, emails somehow lost, laptops suddenly malfunction.

Sagittarius ruler of long distance travel may find flights cancelled and flat tires on route to their Thanksgiving destination. I know you love to break out of ruts and travel to exotic places however you may want to reschedule plans as they are prone to be influx during Mercury Rx. The Sun enters the truth seeking Sagittarius on November 22nd marking the beginning of a new solar year, Happy Birthday!

Sagittarius Stars:

Brad Pitt, Donny Osmond, Scarlett Johansson, Katie Holmes, Julianne Moore, Lucy Liu, Tyra Banks, Teri Hatcher, Britney Spears, & Christina Aguilera “That is the key of this collection, being yourself. Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way to live.”

- Designer & Sagittarius Gianni Versace

Capricorn Mercury planet of thought and learning abilities is placed in earth compadre Virgo from September 2nd till the 17th, Virgo similar to Capricorn is a sign concerned with physical results this period is excellent for concentrating and working toward specific goals, prior to Mercury breaking for the urbane Libra on September 17 th quickly followed by the Sun on the 23rd.

Happy fall mountain goat!.

Mars planet of action continues its journey through water sign Scorpio until October 7th in your 10th house of career and reputation, your drive to achieve is at an all time high.

During the beginning of October most of the personal planets are placed in either fire or air signs. Right before Halloween the Sun enters Scorpio on the 24th, joining Mercury as Venus continues its tail end journey through meticulous Virgo marking this as a period where you feel confident and joyful. Reply yes to the e-vite for your co workers Halloween Party,

most likely you will have fun.

On November 6th Mercury planet of communication and short distance travel will begin its retrograde journey in Sagittarius till planet of technology works its way back into the mid degrees of Scorpio just in time for the Thanksgiving. Happy Holidays!

The 3 weeks Mercury spends in retrograde is not a favorable time to solidify commitments, sign contracts or purchase any electronics.

Give yourself some extra time when traveling to your family’s house over the holiday & work with the understanding that your copier may break and your internet may be down for days.

Stay calm and carry on, on November 18th Mars planet of action enters your home sign of Capricorn where it will remain until late December indicating; work surely continues.

Capricorn Stars:

Jude Law, Orlando bloom, Denzel Washington, Sienna Miller, Mary J Bilge, Elizabeth Arden and Carolina Herrera & Diane Von Furstenberg “I don’t think of things as “outfits” - I throw together what I feel is right for the night” - Fashion Model & Capricorn Kate Moss

Aquarius You are feeling confident and free when the planet of the mind begins its month long transit in fellow air sign of Libra. Aquarius and Libra work well together as they are both analytical in approach.

You will be ready to put your ideas in full swing when planet of drive, Mars enters fire sign Sagittarius on November 8th igniting your passion to do something! Anything! Fire signs act as accelerants to air signs, and you are ready to solidify some big plans.

You will experience some friction when Mercury heads into fellow fixed water sign of Scorpio on October 6th followed by the Sun on October 23rd; fixed signs are stuck in their ways hence the term fixed. I simply ask you to consider being more open to other individuals ideas and points of view particularly till October 29th when Venus makes a break for beautiful Libra and Mercury joins Mars in truth bearing Sagittarius on October 30th thus bringing relief. Aquarius ruler of the 11th house of likeminded friends is the ruler of groups with Venus in Libra and Mars in Sagittarius you will feel espe-

cially attractive, I suggest you do not commit yourself to one party on Halloween but visit several, everyone will be eager to find out more about you!

Try to use the energy of Mercury placed in far reaching Sagittarius to your advantage prior to Mercury turning retrograde on November 6th.

Mercury will remain in its apparent retrograde movement until it heads direct on November 26th it is best to avoid signing any contracts, taking any trips and solidifying any financial agreements.

Retrograde periods are best for re-viewing and re-analyzing and once Mercury heads direct you are able to apply what you have re-considered.

Mercury retrograde is in full effect during the Thanksgiving Holiday, Aquarius a humanitarian sign may opt to not travel anywhere especially with the number of delays Mercury in Retrograde dishes out, perhaps Aquarians can spend the day with those less fortunate giving out food at your local homeless shelter.

Pisces Pisces is the ruler of the 12th house home to dreams, illusions and escapism; directly across from Pisces is the sign of Virgo ruler of the 6th house of daily activities. For much of September the transiting Sun as well as Mercury planet of communication are placed in the meticulous, detail oriented sign of the virgin. The end result is friction for the day dreaming Pisces as they feel their values are being called into question. Mars planet of direct action placed in fellow water sign of Scorpio till October 7th will give you the drive you need to accomplish tasks thus adding an element of force to your inherent passive nature.

You will further get a boost from Scorpios intensity when Mercury planet of communication travels through fellow water sign of Scorpio on the 6th of October till October 29th with Sun joining on October 24 this marks an excellent time to get out and socialize at a preHalloween bash while the Sun and Mercury are in the deep seeking water sign Scorpio and Venus is at the end of

its month long visit in earth sign Virgo. Water + Earth= Great times for the mutable fish. Take a hold of this energy while it bears fruit.

In the first week of November, Mercury planet of communication begins its 3 week long apparent backward motion just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. Pisces are mutable fish known for swimming with the ebb and flow of life, still a sensitive sign you may find you are absorbing other people’s frustrations while stranded at the airport, individuals screaming that their cell phone suddenly stopped functioning or perhaps at work the office elevator is stuck on floor 23. It is best to remain calm and adopt the philosophy: what will be will be. Further adding to the mutable fish frustration is the Suns entrance into fellow mutable sign of Sagittarius on November 22nd forming friction to the Pisces Sun, you may feel challenged by others and come up against adversaries, simply reach into your natural stowaway of intuition and you will know exactly how to respond.

Pisces Stars:

Aquarius Stars:

Wilmer Valderaama, Cybil Shepard, Denise Richards, Paris Hilton, Matt Dillion, Bob Marley, Mischa Barton, Portia Derossi, & Jennifer Aniston “A Woman’s perfume tells more about her than her handwriting”

James Blunt, Rob Lowe, Bruce Willis, Spike Lee, Rihanna, Elizabeth Taylor, Drew Barrymore, Eva Mendes, Jessica Biel, & Justin Bieber “I think the idea of mixing luxury and mass-market fashion is very modern, very now - no one wears head-to-toe designer anymore”

- Designer & Aquarius Christian Dior

–Designer & Pisces Alexander McQueen