April Horoscopes: Twitter’s Favorite Astrologers Explain How to Navigate the Post-Mercury Retrograde Blues
As we exit one of the most tumultuous Mercury retrogrades, there will be a lot of energy enabling you to try new things and to be brave this month, as your April horoscopes reflects. This is a great month to take a chance—on a project, a person you’ve had your eye on, or on yourself. The new moon in Aries on April 5 will remind you of your creative ambitions. The full moon in Libra on April 19 is a great time to bring something new into your house. Spring will energize you, as it always does. So will the stars.
Yours in the stars and on Earth, The Astro Poets
Aries
You’ll have to make some financial choices this month that will have an impact on what the rest of your year looks like. More than anything else, this has to do with you and your lifestyle. In short, you’ll be thinking a lot about money and being conservative when it comes to trips and the summer. You’ll also be thinking about your current romantic life and the feeling of being stuck. If you’re with someone, this isn’t new for you—you’ve been thinking it for a while. If you aren’t, as the assertive, fire-driven Aries you know yourself to be, you want to change this and find more than a one-night stand. It’s not at all like you to wait or be patient when you figure out something in your life isn’t the way you’d like it. You may have waited too long, and been stuck too long, to continue in the same vein. So, get free any way you can. Put yourself out there without apology or fear.
Taurus
With all of the flowers and everything now in full bloom, you’ll be feeling romantic this month. There’s a person you’ve had your heart set on for a while. Now is the time to make a commitment. Perhaps you’re already in some sort of relationship with them, or are just getting to know them. Whatever the case, you will use the energy of these weeks to push things to the next level so that they’re certain of your lifelong intentions. Something to remember is to take your time with this courtship, despite the urgency of your feelings. You love to take things slow but not always when it comes to love, so give into your more measured nature and really pamper your person in a determined and purposeful way. And while you’re giving all of this attention away, remember to pamper yourself, too. This April might be a good time to go to a spa or some other place that emphasizes wellness and relaxation. When your career gets moving next month, you’ll be glad you set aside this time for self-care.
Gemini
This month will test your resolve in the workplace. You’re a sign of ideas and constant brainstorming. This is truly an asset, as you think more creatively (and also more wildly) than others. If you’re starting a new project, or in the middle of one, someone above you will be looking for proof that you can execute it. Don’t let this derail you, as (unlike a Capricorn or Virgo) you hate external pressure. You may have to work more collaboratively with those around you, and we do recommend Earth signs in general for you this month. Keeping them in your orbit will stabilize you, at work and in your personal life. You may be feeling a little lost romantically, even if you’re with someone. Remember that spring is always an existential and strange time for you. Survive it. Get to June.
Cancer
You have been on a mission the past few weeks, and April will give you the opportunity to see some of your dreams come to fruition. All you have worked hard for will have a good outcome, but you should also remember to celebrate your accomplishments. Perhaps plan a getaway trip with your friends and extended family. It’s not summertime yet, but the new spring vibes will give you additional energy, and more of the same energy you’ve used to get where you are. As for love, you will continue to feel fixated on the person you’ve been obsessing with for the past month. Because of your emotional nature, these feelings can be both good and bad, so be prepared for some tears mid-month. The most important thing to remember is that feeling is a process, and that these long-term emotions will shift by summer. Hang in there!
Leo
You’re very good at being in a relationship after the initial honeymoon phase wears off. You’re loyal and willing to endure a lot. Perhaps you’ve found yourself there again and are spending the majority of your time and energy with your current partner. Or perhaps your obsessive drive has found you putting in long hours at work, and attending to a creative project on the side. Either way, this month will test your friendships and their place in your life. You’re not great at apologies or admitting to anything but the best intentions, but you’ll have to get honest with one or more of your friends this April. They’ll demand that of you. And they’ll also demand more of your time. Take their concerns seriously, and try not to feel hurt or attacked, which is how you’re known to respond even to gentle critique. There’s a big lesson about value and generosity in there.
Sanctuary
Ralph Lauren’s ostrich feather and silk cape and silk tulle top, at select Ralph Lauren stores, ralphlauren.com; Melet Mercantile’s vintage nylon dress, at Melet Mercantile, New York, meletmercantile.com.
Louis Vuitton’s polyamide and viscose lace jacket, 866.VUITTON, louisvuitton.com; Kiki De Montparnasse’s silk and French lace bra, at Kiki De Montparnasse, New York, kikidm.com; DSquared2’s marabou feather and silk skirt, to order, dsquared2.com. Givenchy hat; Yves Saint Laurent belt; Gerbe hosiery; Nina Ricci shoes.
Escada’s ostrich feather and silk jacket with hand-embroidered beads, at Escada, 877.206.4135; Calvin Klein Collection’s silk and nylon dress, at Calvin Klein Collection, New York. Alexander McQueen gloves.
Beauty Note: Bare limbs stay sleek with Darphin Nourishing Smoothing Body Scrub.
Givenchy’s ostrich feather, acrylic and silk dress, by Riccardo Tisci, givenchy.com. Heather Huey hat.
Dolce & Gabbana’s silk tulle and lace dress, dolcegabbana.it. Lacrasia gloves.
Rochas’s silk tulle dress, at Barneys New York, barneys.com; Oscar de la Renta’s beaded silk faille and turkey and coque feather skirt, at Oscar de la Renta, 888.782.6357. Ellen Christine couture millinery headpiece; Ann Demeulemeester headpiece; Abakus cuff.
Alexander McQueen’s duck feather and silk and polyester organza dress, to order, at Alexander McQueen, New York. Falke hosiery.
Beauty Note: Even rainforest conditions won’t muss a smooth ’do with TiGi Bed Head Some Like it Hot Heat & Humidity Resistant Serum.
Valentino’s embroidered marabou feather and silk satin vest, at Valentino, valentino.com; Nina Ricci’s metallic washed wool and silk satin bodysuit, nina-ricci.fr. Nina Ricci shoes.
Ellen Christine couture millinery headpiece.
Beauty Note: Skin stays moisturized and shielded from the sun with SK-II Facial Treatment UV Protection.
Comme des Garcons’ nylon tulle dress with pearl detail, to order, at Comme des Garcons, New York.
Lanvin’s silk tulle dress, at Barneys New York, New York, barneys.com.
J. Mendel’s sequined silk tulle dress, at J. Mendel, 800.JMENDEL; Bergdorf Goodman, New York; Saks Fifth Avenue, Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Hair and feather headdresses by Recine; makeup by Aaron De Mey/Lancome. Model: Guinevere Van Seenus/IMG. Set design by Philipp Haemmerle; production by Leone Ioannou Productions; digital technician: Heather Sommerfield. Photography assistants: Lars Beaulieu and Johnny Vicari. fashion assistants: Patrick Mackie and Jorden Bickham.
Special thanks to Mary Ferguson at the Greyfield Inn, where the crew stayed while in Cumberland Island, Georgia.
Virgo
You’ve come a long way over the past few months, in terms of changing your life for the better. You’ve seen the possibilities of the future clearly, and done work on changing your behavior and cutting people from your life who are not positive for you. Remember in the space of new spring not to let old patterns in, especially in moments of exhaustion and weakness. You have so much to give to the world and you don’t need people who can only take from you to weigh you down. Toward the end of April, you will see continued career prospects come your way. It’s important to follow up on them. While you’re known for being prompt, and a hard worker, you may get distracted around this time and could miss some key opportunities. Keep your eye on your goals and this month will be a great one.
Libra
This is a great month for an aesthetic shift and changing something in your home décor. As a Libra, you’re always thinking about style and how to seamlessly integrate your surroundings with your personality. Aesthetic harmony is more important to you than other signs. Indulge, as spring truly kicks in, and spend some money on giving yourself this kind of peace. You’ll be more motivated to do everything else better if your imagination matches your day-to-day reality. Getting your house or apartment in order will also have you feeling more social. It’s just how you work. Love is also in the cards for you—perhaps not immediately, but definitely by summer. Be on the lookout, and more earnest than witty. (Witty’s naturally easy for you.)
Scorpio
Industry is a kind of motion that makes sense to you. Pressure-filled work scenarios will dominate your life this month. This is good, as you are focused on your career goals, and your ambition is in overdrive. There will be plenty of opportunities for growth and advancement. Be certain to keep reminding everyone around just how special and key you are to the seamless way things run in your workplace, as people sometimes have a tendency to overlook your contributions because you can be secretive about them. Remember that you don’t need to be a loud or toot your own horn, but it’s okay to let everyone see what a star you are. At the same time, you will also fall madly in love. Whether it will last past June is entirely up to you.
Sagittarius
Last month’s Mercury retrograde hit you hard. It raised doubts about your career path and if other people really see your worth. You do know the answers to these questions, but they’re not the right questions to be asking. Reflection is not what you need right now. Focus on action, on making, and on getting up every morning and working toward your goals. You’re a sign that’s naturally self-motivated, but naturally self-critical to the point of paralysis too. You’re the one who has to make the choice of whether to keep going or to stay in and obsessively reflect over things you can’t control. Don’t be ashamed of your quiet optimism, even if it isn’t completely tied to logic. That’s your real gift, Sagittarius. That’s exactly why you’ve come this far.
Your Spring 2018 Horoscope Comes to Life
After moving from Los Angeles to New York City to pursue writing, Paloma Elsesser found herself modeling. Her big break came when makeup guru Pat McGrath chose Elsesser to appear as one of the first faces of McGrath’s new beauty line; since then, she’s become a sought-after model for the likes of Fenty x Puma and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna and Eckhaus Latta. And, seeing as Elsesser counts Chrissie Miller—the designer behind the label Sophomore and the daughter of fashion’s favorite astrologist, Susan Miller—among her friends, it’s perhaps only to be expected that she take a passing interest in the movements of the stars. (Her parents are “super into it,” she noted; Elsesser herself used to follow it more closely than she does now.) “I do see how my sign manifests in many of my behaviors,” Elsesser added. “Aries, I believe, are fiercely loyal and very intense, because we’re highly emotional. We’re, I’ve noticed, very talkative, outgoing, competitive.” She paused for a beat, lowering her voice to a singsong whisper. “Oopsy.”
Paloma Elsesser at IMG wears Prada jacket, Gap t-shirt, Marina Rinaldi pants, Jennifer Fisher hoop earrings, Bond ring, and Prada shoes. Directed by Cycy Sanders; styled by Simon Robins at CLM; hair by Jimmy Paul at Susan Price NYC; makeup by Frankie Boyd at Streeters using Tom Ford Beauty; manicures by Eri Handa for Chanel at MAM-NYC; set design by Bette Adams at MHS Artists. Director of photography: Peter Mylachaski; gaffer: Brad Reeb; gaffer assistant: Ben Peck; second camera: Jason Amendolara; production assistant: Eddie Tyler; fashion assistants: Rasaan Wyzard, Jonathan Coker. Special thanks to the Gramercy Park Hotel, Dishful.
If you were to meet model Ali Michael on a job, she might ask you to text your mom to find out the precise time and location of your birth, according to your birth certificate. “I just did it yesterday,” she said on a recent March afternoon, “and her life was changed.” Around seven years ago, Michael—a Taurus, Scorpio rising, Aquarius moon—received her full chart from an astrologer friend in Los Angeles (“very typical, very Los Angeles,” she commented), and she’s been an avid follower of the movements of celestial bodies ever since. Still, she said she tries not to attribute too much of her day-to-day to the influence of the stars; you won’t catch her, for example, bracing for the upcoming Mercury retrograde. “I don’t want to live my life based on astrology, but I think it can be useful to make yourself aware of certain tendencies you might have,” she said. “I have two polarities inside me: One is very in tune with spirituality and a greater force, and then I have the capability to be very detached and nihilistic,” she added. “Astrology is reassuring and comforting, because it’s a force that’s greater than we are.”
Ali Michael at NEXT wears Rodarte dress, bracelets, and boots, and headband from New York Vintage. Directed by Cycy Sanders; styled by Simon Robins at CLM; hair by Jimmy Paul at Susan Price NYC; makeup by Frankie Boyd at Streeters using Tom Ford Beauty; manicures by Eri Handa for Chanel at MAM-NYC; set design by Bette Adams at MHS Artists. Director of photography: Peter Mylachaski; gaffer: Brad Reeb; gaffer assistant: Ben Peck; second camera: Jason Amendolara; production assistant: Eddie Tyler; fashion assistants: Rasaan Wyzard, Jonathan Coker. Special thanks to the Beekman Hotel, Dishful.
Mayowa Nicholas and Samile Bermannelli had met in passing on the fashion week circuit in seasons past, but it wasn’t until a recent March afternoon that the two Geminis discovered that they were, in fact, astrological twins: They were both born on May 22, 1998. (Bermannelli has a pair of tattoos to mark the day—on one arm, the Gemini symbol, and on the other, the number 22.) And by the end of their three hours together on set, they were finishing each other’s sentences as they outlined their shared star sign’s mercurial nature. “I hate when people say we are two-faced,” Bermannelli said. After all, it’s not that the twins are inherently duplicitous; instead, their moods change quickly, and the self the Gemini projects is not always the same as the self she keeps private. “We Geminis get irritated quickly,” Nicholas explained. But then, “we can switch, like, ‘we need to be happy now,’” she added. Bermannelli agreed. “Why do we understand each other?” Nicholas asked. Because, well, they’re Geminis.
Samile Bermannelli at Elite Model Management NYC wears Versace gown, Jennifer Fisher hoop earrings, Manolo Blanik shoes. Mayowa Nicholas at The Society Management wears Versace jumpsuit, Jennifer Fisher hoop earrings, Gianvito Rossi shoes. Directed by Cycy Sanders; styled by Simon Robins at CLM; hair by Jimmy Paul at Susan Price NYC; makeup by Frankie Boyd at Streeters using Tom Ford Beauty; manicures by Eri Handa for Chanel at MAM-NYC; set design by Bette Adams at MHS Artists. Director of photography: Peter Mylachaski; gaffer: Brad Reeb; gaffer assistant: Ben Peck; second camera: Jason Amendolara; production assistant: Eddie Tyler; fashion assistants: Rasaan Wyzard, Jonathan Coker. Special thanks to the Gramercy Park Hotel, Dishful.
“I’m a moon goddess,” supermodel—and Cancer—Pat Cleveland said as she took a seat in the lobby lounge of the Gramercy Park Hotel. Her sign is a famously nurturing and empathetic one: “No matter what, you’re going to be a mother to somebody,” she explained. Astrology is something that has fascinated Cleveland for a long time. An emerging model in the ’70s, she recalled an era when acquaintances would introduce themselves with their star sign: “When I first met my husband,” she recalled, “I said, ‘Oh, I’m a Cancerian.’” It turned out that Paul van Ravenstein—her husband of more than 30 years, with whom she has two children—Anna Cleveland and Noel van Ravenstein, both models—was also a Cancer. It’s fortunate, then, that Cancers are especially compatible signs. But, born June 23, Cleveland also teeters on the edge of Gemini, with a moon in Libra, and she quickly reeled off qualities she drew from each sign: a facility with words, thanks to Gemini; a penchant for comfort and familiarity, thanks to Cancer; and an eye for aesthetics, thanks to Libra. She first began exploring astrology as a teenager growing up in New York City, where she would make pilgrimages to the occult specialist Weiser Bookshop on Lexington Avenue. “Astrology is so ancient,” she said. “The forbidden knowledge—it’s forbidden to know so much about somebody, like I know about you right now.” She looked at me intensely. “Every person becomes like an exciting book to read.”
Pat Cleveland at The Model Scoop wears Nili Lotan, Giles scarf, Manolo Blahnik shoes, Cartier hoop earrings, bracelet, and ring. Directed by Cycy Sanders; styled by Simon Robins at CLM; hair by Jimmy Paul at Susan Price NYC; makeup by Frankie Boyd at Streeters using Tom Ford Beauty; manicures by Eri Handa for Chanel at MAM-NYC; set design by Bette Adams at MHS Artists. Director of photography: Peter Mylachaski; gaffer: Brad Reeb; gaffer assistant: Ben Peck; second camera: Jason Amendolara; production assistant: Eddie Tyler; fashion assistants: Rasaan Wyzard, Jonathan Coker. Special thanks to the Gramercy Park Hotel, Dishful.
Belarusian model Sasha Kichigina, a self-professed woman of science, once put considerable effort into debunking astrology—even calling up a friend’s astrologer just to mislead her; naturally, as a result, the astrologer was “wrong 95 percent of the time,” Kichigina said recently. But at the same time, she considers herself “the Leo-est Leo you can find.” (Her lion-like head of tousled curls, just one of the characteristics that have made her a regular on the runway at Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, and Jeremy Scott, also bears mentioning.) Outgoing by nature, Kichigina shares Leo’s fondness for the spotlight and seizing control of a situation—yet, she admitted, she’s something of an introvert. “Because there’s a weird desire to be the center of attention, you force yourself to be an extrovert,” the 19-year-old model said. “Leo says, ‘Go, communicate, socialize,’ and inner Sasha says, ‘No, no, I don’t want to be born on the 15th of August.’”
Sasha Kichigina at Elite wears Dior top, pants and shoes, Pologeorgis jacket, David Webb earrings and rings. Directed by Cycy Sanders; styled by Simon Robins at CLM; hair by Jimmy Paul at Susan Price NYC; makeup by Frankie Boyd at Streeters using Tom Ford Beauty; manicures by Eri Handa for Chanel at MAM-NYC; set design by Bette Adams at MHS Artists. Director of photography: Peter Mylachaski; gaffer: Brad Reeb; gaffer assistant: Ben Peck; second camera: Jason Amendolara; production assistant: Eddie Tyler; fashion assistants: Rasaan Wyzard, Jonathan Coker. Special thanks to the Beekman Hotel, Dishful.
Since she first emerged into the fashion consciousness in 2015—when she walked no fewer than 74 shows during a single season—Estonian model Alexandra Elizabeth Ljadov, a proud Virgo, has dipped into every facet of modeling, working both behind and in front of the camera on various video and editorial projects. She recently art-directed a surreal new video for rapper and Mr. Robot actor Joey Bada$$, and she has begun scripting her own short film, a psychological thriller set in the fashion world. (Nicolas Winding Refn, watch your back.) “I love acting and obviously, I love attention, hello,” she said, giggling. As her sign might indicate, she’s able to navigate these various projects thanks to a steadfast, organized nature, especially when it comes to her creative endeavors. “If I commit to something, I’m there,” she said. “I’m going to come through.”
Alexandra Elizabeth at The Society wears Simone Rocha dress and barrettes, Dior shoes. Directed by Cycy Sanders; styled by Simon Robins at CLM; hair by Jimmy Paul at Susan Price NYC; makeup by Frankie Boyd at Streeters using Tom Ford Beauty; manicures by Eri Handa for Chanel at MAM-NYC; set design by Bette Adams at MHS Artists. Director of photography: Peter Mylachaski; gaffer: Brad Reeb; gaffer assistant: Ben Peck; second camera: Jason Amendolara; production assistant: Eddie Tyler; fashion assistants: Rasaan Wyzard, Jonathan Coker. Special thanks to the Gramercy Park Hotel, Dishful.
Libra, the sign of the scales, is astrology’s great diplomat, an arbiter of harmony, “no light without dark and vice versa,” explained Dutch model Julia van Os recently. It was late morning at the Beekman Hotel in Manhattan’s Financial District, and her Boston terrier, Sid, tugged at her leash as she considered the air sign’s nature. “We love beauty and order, which is all very true,” van Os added. (She also admitted to a bit of a perfectionist streak, as well as a need to balance her social obligations with time to herself.) Van Os first emerged as one of the most sought-after models of the Fall 2015 season, during which she walked more than 40 shows; she has since appeared in campaigns for brands including Calvin Klein and Alexander McQueen and walked for the likes of Balmain, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, and Brandon Maxwell. She first found her interest in astrology whetted by a book she discovered in her grandmother’s home. “I was like, ‘I don’t really believe it’—but it makes so much sense,” she admitted, upon reading the details of her own chart. “It makes sense that everything in this world is a balance between different elements.”
Julia Van Os at Women wears Dundas dress, Swarovski earrings, Tiffany & Co. ring. Directed by Cycy Sanders; styled by Simon Robins at CLM; hair by Jimmy Paul at Susan Price NYC; makeup by Frankie Boyd at Streeters using Tom Ford Beauty; manicures by Eri Handa for Chanel at MAM-NYC; set design by Bette Adams at MHS Artists. Director of photography: Peter Mylachaski; gaffer: Brad Reeb; gaffer assistant: Ben Peck; second camera: Jason Amendolara; production assistant: Eddie Tyler; fashion assistants: Rasaan Wyzard, Jonathan Coker. Special thanks to the Beekman Hotel, Dishful.
It was just a year and a half ago that South Sudanese–Australian model Duckie Thot met Kanye West at a casting in New York City, resulting in her first runway gig—walking the now-infamous Yeezy Season 4 show on Roosevelt Island. Since then, Thot has established herself as one of the industry’s most formidable young models, earning a coveted role as one of the faces of Fenty Beauty and starring as the titular Alice in Tim Walker’s Alice in Wonderland–inspired Pirelli calendar. It’s not hard to see why she’s become a close collaborator of both Rihanna and Pat McGrath, endowed as she is with boundless energy and an outsize personality, which she credits to her Scorpio nature: “We’re loud, we’re cute, we’re sensitive,” she explained on a recent spring afternoon. “We’re creative little bums.” Plus, she added, “we’re quite raunchy in bed, apparently.” Apparently? “No comment! No comment,” she squealed, bounding up from her chair. “I’m not answering that question. That is a secret one.”
Duckie Thot at NY Model Management wears Dilara Findikoglu gown, Lonely Hearts bra, Araks brief (worn underneath), Chrome Hearts bracelets, Chrome Hearts ring on right hand, Chrome Hearts bracelets, Chrome Hearts, Bonheur Jewelry, and John Hardy rings on left hand. Directed by Cycy Sanders; styled by Simon Robins at CLM; hair by Jimmy Paul at Susan Price NYC; makeup by Frankie Boyd at Streeters using Tom Ford Beauty; manicures by Eri Handa for Chanel at MAM-NYC; set design by Bette Adams at MHS Artists. Director of photography: Peter Mylachaski; gaffer: Brad Reeb; gaffer assistant: Ben Peck; second camera: Jason Amendolara; production assistant: Eddie Tyler; fashion assistants: Rasaan Wyzard, Jonathan Coker. Special thanks to the Beekman Hotel, Dishful.
Wearing a crystal-encrusted grill across her incisors, transparent sunglasses whose lenses were dusted with glitter (perhaps not the most practical, but cool as hell), and a fluffy, cropped bomber jacket, Jazzelle Zanaughtti—the model who is also known by her Instagram handle, @uglyworldwide—strode into a sprawling suite at the Beekman Hotel on a recent March morning. Zanaughtti is a Sagittarius, the extroverted, adventurous fire sign—though she hardly keeps apprised of the migrations of constellations. “I barely know my own,” she admitted. Nevertheless, she listed a litany of Sagittarian traits with which she identifies. “Free-spirited, likes to travel,” she said. “Adventurous, rebellious, intense.” Instead of following the stars, Zanaughtti prefers to take her spirituality with sage and Palo Santo, with which she smudges her apartment each morning. As Mercury prepares to enter a retrograde period, it’s never too soon to start banishing negativity. The ritual, in addition to its cleansing properties, has another benefit: relieving the smell of cigarette smoke inside the flat.
Jazzelle Zanaughtti at NY Model Management wears Junya Watanabe dress and necklace, Capezio bodysuit, Kat Kim and Jennifer Fisher earrings, Lynn Ban rings. Directed by Cycy Sanders; styled by Simon Robins at CLM; hair by Jimmy Paul at Susan Price NYC; makeup by Frankie Boyd at Streeters using Tom Ford Beauty; manicures by Eri Handa for Chanel at MAM-NYC; set design by Bette Adams at MHS Artists. Director of photography: Peter Mylachaski; gaffer: Brad Reeb; gaffer assistant: Ben Peck; second camera: Jason Amendolara; production assistant: Eddie Tyler; fashion assistants: Rasaan Wyzard, Jonathan Coker. Special thanks to the Beekman Hotel, Dishful.
Hunter Schafer, who has walked for the likes of Miu Miu, Marc Jacobs, and Helmut Lang by Shayne Oliver, doesn’t put much stock in astrology (“I don’t believe in entities that aren’t physical,” she said), nor does she consider herself much of a Capricorn—evidencing a groundedness that, coincidentally, might be her most Capricorn trait. (By contrast, she does not relate to the sign’s apparent penchant for discipline and order: “I’m told,” she said, “that I need to pay attention to a moon sign or something.”) Still, her tenaciousness and motivation show through in her every project. In addition to a modeling career on the ascent, this fall she’s heading to London’s storied fashion institution, Central Saint Martins, to study design—and, since 2016, she’s been embroiled in a lawsuit, alongside the American Civil Liberties Union, against North Carolina for the state’s so-called “bathroom bill.” So, as for that Capricornian combativeness, “I’ll fight who I want to,” she said. “Who I need to.”
Hunter Schafer at Elite wears Tom Ford suit jacket, skirt, shoes, De Beers earrings and necklace. Directed by Cycy Sanders; styled by Simon Robins at CLM; hair by Jimmy Paul at Susan Price NYC; makeup by Frankie Boyd at Streeters using Tom Ford Beauty; manicures by Eri Handa for Chanel at MAM-NYC; set design by Bette Adams at MHS Artists. Director of photography: Peter Mylachaski; gaffer: Brad Reeb; gaffer assistant: Ben Peck; second camera: Jason Amendolara; production assistant: Eddie Tyler; fashion assistants: Rasaan Wyzard, Jonathan Coker. Special thanks to the Beekman Hotel, Dishful.
In October 2017, Dutch model Betsy Teske, an Aquarian, made headlines when, during the Paris Fashion Week Spring 2018 shows, she became the first plus-size model (or, as she describes herself, “curvy model”) to walk for Alexander McQueen. Just a few months later, designer Sarah Burton asked her back—this time, for the Fall 2018 season, during which she appeared along with the likes of Stella Tennant and Liya Kebede. She may not follow astrology particularly closely, but she certainly identifies with her Aquarian traits: “The definition of Aquarius is me,” she said, unspooling a whole list of characteristics. “Honest, open, creative, insecure—that’s true,” she added. The sign is also a reliably intellectual one. As her career has gained momentum, Teske, an aspiring lawyer attending law school in her native Netherlands, has put her education on a brief hiatus, but she plans to return to the books before long. “It’s a hard thing to say about yourself,” she said, “but actually, intellectual, yeah.”
Betsy Teske at Muse Management wears Calvin Klein 205W39NYC dress and shoes, Tom Ford glasses. Directed by Cycy Sanders; styled by Simon Robins at CLM; hair by Jimmy Paul at Susan Price NYC; makeup by Frankie Boyd at Streeters using Tom Ford Beauty; manicures by Eri Handa for Chanel at MAM-NYC; set design by Bette Adams at MHS Artists. Director of photography: Peter Mylachaski; gaffer: Brad Reeb; gaffer assistant: Ben Peck; second camera: Jason Amendolara; production assistant: Eddie Tyler; fashion assistants: Rasaan Wyzard, Jonathan Coker. Special thanks to the Gramercy Park Hotel, Dishful.
The 12th sign in the zodiac, Pisces is, according to model and astrology aficionada Rachel Hilbert, “all the signs in one,” she explained recently. It’s particularly known as the artistic, shy sign, content to spend time alone—but Hilbert, a one-time Victoria’s Secret Pink spokesmodel who began learning about astrology in her early teens, poring over books at a bookstore in the New York suburb where she grew up, relates more to her rising-Gemini side. On a recent early spring afternoon, just a few days before her birthday (March 14), she perched on a chair in the Gramercy Park Hotel’s lobby lounge, a David LaChapelle portrait of Eminem looming overhead. Hilbert, endowed with Gemini’s outgoing, gregarious nature, spoke in rapid-fire sentences, outlining the contours of astrology with overwhelming enthusiasm. An avid follower of not only astrology, but also tarot and psychic readings, she may not read her horoscope every day, but she certainly consults it when confronted with important life decisions—“all the time, even though I shouldn’t at all”—and whenever a full moon or Mercury retrograde looms in the cosmos. (Mercury enters a retrograde period again on March 22.) “I never sign any contracts; I never make any big decisions; I never make any money decisions, because I get too psyched out,” she said. During the lunar eclipse in January, she did acupuncture and sound healing: “That’s the kind of stuff I love,” she said.
Rachel Hilbert at The Lions wears Alexander McQueen dress, necklace, belt and boots. Directed by Cycy Sanders; styled by Simon Robins at CLM; hair by Jimmy Paul at Susan Price NYC; makeup by Frankie Boyd at Streeters using Tom Ford Beauty; manicures by Eri Handa for Chanel at MAM-NYC; set design by Bette Adams at MHS Artists. Director of photography: Peter Mylachaski; gaffer: Brad Reeb; gaffer assistant: Ben Peck; second camera: Jason Amendolara; production assistant: Eddie Tyler; fashion assistants: Rasaan Wyzard, Jonathan Coker. Special thanks to the Gramercy Park Hotel, Dishful.
Capricorn
People think of you as the person who loves to work, but work is not the only thing you will want to do this month. After making sure you’ve worked ahead and left things in order, you will take a step back from the daily grind at your workplace. You will want to use this time to reconvene with nature and your family, and to put your long-term ambitions on the back burner. Perhaps a trip with your loved ones is in order—somewhere where you’ve always wanted to return to, so you can get back to what you most value: love. Both romantic and familial love are what drive you, and that’s certainly what will drive you this April. It’s good to give into it. You should also buy some new home furnishings, preferably in a deep yellow hue, which will serve as inspiration.
Aquarius
There are many things you feel uncertain about, and one of them is where to put your energy—into your dream and what you really want to be doing with your life, or into security, and a job or task that may take you away from that dream. Remember that just thinking about this is you not giving up on the life you’re trying to build for yourself. The answers may not be immediate or clear. You’ll have to endure this limbo stage and find out how badly you want what you think you do. Your friends will steer you in the right direction, though secretly, you already know what it is. A close friend, in an entirely different field and situation, will give you the best advice. Listen to them and continue to surround yourself with people who understand your often understated character, that cares deeply but needs time to show that.
Pisces
Health and happiness, on a large and small scale, are key to your contentment this month. You’re feeling concerned about many events occurring in the news and have been trying to figure out ways to make sure everyone will be okay. You’re also struggling with deep fears that your loved ones are not completely fulfilled, and will be driven to assist them. These noble pursuits are part of what make you so amazing, but this April, in spite of them, try to remember to focus on your career goals as well. This is always a hard lesson for you to learn, but the fuller you are, the fuller everything around you is as well. Make sure you are getting everything you need before you rush to help others, and the lively spring air will blow warmth your way.
Related: Ask the Astro Poets: How Do I Live My Best Life If I’m Sad?
