October 23, 2025 • 42 mins
Have you ever wondered what your astrology chart might look like in an outfit?!
As soon as I started learning more about myself through astrology I naturally became obsessed with exploring how I could visually represent myself in full expression in my online brand by using my astrology chart as a guide.
Then I met my chart twin, Leah Vandervelt, and she opened my eyes to the magic, wonder and visual playground astrology can provide when you combine it with personal style. So naturally I had to invite her onto the Creative Magic Club podcast to spill the tea about why she makes witchcraft look SO GOOD.
From living her best Devil Wears Prada life in the fashion world to becoming a Cosmic Style Witch, Leah helps her clients visually express the energy of their zodiac signs through their personal style and visual identity.
In this episode, we chat about:
✨ Developing a personal style using your birth chart to represent yourself artistically — from legacy imagery like book covers and branding shoots to the everyday outfits that make you feel magnetic in your work.
✨ Leah’s journey of expressing all the facets of herself authentically, and how she learned to embody her mystical side without falling into color and visual stereotypes that didn’t feel true to her.
✨ The rise of the color witch — a new archetype of mystics (think Barbie Witch energy) — proving we’re allowed to be all the things, and that magic doesn’t have to look one way.
✨ Using astrology to make branding decisions, and how to build a visual vocabulary that empowers you to be fully yourself online.
✨ Simple, accessible ways to style yourself — even if you feel “aesthetically challenged” — by noticing the colors, shapes, and moods you’re naturally drawn to.
✨ How aesthetics form their own language, and how understanding why you’re attracted to certain looks can help you create a brand and wardrobe that truly resonate, and that can attract more of your people in the process.
If you’ve ever wanted to infuse your brand or wardrobe with your unique cosmic energy — and do it in a way that feels authentic, magical, and totally you — this conversation will spark magic.
Write a sales post to attract your soul mate client using you astrology chart with my FREE 5-part training series! https://withsarahmac.com/cosmic-attraction-copywriting/
The Cosmic Copy Mastermind is THE place to get the support that will bring your dream of becoming a 6-figure creative to life in 2025 by selling your high-ticket offers with sales copy driven by stories and guided by astrology.
Message me the word MASTERMIND on instagram @sarahmacmagic for the full details.
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_00 (00:03):
Creative Magic Club.
What's up?
This is Sarah Mack and welcometo Creative Magic Club.
Together we'll discoverinspirational stories of
creative entrepreneurs livingout their dreams, doing the work
they are most passionate about,and building wealth in magical
(00:25):
and fun ways.
While building a six-figureincome as a writer and coach
helping other women to launchtheir dream businesses, I've
connected with so manyincredible people and seen it
proven again and again that youcan thrive financially doing
whatever it is you arepassionate about.
I'm here to share life-changingstrategies for mindset, making
money, and reaching more peoplewith your work in a business and
(00:48):
life filled with creativity,freedom, and fun.
Creative Magic Club.
Hi everyone, welcome to theCreative Magic Club podcast.
I'm so excited to introduce myguest today.
We have Leah Vanderbilt, who isan author, astrologer, tarot
(01:08):
deck creator, and cosmicstylist.
She helps the astro curious seetheir natural gifts and style
from a cosmic POV and use theirnatal charts to guide them to
bolder decisions and betteroutfits.
Hi Leah, thank you for joiningus.
Hi, thank you for having me.
So, fun fact about me and Leahis that we are astrology chart
twins.
(01:30):
I don't know how we discoveredthis, but oh yeah, you listen to
my podcast and you reach out andyou're like, oh, I have this
placement and this placement.
And then I was like, I need tosee your chart.
And then we went up.
SPEAKER_01 (01:40):
Yeah, I was like piecing it together.
I'm like, I'm pretty sure we'reborn within a couple of days of
each other in the same year.
SPEAKER_00 (01:46):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Leah's August 8th.
I'm August 10th.
So if you can find a chart towin, it's really fun.
I found a few through talkingabout astrology.
Like I have another one who's onmy email, he was on my email
list, became a client, and it'sjust fun, you know, to compare
notes.
I'm like, how are you doing?
And how is this impacting you?
And obviously it's not exactlythe same.
(02:08):
Our house placements are alittle different.
But um, but yeah, astrologyfriends, it's always helpful to
reflect and all about.
And the other thing that reallydrew me to connect with Leah is
she has incredible branding.
Like it's just, it's so fun.
(02:28):
I love it.
And obviously, I'm gonna love itbecause we have the same charts,
and you know, you're fullyexpressing yourself in all of
the ways that resonate with me.
Um, and yeah, I love that youuse astrology for personal
styling.
That's not like a crossover thatI've ever seen before.
So yeah, I'm curious.
Like, what's your story?
How did you get into this?
SPEAKER_01 (02:47):
Oh gosh, my very long, uh windy manifesting
generator path to um where I amtoday.
But yeah, I mean, most of mycareer I've been in um writing
and publishing.
I worked in magazines.
My first job out of college wasVogue.
I was a sales assistant there.
And it's just funny that I thinkI denied a lot of like the
(03:09):
fashion, like my personal umlike pull towards aesthetics and
fashion because I hated the waythat the high fashion world was
like very gatekeeper-y andworking in that environment.
Um, yeah, I truly like it, I wasliving my best devil wears
(03:29):
product life, except like I hadno Stanley Tucci to support me,
regrettably.
But yeah, and then I've I'veworked in, I worked in magazines
in Australia and always likevery like tiptoeing around the
aesthetics of it all.
And um I ended up going intofood editing and recipe
(03:52):
development.
And over that time I started toget into reading tarot and
learning astrology, and thenlike just that overlap
eventually got completelysaturated by the mystical stuff
and the astrology and the tarot.
And um yeah, in the past fewyears, I started to bring in
(04:13):
this uh style aspect, and Istarted just really wanting to
visually express what all thesigns and placements were about.
And so I just started playingaround with it and it has
evolved into this, you know,tool to help others define their
own personal style and figureout what they actually want to
(04:36):
express.
And the the Leo aspect of mychart was a huge part of that.
Um, because I think I, you know,like when you first, when
astrology first comes on yourradar, like I I I've known I was
a Leo my entire life.
But I think at a certain point Istarted to reject that aspect of
myself.
(04:56):
And when I got into learningastrology, I'm like, of course,
I'm a Cancer Rising, I'm aTaurus moon.
This feels like me.
I can like fully ignore the Leo.
And you absolutely can't,obviously.
Um, but when I started to leaninto my sun sign and dress for
my sun sign more and likeexpress that through colors and
(05:20):
just like little astrologicalbits of magic and things like
that, I was like, oh, okay.
I get it now.
And then like the Leo reallybecame that like cosmic style,
the personal style aspect of itthat really helped me come out
of my shell and embrace it all.
SPEAKER_00 (05:38):
I love the come out of my shell from a cancer
rising.
unknown (05:42):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (05:44):
It's a constant battle between that cancer
rising and the Leo sun for sure.
SPEAKER_00 (05:49):
Yeah, I bet.
It's funny because I feltsimilarly when I learnt about my
Gemini moon.
I was like, oh my god, this isme, this is who I really am.
Although I I I've alwaysstruggled to connect with my
Virgo rising.
I feel like Virgo is like themost boring sign.
And when you I mean it's not,it's not the most boring sign.
Like I will not hear you slanderyour Virgo.
(06:10):
But a lot of the a lot of theassociations are some of the
less fun ones, you know.
It's like, oh, perfectionism orbeing really analytical, like,
oh.
But um, but yeah, I think we gothrough different eras where
we're like, this is the part ofme that I love the best.
And yeah, and then when youunderstand, and then when I
understood that my Leo was inthe 12th house, I was like, oh
(06:32):
yeah, but no, I've always been aLeo through and through.
There's no hiding a Leo.
No, you cannot tamper down.
So yeah, I'm really curious whensomeone comes to you and they're
like, um help me express myselfmore through my style.
Like, which parts of the chartare there, is it always like the
similar parts of chart that youlook for?
(06:54):
Or does it like change verydependent on person to person?
SPEAKER_01 (06:57):
Yeah, it really does change person to person.
Like um, I it it really dependswhat the person's like stress
points are about where they feellike they are with their style.
And from there we can start todig into the chart.
And, you know, like it can beanything from making sure you're
(07:20):
looking at your sun sign,because that has been my own
personal experience.
Because often I do think likethe sun sign in us is the thing
we tend to shame the most, youknow, like the brightest light
casts the biggest shadows.
Um, but also, you know, ofcourse, we want to look at your
rising and your Venus and yourMC, like how you're projecting,
especially if you're trying toshow up in a professional
(07:42):
setting.
Um, and I love looking at thatfifth house, like signs, planets
in the fifth, because I reallydo feel like that's like the
joy, the pleasure, the innerchild, like dressing for your
inner child.
That's probably the Leo and metalking.
But I think that's like reallycan be very special for getting
back to the magic and back toyour own personal taste.
(08:04):
Like we lose our personal tastealong the way, um, out of, you
know, we're just bombarded byinfluence.
But and then I also really loveto look at the dark houses of
the chart, like speaking of your12th house son, my son in the
second house, and looking likethose areas that we can't see as
(08:24):
clearly.
Um, like for example, I was justgiving a cosmic style reading to
someone, and they mentioned thatthey owned a lot of black, they
were a Scorpio sun, they were aCapricorn rising, and but they
had their Venus in the 12th inSagittarius.
And I was like, ooh, what isthat Sagittarius part of you
(08:46):
want?
You know, like because likethat's such a different contrast
between the signs on either sideof that, right?
Like between Scorpio to Sag andSag to Cap, like vastly
different.
And like that little Sagittariusgetting sandwiched in there.
I'm like, oh, she wants to comeout and play a little bit.
Like, how can we figure out howto do that without like
(09:08):
overwhelming you, you know?
And so yeah, it really isdepends on like person to person
situation.
But I like I love digging in andlike finding that way in and
that like aha for um someone torealize, like, oh yeah, like I
do need a little bit moreboldness or color, or maybe I
need more structure and black,depending on the on the person.
(09:29):
I love that.
SPEAKER_00 (09:30):
Okay, so I have um Jupiter and Aquarius in my fifth
house.
SPEAKER_01 (09:34):
Yeah, let me look at your shirt.
SPEAKER_00 (09:36):
Um, I'm like, well, I'm wearing purple eyeliner
right now.
I feel like that's kind of likeAquarius.
SPEAKER_01 (09:40):
Totally.
I love your colors today.
It's like so perfect andbeautiful.
Yes, totally.
SPEAKER_00 (09:46):
And I do have a tendency to dress kind of a
little bit weird.
You know, I remember like whenum when I was in at university,
I lived with five of mygirlfriends and we'd all get
ready to dress up, and they wereall just very like well put
together.
And I would show up and they'dbe like, okay, let's first of
all take off like three of theseaccessories.
You know, it's like I would tryand put all of the different
(10:07):
style combinations together, butlike I would love it, you know,
like it's making me happy towear 10 million different colors
at once and like differentgenres of of style, but it
doesn't always last.
SPEAKER_01 (10:18):
Yeah, let that free flag fly.
Yeah, I feel like between likethe Jupiter in the fifth in
Aquarius and all the Leo places,it's like, yeah, we're
maximalist, like what of it?
Yeah, I love that.
And the of course the Virgorising is like rein it in.
Wait, what do you say about theVirgo rising?
Of course, your Virgo risingwould be like rein it in.
SPEAKER_00 (10:39):
Like the simplicity, simplicity.
Like, I I like I like patterns,but like simple patterns.
Um, what was the other thing Iwas gonna say that just came to
mind?
Oh yeah, why am I stuck in thevortex of constantly wearing
athleisure wear and not wantingto branch out?
Is that just because I live inLA now or like because I work
(11:00):
from home and I never have to gointo an office?
SPEAKER_01 (11:03):
Well, yeah, let's what are we looking at?
We've got a I'm looking at yourchart right now.
Um, because I'm like, ooh, arewe like sixth housing it?
How are we feeling?
Yeah, I mean, like athleisure isalways something I kind of like
associate with like the otherfire signs, like with Sag and
with Aries, because I'm like,they need to move.
(11:26):
Right, yeah.
And you've got like your I seein Sag.
Like I feel like the I see isanother great point too, because
it's like that point of comfort,like, and even the Gemini moon,
it's like you need to bemutable, you need to be able to
move around, like, and yeah,because you have the like
mutable rising, your I see andyour moon on that mutable
(11:51):
mutability, and it's just likeno, I need to be able to like
get up and run and snow.
SPEAKER_00 (11:56):
Yeah, and also maybe it's like my south node and
Scorpio.
I'm always like, I just I'malways getting my hands dirty,
you know.
I'm like, yeah, but I'm movingmore into my Taurus North Node,
and you know, obviously we'returning 40 this year, so I'm
trying to step more into my likeelegant era, you know, like I
(12:17):
really yeah to sports and pantsbecause I all I had was well,
yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:21):
Like we just like I feel like that Taurus North Node
still wants soft pants, likethey do not want hard pants, so
it's like finding elevated softpants, it's like linen over
clothes, whatever rayon orwhatever.
SPEAKER_00 (12:36):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Cool.
So okay, tell me, like what umdo you work with a lot of
clients who have um personalbrands and who are showing up
online and like trying toexpress themselves to kind of
show up on camera at all?
SPEAKER_01 (12:53):
Yeah, a little bit.
Like I've increasingly got hadclients who are like ready to
like be more visible, you know,like clients have like books
that they've written and thingsthat they're ready to promote.
And I love like supporting thatbecause um the it is kind of
(13:13):
it's kind of a cliche of youknow dressing as that like dress
for the job you want or whateverit is, or like dress what you
want to project.
It does like there is actualscience that backs that concept
of enclosed cognition where whenwe're wearing certain things, it
brings out different parts ofourselves and we are like able
(13:36):
to feel more capable andconfident in certain ways,
trying to nail down what peoplewant to be projecting out there,
in addition to what is naturallyin their chart.
You know, of course, looking atthe 10th house is always a
really good go-to when peoplewant to be more visible because
(13:56):
that's how people are gonnaperceive you in one way or
another.
So, how do we work with that toalso convey the message you want
to convey?
You know, and often theyoverlap, of course.
But yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (14:08):
Yeah, I really felt that with doing the photo shoot
for my book cover because it'slike, you know, it's gonna be is
immortalized the right word?
Or, you know, it's just thislike legacy that's gonna last
for eternity.
And wanting to just really feellike myself, like I had a one
photo shoot, which just did notturn out.
(14:29):
How you know, I just felt likeit didn't really represent me.
And I'm not super well-versed inaesthetics and style, but I have
like a really strong intuitivesense for it, you know?
Like I feel like I've built allof my branding just on intuitive
choices, mainly around colour,because I just really, really
resonate with colour, and that'slike always the number one
(14:50):
reason why I'll choose an itemof clothing.
Well, probably number one is howit feels and the comfort, and
then number two will be colour.
Um, and I had to really rethinkit and be like, why didn't this
feel like me?
You know, and it's like, ohwell, actually, it wasn't a
sunny day and it was kind ofcloudy, and I thought I was
wearing black in some of mythings.
I was like, this just doesn'tfeel like an authentic
representation of me.
(15:10):
Even when I was wearing my mycolour, it's like the colour
didn't pop as much when itwasn't sunny.
And I was like, I just I need todo this on a sunny day.
I need to make sure that thecolours feel, you know, really
vibrant.
And I was, you know, obviouslyso happy with the final um shots
that we got, and it really didjust, I don't know why.
It's like I wanted to be at thebeach.
I'm like, well, I'm a Leo, likethe beach is just my favorite
(15:33):
place, you know.
And I chose to live by thebeach, and it was just all of
those elements coming together,and it felt really good to me.
And people really responded toit, you know.
I got so many good complimentsfrom it, and I feel like people
just like saw like a fullexpression of me, and that felt
so good.
Even my puppy sleeves were kindof like, you know, sun rays,
(15:54):
they were like orange.
So I'm curious what that processis like for you because you've
built such an aestheticallybeautiful and well put together
brand.
How did you decide whichelements to pull on and and how
to represent yourselfaesthetically?
SPEAKER_01 (16:10):
Yeah, it's so funny.
Actually, I just did a photoshoot last week.
Um, and I I've had photo shootsbefore for books and things like
that.
And I always end up only likingone photo from all of them.
I was like, this time it's gonnabe different.
But I did all of that years agobefore I started doing the
(16:31):
cosmic style thing.
And yeah, this time, like I loveall of the photo, and I took
pictures at the beach, and colorwas like a central aspect to it.
We have a lot in common there.
But yeah, just the process, evengoing through that for myself.
Um color is definitely one.
(16:51):
I feel like each there'sdefinitely like these color
associations I hold with each ofthe signs and planets as well.
And so I'm constantly sort ofimmediately drawn to a certain
color based on, you know, whataspects we're trying to bring
out.
Um but yeah, I'm trying to eventhink for my own branding.
(17:14):
It's always, of course,evolving.
And um, but I really just wantedto make sure that I was
expressing all of thesedifferent facets of myself.
Um, because I think that wasthat was the thing that always
really held me back was feelinglike I had to, because I was,
(17:37):
you know, a mysticalpractitioner reading tarot first
before I became an astrologer,then astrology.
I always sort of felt like I'mlike, oh, do I need to be like
moodier and witchier, or do Ineed to be like all in white or
in beige?
And none of that made me happy.
It did not feel authentic.
And like, sure, some of it likelooks really nice and it's a
(18:00):
vibe.
And if it's your vibe, amazing.
It's not, I'm I got a LeoStellium.
Like I need like color andsaturation and that like peak
summer juiciness.
Like, and I feel like that hasbeen the leading through line
where it's just like I need tohave that full faceted
(18:21):
expression.
And I always try to tend towardsthat joy.
And to me, that is full colorand um full brightness, you
know.
SPEAKER_00 (18:33):
Yeah, I went through the same thing, especially when
I started leaning more into likemysticism.
And yeah, when I when I decidedto use the word witch in my
branding, that was a choice thatI knew would just like I had a
complicated relationship withthe word witch, mainly because
my brother used to tease me andcall me a witch as like a
(18:54):
negative thing.
I don't know whether you sawRoll Darz the Witches, but the
witches in that movie are likehorrendous.
And that's what he was comparingme to when he was calling me a
witch.
And yeah, and I I fully feelthat.
And then once a friend called mea color witch, and I felt so
validated, and I was like, Yeah,we're just like a new archetype
of witches, we're just thecolorful witches.
(19:16):
Like sometimes I wear black, butlike much from her color, and
like it's it's not like afamiliar archetype, the like
colorful mystic, you know?
SPEAKER_01 (19:28):
Yes.
And I feel like that was likewhen I kind of similarly landed
on that, where I was like, I'mlike, oh, this is it.
This is me.
Yeah, like I am a colorfulwitch.
I like one like that Barbiesummer a couple of years ago was
like, oh, I'm like Barbie witch.
It's like I'm kind of likebimbo-y, I'm gonna wear bright
(19:49):
colors.
I talk like a valley girl, andI'm also very intuitive and
magical.
Yeah, like and it's you'reallowed to be multiple things.
And that's like that GeminiChiron, too.
It's like I'm allowed to be allthese different things.
Like it doesn't have to look onecertain way because that's the
way we've been conditioned.
SPEAKER_00 (20:09):
That brings me to my next burning question, which is
what's your color associationfor Gemini?
Oh, Gemini, I always immediatelythink yellow.
Yeah, same.
SPEAKER_01 (20:17):
Yeah.
Um, and then like sometimes I'llget into the blues and yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (20:21):
Yeah.
I feel like it's it's also youcan just mix it with all the
colors as well because it'sGemini.
But yeah, definitely when I sawyellow as the Gemini colour, I
was like, oh yeah, that yes.
Because my intuitively, thefirst two colours that I was
drawn to, the kind of my brandcame, got built around, was
because I had a headshot donewhere I was wearing a pink shirt
(20:44):
with a yellow wool cardigan overit.
And it just was like verystriking.
And I'd get a lot of comments onit, and people would always tell
me, like, oh, I always think ofyou as like the pink and yellow
girl.
And you know, it was just such agreat shot, and it was just
really it was my favorite itemsof clothing in my closet that I
chose to put on for that shoot.
And then we kind of built all ofmy branding around that, and
(21:05):
that was before I I think knewabout my Gemini mid-heaven.
And I was like, Oh, it makessense that yellow is such such a
strong color for me.
And then what what do youassociate pink with?
SPEAKER_01 (21:18):
I love that pink and yellow combination for Leo as
well.
Like it feels like there's likethat joy and that like
bubbliness, like it almost feelslike like childlike, like candy.
And like I I love thatcombination.
I actually think um there's agreat substack um called Rowan
Maid.
I think the author's name islike Brianna Rose.
(21:40):
And she did a, she does visuals,she's like a branding expert.
And so her and I kind of dosimilar things in very different
ways, but she mentions that pinkand yellow as like such a good
Leo combo.
I was like, Yes, like I so feelthat and like pink and orange
too, like gives a little likeLeo and Sag to me as well.
(22:02):
Like there's just something likeit's fire sign, but it's like
more flirty and playful, andyeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (22:08):
I I evolved into pink and orange when I felt like
it was time to just mix it up.
And I love it.
I feel like my brand colours arejust like sunset beach colors
because they've always been myfavorite colors, and I, you
know, and I love the likecomplementary with like purple,
just goes really well witheverything.
And then I only like green whenit's like a bright mint green.
(22:30):
Cause to me, when I think ofVirgo, I think of earth tones.
And I've always been like I wentthrough a phase where I wanted
to be the girl that wore earthtones, but they just don't go
well with my skin and I don'tlook good in them.
Like I have to wear brightcolors, otherwise I like just
look really washed out, and I'mjust jealous of all of the
natural girls who get to wearthe earth tones and they look so
good in it.
Like, how what do you suggestfor my expression of Virgo if I
(22:54):
don't like earth tones?
SPEAKER_01 (22:55):
Yeah, totally.
Um I hard relate to like I look,I just don't look good in in
beige.
I just I wish I did.
Um, yes, of course we have ourbasics, but I also love just
like um like finding those likesweet spot color combinations
for Virgo, just because there isthat sort of curatorial eye with
(23:19):
it.
Like I think of like like crispwhite with a beautiful blue and
brown, like that combination tome feels very like classy Virgo,
or just having like, you know,finding ways to sort of bring in
like the earthier undertones,but not letting it run the show.
Um, yeah, recently I actually Ijust saw like a mood board with
(23:41):
like that sort of like lavender,purple, and brown together.
I'm like, oh, I love thatbecause that like it's like
grounding it.
And I think brown is such a goodfoil for things now, too, with
like it's such a good pair forthe bright colors.
And like, yeah, that could belike the Virgo element that
grounds it or like a camel orsomething like that, where it's
(24:03):
like um it looks really goodwith bright colors and it's not
that stark contrast between likeblack and bright or white and
bright, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (24:11):
Okay, maybe I'll let my hair be the brown.
I feel like the Virgo element inmy brand is just like I'm always
in nature, you know, wheneverI'm capturing images of myself,
I'm always just like walking onthe beach or hiking, and that's
where I like to spend my time.
SPEAKER_01 (24:26):
I love a green for Virgo too, but yeah, like you
said, it's very hard to find theright green.
I'm like I'm such a stickler forlike finding that perfect hue,
but this is also when I becomelike a consumer monster because
I'm like, I need this becauseit's the perfect color blue.
And I still like haven't foundthe perfect green jumper, for
example.
(24:46):
It's a fine, like tuned taste uhpreference thing.
Do you have a Pinterest account?
That's like public.
I do.
Yeah, it's probably a mess tothe public, but yeah, people can
find me on there.
I'm doing, I'm doing I'mconstantly tinkering in
Pinterest.
It's it's my canvas for sure.
You could make um mood boardsfor each of the signs.
(25:08):
Oh yeah, that that's fullythat's existed for a few years.
I like just every Zodiac season,I pull them out, I add more.
Um, but yeah, no, it's been sofun to do.
And like I'll make mood boardsfor my cosmic style clients as
well, which is super fun to justlike send them their little
(25:29):
inspiration springboard whereit's just like, okay, this is
what I'm seeing for you.
And you can take it, leave it,add to it, whatever you want.
SPEAKER_00 (25:36):
But yeah.
We need to see these styleboards.
I I started getting into thatwhen I was, you know, starting
to use astrology to makebranding decisions.
And uh yeah, it can be, it canbe challenging, you know, to be
able to translate how you feelinto an aesthetic if that's not
like your superpower already,and trying to like source those
(25:57):
images that really resonate.
But it's a really fun process,and I think it teaches you so
much about your likes and yourdislikes, you know, because
you're like, you're even ifyou're searching and you're not
finding anything that you like,that can give you so much
information that can give youclues to where you can start to
look and other keywords you canstart to search for, or you
know, just like build yourvisual vocabulary so that you
(26:19):
can start to make choices inyour brand expression that feel
really resonant to you.
Because I think, yeah, like oneof the most valuable things
about feeling excited about theway you are visually represented
is it it brings you more energyand motivation and power and
confidence to show up and to befully yourself.
(26:40):
And, you know, I know when I'mout there connecting with people
online and people say the samething to me too.
Like when you really resonatewith someone's visual style,
it's just like an instant cuethat you're gonna connect, you
know?
It's like an instant dooropener, and you're just like the
DMs are gonna, I mean, that'svery like Gemini, but um yeah, I
think it's you know, there's somuch power in how we choose to
(27:04):
represent ourselves, and itdoesn't always have to be, you
know, super complicated orexpensive.
Like I didn't really have muchof an awareness of these skills
when I started my business, andI just started with wearing my
favorite clothes and capturingphotos of my favorite places
that I like to hang out, andthen you know, really like
building out simple graphicsusing those colors.
(27:25):
So, yeah, what are your tips forpeople who are like, I feel like
I'm not fully authenticallyexpressed in the way that I
dress or style myself orrepresent myself?
Like, where's a good place forthem to start?
SPEAKER_01 (27:36):
Yeah, I think, yeah, to your point, yeah, you don't
need a ton of resources.
Like you can do, I've beenDIYing all this stuff, you know.
It's like I'm in Canva, the freeversion of Canva and Pinterest,
and like that's where I'm doingthe majority of my inspiration
gathering and synthesizing.
But yeah, I think like startingto gather images that you
(28:02):
resonate with and that you likeis a great first step playing
around whether you're on Cosmosor Arena or Pinterest.
Um, just starting to play thereand um notice what you like,
notice the colors you're drawnto, notice the things that you
reach for consistently in yourwardrobe and like why they feel
(28:23):
good, or maybe why they'restarting not to feel good.
Like there is a lot of just likenoticing where you're already
being drawn to first andforemost.
And I think oh, there's like somuch I want to say.
Like my brain just gotscrambled.
Um but I think starting to umlike understand the deeper roots
(28:51):
of it, like you don't have to goon a massive deep dive, but
aesthetics, visuals, style,clothing are all their own form
of language.
Like you were saying, like, youknow, you're just drawn to this
person because of branding, likeyou're communicating something.
And so starting to have thelanguage for why you're
attracted to something and whyyou're like, oh, I like like I
(29:12):
like this, I like somethingabout this.
Um, even if it's not quote, yourstyle or whatever, like kind of
getting rid of some of thehangups of what you think you
should be doing and what you ummaybe like think you should
like, you know, just gettingpushing the sheds to the side
and starting to find thatinspiration, finding inspiration
(29:36):
from real life too.
Like I wanted to start anInstagram account.
I just moved to the beach inAustralia about seven months
ago.
And um I love like just randompeople's style here, especially
like parents and like people areit's like very surfy culture,
but everyone's sort of has theirown like style vibe.
(29:56):
I feel like Australians arelike, they they have their own
thing going.
On and I'm always just soinspired by just seeing someone
wearing like baggy jeans withlike this oversized top, and
it's like they're just it lookslike they just threw it on, but
I'm just like them justconstantly out there, just like
checking people out and likegetting out there in real life.
(30:17):
Like I feel like I lovePinterest.
I don't love necessarily loveInstagram for this.
Like I feel like Instagram likestyle people are amazing, and
there's so many that I love, butlike I actually find it really
hard to like save something fromInstagram and go back to it for
inspiration.
Like I need to like have itplaced somewhere and like maybe
(30:38):
try making your own Canvaboards, like mood boards, things
to like go, like you can put onthe back of your phone or
whatever it is.
Like I think there's somethingabout that like copying and
pasting and bringing thingstogether under a theme for
yourself that helps you getclearer.
Like that's my process anyway.
And maybe that's just my brain.
(31:00):
But um I definitely think likewhen I'm going to, when I'm
feeling stuck on like writingsomething or creating something
or doing something for mybusiness, I'm like, I'm gonna
make a mood board about this,not as a procrastination tactic,
but as a way of like helping merefine what I'm actually trying
to do and say, and it it reallydoes.
It works a different part ofyour brain to help you get there
(31:22):
in the end.
Sorry, I rambled there, but umYeah, no, thank you for sharing
your process.
SPEAKER_00 (31:27):
It's it's so helpful.
You know, because you can justtry, you know, it's like try.
There's so much power in justmixing up your thought process
and mixing up your creativeprocess because it even if it
doesn't like fit or you don'twant to do it forever, it might
spark something, or it mighteven just spark um insight that
oh, if this isn't resonating,then it makes me even more
(31:48):
committed to the way that I knowresonates for me, you know?
And especially with clothing,like I do I do find it
difficult.
Sometimes I'll find images thatreally inspire me.
And something that has workedwell is identifying specific
pieces, like, oh, I love theselike purple flares.
So I'll write down like purpleflares or you know, or like pink
(32:09):
crop jacket, or like specificitems that I see.
And you know, then if I seesomething out, I can try it on.
And sometimes when we seesomething in a picture, you like
love it and it really inspiresyou, but then you realize that
it's not really actually a fitfor you once you get the item
and you try it on, and you'relike, oh, actually, like, yeah,
these colors don't look so goodon me.
(32:30):
And then you just start to buildyour vocabulary of what fits
you, and you can be like, oh,okay, maybe this style inspires
me, but like I need it in thiscolor, which will be different
from this picture that'sinspiring me.
And um, yeah, like it's it's areally cool way of just getting
to know yourself more.
And I think, yeah, obviously,like our bodies change and our
(32:51):
style may or may not changethroughout the years of life.
Like, I'm sure there's thingsthat have stayed the same, and
then there's yeah, it's been itdefinitely is you know, getting
older and going through fashionchanges and feeling like an old
fuddy duddy and being like, ohgreat, flares are back in again.
I just got on board with skinnyjeans.
Like I refuse, I refuse to, youknow, jump on the trend.
(33:14):
And then a few years go by andyou're like, okay, I'm ready to
jump on the trend.
There's enough variety out therefor there to be something that's
in this trend that I can get onboard with.
So yeah, it's just like anongoing conversation with
yourself.
SPEAKER_01 (33:26):
We are evolving, it's always gonna sort of
change.
And I think like one of thequickest ways to like update or
um make your style feel freshwith like playing with you, with
what you have or like realizingwhat you have gaps with is like
(33:47):
playing with that sense ofproportion too.
I think that's something likeone of the like I love, yeah,
like identifying those thingswhere you're like, um, I love
that piece, but I also love likelooking at a general look on,
you know, an a Pinterest orwhatever and being like, oh,
what I like about this is thatthere's like ease throughout
(34:08):
without everything beingoversized or whatever it is, you
know?
And just kind of like tinkeringwith that.
I feel like, especially for melately, and yeah, like that that
is always front of mind whereI'm like, I just need to have a
more relaxed element there toback to our soft pants
discussion.
But yeah, like uh and findingways to do that that feel, yeah,
(34:31):
it doesn't need to feel trendyor current by any means, but
just like yeah, finding thoseproportions that feel good.
Um, I think is huge.
And staying in your own closet,like we kind of have to like try
things, and it can be likedaunting sometimes.
Um, I know it is for me, and Ithink about this stuff, and I
(34:53):
love this stuff all the time,but like giving your like
setting aside just an hour andtrying to create some new
outfits out of what you have,realizing like what you have
that you actually like and wouldbuy again and the stuff that
maybe you don't.
I have like a whole uh closetaudit uh that I send to clients
that they can do on their own tokind of play around with that
(35:14):
sort of stuff.
But um, yeah, like it doesinvolve a little bit of trial
and error and a little bit ofgrace.
It's like that Iraglass quoteabout like getting frustrated
that you're not good atsomething because your taste
level is really good and you seeother people like doing things
at your taste level.
I'm like over-explaining andbutchering the quote, but like,
(35:36):
and then like working at it andlike getting yourself there
eventually.
Like we're not like it's veryhard to to kind of grasp um all
the various rules and languagesand things that are going on in
style.
SPEAKER_00 (35:51):
Yeah, it takes work to be a style icon.
But I will say, you know, it'sso valuable to even have one
conversation with a stylist.
Like I've always needed friendsum who have an eye for style to
help me pick out my outfits forum photo shoots.
And you know, I'll always justlike go to the thrift store and
like buy a ton of stuff and thensee like what goes well
(36:12):
together.
That's usually my vibe.
And um, one of my friend, myfriends whose background was in
fashion told me that thesilhouette is like something to
pay attention to, and you know,like knowing like which part of
your body you want to accentuateand then buying clothes, like
for me, it's like definitely mywaist.
So I love like cropped thingsand high-waisted things, and I
(36:33):
feel really comfortable in thosetypes of clothes.
But you know, then I can I feellike I can have a little bit of
like bagginess in the trousersand feel very free or like
stretchiness, but still have asilhouette that's like striking,
that can, you know, show mymovements and my posture that's
you know, gives a lot ofinformation in a photo.
So yeah, even just having likeone conversation with someone
(36:55):
who knows what they're talkingabout, who can kind of like
assess you and give you a couplelittle snippets that can then
give you some metrics to makedecisions around when you're
shopping and yeah, and you know,you have to make mistakes.
And that's another reason why Ilove thrifting, is like if you
make a mistake, it was a$10mistake instead of like a$50
mistake.
SPEAKER_01 (37:16):
I know, like buying like pre-lov stuff.
I am just I am I've been likealmost exclusively on Depop.
Um and it's a joy.
I'm like it's always like a funexperiment and um yeah, like low
stakes.
SPEAKER_00 (37:33):
Cool.
Well, thank you so much forsharing these really helpful
nuggets.
Please can you tell everyonelike where can they find you?
What have you got going on atthe moment?
Sure.
SPEAKER_01 (37:43):
You can find me uh on Instagram at Leah.vandervelt.
Uh my website is my name,LeahVelt.com.
And I'm over on Substack.
Um, my Substack is cosmic style.
Um, those are yeah, the threemain places you can find me and
you can book through my websiteif you want an astrology reading
(38:03):
or a cosmic style reading.
And yeah, say hey, say hello.
I'm I'm around.
I love to chat.
And yeah, if you have thoughts,opinions, style ideas, astrology
things, I would love to hearthem.
SPEAKER_00 (38:17):
Definitely go check her out.
You you are gonna go and wannasee her Instagram.
It's a beautiful place.
And uh please share this withanyone who you know would love
it.
Thank you so much, Leah, forbeing here.
Thank you, everybody, forlistening, and we'll see you
next week.
Bye.
Thank you.
Creative Magic Club.
What's up?
This is Sarah Mack and welcometo Creative Magic Club.
Together we'll discoverinspirational stories of
creative entrepreneurs livingout their dreams, doing the work
they are most passionate about,and building wealth in magical
(00:25):
and fun ways.
While building a six-figureincome as a writer and coach
helping other women to launchtheir dream businesses, I've
connected with so manyincredible people and seen it
proven again and again that youcan thrive financially doing
whatever it is you arepassionate about.
I'm here to share life-changingstrategies for mindset, making
money, and reaching more peoplewith your work in a business and
(00:48):
life filled with creativity,freedom, and fun.
Creative Magic Club.
Hi everyone, welcome to theCreative Magic Club podcast.
I'm so excited to introduce myguest today.
We have Leah Vanderbilt, who isan author, astrologer, tarot
(01:08):
deck creator, and cosmicstylist.
She helps the astro curious seetheir natural gifts and style
from a cosmic POV and use theirnatal charts to guide them to
bolder decisions and betteroutfits.
Hi Leah, thank you for joiningus.
Hi, thank you for having me.
So, fun fact about me and Leahis that we are astrology chart
twins.
(01:30):
I don't know how we discoveredthis, but oh yeah, you listen to
my podcast and you reach out andyou're like, oh, I have this
placement and this placement.
And then I was like, I need tosee your chart.
And then we went up.
SPEAKER_01 (01:40):
Yeah, I was like piecing it together.
I'm like, I'm pretty sure we'reborn within a couple of days of
each other in the same year.
SPEAKER_00 (01:46):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Leah's August 8th.
I'm August 10th.
So if you can find a chart towin, it's really fun.
I found a few through talkingabout astrology.
Like I have another one who's onmy email, he was on my email
list, became a client, and it'sjust fun, you know, to compare
notes.
I'm like, how are you doing?
And how is this impacting you?
And obviously it's not exactlythe same.
(02:08):
Our house placements are alittle different.
But um, but yeah, astrologyfriends, it's always helpful to
reflect and all about.
And the other thing that reallydrew me to connect with Leah is
she has incredible branding.
Like it's just, it's so fun.
(02:28):
I love it.
And obviously, I'm gonna love itbecause we have the same charts,
and you know, you're fullyexpressing yourself in all of
the ways that resonate with me.
Um, and yeah, I love that youuse astrology for personal
styling.
That's not like a crossover thatI've ever seen before.
So yeah, I'm curious.
Like, what's your story?
How did you get into this?
SPEAKER_01 (02:47):
Oh gosh, my very long, uh windy manifesting
generator path to um where I amtoday.
But yeah, I mean, most of mycareer I've been in um writing
and publishing.
I worked in magazines.
My first job out of college wasVogue.
I was a sales assistant there.
And it's just funny that I thinkI denied a lot of like the
(03:09):
fashion, like my personal umlike pull towards aesthetics and
fashion because I hated the waythat the high fashion world was
like very gatekeeper-y andworking in that environment.
Um, yeah, I truly like it, I wasliving my best devil wears
(03:29):
product life, except like I hadno Stanley Tucci to support me,
regrettably.
But yeah, and then I've I'veworked in, I worked in magazines
in Australia and always likevery like tiptoeing around the
aesthetics of it all.
And um I ended up going intofood editing and recipe
(03:52):
development.
And over that time I started toget into reading tarot and
learning astrology, and thenlike just that overlap
eventually got completelysaturated by the mystical stuff
and the astrology and the tarot.
And um yeah, in the past fewyears, I started to bring in
(04:13):
this uh style aspect, and Istarted just really wanting to
visually express what all thesigns and placements were about.
And so I just started playingaround with it and it has
evolved into this, you know,tool to help others define their
own personal style and figureout what they actually want to
(04:36):
express.
And the the Leo aspect of mychart was a huge part of that.
Um, because I think I, you know,like when you first, when
astrology first comes on yourradar, like I I I've known I was
a Leo my entire life.
But I think at a certain point Istarted to reject that aspect of
myself.
(04:56):
And when I got into learningastrology, I'm like, of course,
I'm a Cancer Rising, I'm aTaurus moon.
This feels like me.
I can like fully ignore the Leo.
And you absolutely can't,obviously.
Um, but when I started to leaninto my sun sign and dress for
my sun sign more and likeexpress that through colors and
(05:20):
just like little astrologicalbits of magic and things like
that, I was like, oh, okay.
I get it now.
And then like the Leo reallybecame that like cosmic style,
the personal style aspect of itthat really helped me come out
of my shell and embrace it all.
SPEAKER_00 (05:38):
I love the come out of my shell from a cancer
rising.
unknown (05:42):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (05:44):
It's a constant battle between that cancer
rising and the Leo sun for sure.
SPEAKER_00 (05:49):
Yeah, I bet.
It's funny because I feltsimilarly when I learnt about my
Gemini moon.
I was like, oh my god, this isme, this is who I really am.
Although I I I've alwaysstruggled to connect with my
Virgo rising.
I feel like Virgo is like themost boring sign.
And when you I mean it's not,it's not the most boring sign.
Like I will not hear you slanderyour Virgo.
(06:10):
But a lot of the a lot of theassociations are some of the
less fun ones, you know.
It's like, oh, perfectionism orbeing really analytical, like,
oh.
But um, but yeah, I think we gothrough different eras where
we're like, this is the part ofme that I love the best.
And yeah, and then when youunderstand, and then when I
understood that my Leo was inthe 12th house, I was like, oh
(06:32):
yeah, but no, I've always been aLeo through and through.
There's no hiding a Leo.
No, you cannot tamper down.
So yeah, I'm really curious whensomeone comes to you and they're
like, um help me express myselfmore through my style.
Like, which parts of the chartare there, is it always like the
similar parts of chart that youlook for?
(06:54):
Or does it like change verydependent on person to person?
SPEAKER_01 (06:57):
Yeah, it really does change person to person.
Like um, I it it really dependswhat the person's like stress
points are about where they feellike they are with their style.
And from there we can start todig into the chart.
And, you know, like it can beanything from making sure you're
(07:20):
looking at your sun sign,because that has been my own
personal experience.
Because often I do think likethe sun sign in us is the thing
we tend to shame the most, youknow, like the brightest light
casts the biggest shadows.
Um, but also, you know, ofcourse, we want to look at your
rising and your Venus and yourMC, like how you're projecting,
especially if you're trying toshow up in a professional
(07:42):
setting.
Um, and I love looking at thatfifth house, like signs, planets
in the fifth, because I reallydo feel like that's like the
joy, the pleasure, the innerchild, like dressing for your
inner child.
That's probably the Leo and metalking.
But I think that's like reallycan be very special for getting
back to the magic and back toyour own personal taste.
(08:04):
Like we lose our personal tastealong the way, um, out of, you
know, we're just bombarded byinfluence.
But and then I also really loveto look at the dark houses of
the chart, like speaking of your12th house son, my son in the
second house, and looking likethose areas that we can't see as
(08:24):
clearly.
Um, like for example, I was justgiving a cosmic style reading to
someone, and they mentioned thatthey owned a lot of black, they
were a Scorpio sun, they were aCapricorn rising, and but they
had their Venus in the 12th inSagittarius.
And I was like, ooh, what isthat Sagittarius part of you
(08:46):
want?
You know, like because likethat's such a different contrast
between the signs on either sideof that, right?
Like between Scorpio to Sag andSag to Cap, like vastly
different.
And like that little Sagittariusgetting sandwiched in there.
I'm like, oh, she wants to comeout and play a little bit.
Like, how can we figure out howto do that without like
(09:08):
overwhelming you, you know?
And so yeah, it really isdepends on like person to person
situation.
But I like I love digging in andlike finding that way in and
that like aha for um someone torealize, like, oh yeah, like I
do need a little bit moreboldness or color, or maybe I
need more structure and black,depending on the on the person.
(09:29):
I love that.
SPEAKER_00 (09:30):
Okay, so I have um Jupiter and Aquarius in my fifth
house.
SPEAKER_01 (09:34):
Yeah, let me look at your shirt.
SPEAKER_00 (09:36):
Um, I'm like, well, I'm wearing purple eyeliner
right now.
I feel like that's kind of likeAquarius.
SPEAKER_01 (09:40):
Totally.
I love your colors today.
It's like so perfect andbeautiful.
Yes, totally.
SPEAKER_00 (09:46):
And I do have a tendency to dress kind of a
little bit weird.
You know, I remember like whenum when I was in at university,
I lived with five of mygirlfriends and we'd all get
ready to dress up, and they wereall just very like well put
together.
And I would show up and they'dbe like, okay, let's first of
all take off like three of theseaccessories.
You know, it's like I would tryand put all of the different
(10:07):
style combinations together, butlike I would love it, you know,
like it's making me happy towear 10 million different colors
at once and like differentgenres of of style, but it
doesn't always last.
SPEAKER_01 (10:18):
Yeah, let that free flag fly.
Yeah, I feel like between likethe Jupiter in the fifth in
Aquarius and all the Leo places,it's like, yeah, we're
maximalist, like what of it?
Yeah, I love that.
And the of course the Virgorising is like rein it in.
Wait, what do you say about theVirgo rising?
Of course, your Virgo risingwould be like rein it in.
SPEAKER_00 (10:39):
Like the simplicity, simplicity.
Like, I I like I like patterns,but like simple patterns.
Um, what was the other thing Iwas gonna say that just came to
mind?
Oh yeah, why am I stuck in thevortex of constantly wearing
athleisure wear and not wantingto branch out?
Is that just because I live inLA now or like because I work
(11:00):
from home and I never have to gointo an office?
SPEAKER_01 (11:03):
Well, yeah, let's what are we looking at?
We've got a I'm looking at yourchart right now.
Um, because I'm like, ooh, arewe like sixth housing it?
How are we feeling?
Yeah, I mean, like athleisure isalways something I kind of like
associate with like the otherfire signs, like with Sag and
with Aries, because I'm like,they need to move.
(11:26):
Right, yeah.
And you've got like your I seein Sag.
Like I feel like the I see isanother great point too, because
it's like that point of comfort,like, and even the Gemini moon,
it's like you need to bemutable, you need to be able to
move around, like, and yeah,because you have the like
mutable rising, your I see andyour moon on that mutable
(11:51):
mutability, and it's just likeno, I need to be able to like
get up and run and snow.
SPEAKER_00 (11:56):
Yeah, and also maybe it's like my south node and
Scorpio.
I'm always like, I just I'malways getting my hands dirty,
you know.
I'm like, yeah, but I'm movingmore into my Taurus North Node,
and you know, obviously we'returning 40 this year, so I'm
trying to step more into my likeelegant era, you know, like I
(12:17):
really yeah to sports and pantsbecause I all I had was well,
yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:21):
Like we just like I feel like that Taurus North Node
still wants soft pants, likethey do not want hard pants, so
it's like finding elevated softpants, it's like linen over
clothes, whatever rayon orwhatever.
SPEAKER_00 (12:36):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Cool.
So okay, tell me, like what umdo you work with a lot of
clients who have um personalbrands and who are showing up
online and like trying toexpress themselves to kind of
show up on camera at all?
SPEAKER_01 (12:53):
Yeah, a little bit.
Like I've increasingly got hadclients who are like ready to
like be more visible, you know,like clients have like books
that they've written and thingsthat they're ready to promote.
And I love like supporting thatbecause um the it is kind of
(13:13):
it's kind of a cliche of youknow dressing as that like dress
for the job you want or whateverit is, or like dress what you
want to project.
It does like there is actualscience that backs that concept
of enclosed cognition where whenwe're wearing certain things, it
brings out different parts ofourselves and we are like able
(13:36):
to feel more capable andconfident in certain ways,
trying to nail down what peoplewant to be projecting out there,
in addition to what is naturallyin their chart.
You know, of course, looking atthe 10th house is always a
really good go-to when peoplewant to be more visible because
(13:56):
that's how people are gonnaperceive you in one way or
another.
So, how do we work with that toalso convey the message you want
to convey?
You know, and often theyoverlap, of course.
But yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (14:08):
Yeah, I really felt that with doing the photo shoot
for my book cover because it'slike, you know, it's gonna be is
immortalized the right word?
Or, you know, it's just thislike legacy that's gonna last
for eternity.
And wanting to just really feellike myself, like I had a one
photo shoot, which just did notturn out.
(14:29):
How you know, I just felt likeit didn't really represent me.
And I'm not super well-versed inaesthetics and style, but I have
like a really strong intuitivesense for it, you know?
Like I feel like I've built allof my branding just on intuitive
choices, mainly around colour,because I just really, really
resonate with colour, and that'slike always the number one
(14:50):
reason why I'll choose an itemof clothing.
Well, probably number one is howit feels and the comfort, and
then number two will be colour.
Um, and I had to really rethinkit and be like, why didn't this
feel like me?
You know, and it's like, ohwell, actually, it wasn't a
sunny day and it was kind ofcloudy, and I thought I was
wearing black in some of mythings.
I was like, this just doesn'tfeel like an authentic
representation of me.
(15:10):
Even when I was wearing my mycolour, it's like the colour
didn't pop as much when itwasn't sunny.
And I was like, I just I need todo this on a sunny day.
I need to make sure that thecolours feel, you know, really
vibrant.
And I was, you know, obviouslyso happy with the final um shots
that we got, and it really didjust, I don't know why.
It's like I wanted to be at thebeach.
I'm like, well, I'm a Leo, likethe beach is just my favorite
(15:33):
place, you know.
And I chose to live by thebeach, and it was just all of
those elements coming together,and it felt really good to me.
And people really responded toit, you know.
I got so many good complimentsfrom it, and I feel like people
just like saw like a fullexpression of me, and that felt
so good.
Even my puppy sleeves were kindof like, you know, sun rays,
(15:54):
they were like orange.
So I'm curious what that processis like for you because you've
built such an aestheticallybeautiful and well put together
brand.
How did you decide whichelements to pull on and and how
to represent yourselfaesthetically?
SPEAKER_01 (16:10):
Yeah, it's so funny.
Actually, I just did a photoshoot last week.
Um, and I I've had photo shootsbefore for books and things like
that.
And I always end up only likingone photo from all of them.
I was like, this time it's gonnabe different.
But I did all of that years agobefore I started doing the
(16:31):
cosmic style thing.
And yeah, this time, like I loveall of the photo, and I took
pictures at the beach, and colorwas like a central aspect to it.
We have a lot in common there.
But yeah, just the process, evengoing through that for myself.
Um color is definitely one.
(16:51):
I feel like each there'sdefinitely like these color
associations I hold with each ofthe signs and planets as well.
And so I'm constantly sort ofimmediately drawn to a certain
color based on, you know, whataspects we're trying to bring
out.
Um but yeah, I'm trying to eventhink for my own branding.
(17:14):
It's always, of course,evolving.
And um, but I really just wantedto make sure that I was
expressing all of thesedifferent facets of myself.
Um, because I think that wasthat was the thing that always
really held me back was feelinglike I had to, because I was,
(17:37):
you know, a mysticalpractitioner reading tarot first
before I became an astrologer,then astrology.
I always sort of felt like I'mlike, oh, do I need to be like
moodier and witchier, or do Ineed to be like all in white or
in beige?
And none of that made me happy.
It did not feel authentic.
And like, sure, some of it likelooks really nice and it's a
(18:00):
vibe.
And if it's your vibe, amazing.
It's not, I'm I got a LeoStellium.
Like I need like color andsaturation and that like peak
summer juiciness.
Like, and I feel like that hasbeen the leading through line
where it's just like I need tohave that full faceted
(18:21):
expression.
And I always try to tend towardsthat joy.
And to me, that is full colorand um full brightness, you
know.
SPEAKER_00 (18:33):
Yeah, I went through the same thing, especially when
I started leaning more into likemysticism.
And yeah, when I when I decidedto use the word witch in my
branding, that was a choice thatI knew would just like I had a
complicated relationship withthe word witch, mainly because
my brother used to tease me andcall me a witch as like a
(18:54):
negative thing.
I don't know whether you sawRoll Darz the Witches, but the
witches in that movie are likehorrendous.
And that's what he was comparingme to when he was calling me a
witch.
And yeah, and I I fully feelthat.
And then once a friend called mea color witch, and I felt so
validated, and I was like, Yeah,we're just like a new archetype
of witches, we're just thecolorful witches.
(19:16):
Like sometimes I wear black, butlike much from her color, and
like it's it's not like afamiliar archetype, the like
colorful mystic, you know?
SPEAKER_01 (19:28):
Yes.
And I feel like that was likewhen I kind of similarly landed
on that, where I was like, I'mlike, oh, this is it.
This is me.
Yeah, like I am a colorfulwitch.
I like one like that Barbiesummer a couple of years ago was
like, oh, I'm like Barbie witch.
It's like I'm kind of likebimbo-y, I'm gonna wear bright
(19:49):
colors.
I talk like a valley girl, andI'm also very intuitive and
magical.
Yeah, like and it's you'reallowed to be multiple things.
And that's like that GeminiChiron, too.
It's like I'm allowed to be allthese different things.
Like it doesn't have to look onecertain way because that's the
way we've been conditioned.
SPEAKER_00 (20:09):
That brings me to my next burning question, which is
what's your color associationfor Gemini?
Oh, Gemini, I always immediatelythink yellow.
Yeah, same.
SPEAKER_01 (20:17):
Yeah.
Um, and then like sometimes I'llget into the blues and yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (20:21):
Yeah.
I feel like it's it's also youcan just mix it with all the
colors as well because it'sGemini.
But yeah, definitely when I sawyellow as the Gemini colour, I
was like, oh yeah, that yes.
Because my intuitively, thefirst two colours that I was
drawn to, the kind of my brandcame, got built around, was
because I had a headshot donewhere I was wearing a pink shirt
(20:44):
with a yellow wool cardigan overit.
And it just was like verystriking.
And I'd get a lot of comments onit, and people would always tell
me, like, oh, I always think ofyou as like the pink and yellow
girl.
And you know, it was just such agreat shot, and it was just
really it was my favorite itemsof clothing in my closet that I
chose to put on for that shoot.
And then we kind of built all ofmy branding around that, and
(21:05):
that was before I I think knewabout my Gemini mid-heaven.
And I was like, Oh, it makessense that yellow is such such a
strong color for me.
And then what what do youassociate pink with?
SPEAKER_01 (21:18):
I love that pink and yellow combination for Leo as
well.
Like it feels like there's likethat joy and that like
bubbliness, like it almost feelslike like childlike, like candy.
And like I I love thatcombination.
I actually think um there's agreat substack um called Rowan
Maid.
I think the author's name islike Brianna Rose.
(21:40):
And she did a, she does visuals,she's like a branding expert.
And so her and I kind of dosimilar things in very different
ways, but she mentions that pinkand yellow as like such a good
Leo combo.
I was like, Yes, like I so feelthat and like pink and orange
too, like gives a little likeLeo and Sag to me as well.
(22:02):
Like there's just something likeit's fire sign, but it's like
more flirty and playful, andyeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (22:08):
I I evolved into pink and orange when I felt like
it was time to just mix it up.
And I love it.
I feel like my brand colours arejust like sunset beach colors
because they've always been myfavorite colors, and I, you
know, and I love the likecomplementary with like purple,
just goes really well witheverything.
And then I only like green whenit's like a bright mint green.
(22:30):
Cause to me, when I think ofVirgo, I think of earth tones.
And I've always been like I wentthrough a phase where I wanted
to be the girl that wore earthtones, but they just don't go
well with my skin and I don'tlook good in them.
Like I have to wear brightcolors, otherwise I like just
look really washed out, and I'mjust jealous of all of the
natural girls who get to wearthe earth tones and they look so
good in it.
Like, how what do you suggestfor my expression of Virgo if I
(22:54):
don't like earth tones?
SPEAKER_01 (22:55):
Yeah, totally.
Um I hard relate to like I look,I just don't look good in in
beige.
I just I wish I did.
Um, yes, of course we have ourbasics, but I also love just
like um like finding those likesweet spot color combinations
for Virgo, just because there isthat sort of curatorial eye with
(23:19):
it.
Like I think of like like crispwhite with a beautiful blue and
brown, like that combination tome feels very like classy Virgo,
or just having like, you know,finding ways to sort of bring in
like the earthier undertones,but not letting it run the show.
Um, yeah, recently I actually Ijust saw like a mood board with
(23:41):
like that sort of like lavender,purple, and brown together.
I'm like, oh, I love thatbecause that like it's like
grounding it.
And I think brown is such a goodfoil for things now, too, with
like it's such a good pair forthe bright colors.
And like, yeah, that could belike the Virgo element that
grounds it or like a camel orsomething like that, where it's
(24:03):
like um it looks really goodwith bright colors and it's not
that stark contrast between likeblack and bright or white and
bright, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (24:11):
Okay, maybe I'll let my hair be the brown.
I feel like the Virgo element inmy brand is just like I'm always
in nature, you know, wheneverI'm capturing images of myself,
I'm always just like walking onthe beach or hiking, and that's
where I like to spend my time.
SPEAKER_01 (24:26):
I love a green for Virgo too, but yeah, like you
said, it's very hard to find theright green.
I'm like I'm such a stickler forlike finding that perfect hue,
but this is also when I becomelike a consumer monster because
I'm like, I need this becauseit's the perfect color blue.
And I still like haven't foundthe perfect green jumper, for
example.
(24:46):
It's a fine, like tuned taste uhpreference thing.
Do you have a Pinterest account?
That's like public.
I do.
Yeah, it's probably a mess tothe public, but yeah, people can
find me on there.
I'm doing, I'm doing I'mconstantly tinkering in
Pinterest.
It's it's my canvas for sure.
You could make um mood boardsfor each of the signs.
(25:08):
Oh yeah, that that's fullythat's existed for a few years.
I like just every Zodiac season,I pull them out, I add more.
Um, but yeah, no, it's been sofun to do.
And like I'll make mood boardsfor my cosmic style clients as
well, which is super fun to justlike send them their little
(25:29):
inspiration springboard whereit's just like, okay, this is
what I'm seeing for you.
And you can take it, leave it,add to it, whatever you want.
SPEAKER_00 (25:36):
But yeah.
We need to see these styleboards.
I I started getting into thatwhen I was, you know, starting
to use astrology to makebranding decisions.
And uh yeah, it can be, it canbe challenging, you know, to be
able to translate how you feelinto an aesthetic if that's not
like your superpower already,and trying to like source those
(25:57):
images that really resonate.
But it's a really fun process,and I think it teaches you so
much about your likes and yourdislikes, you know, because
you're like, you're even ifyou're searching and you're not
finding anything that you like,that can give you so much
information that can give youclues to where you can start to
look and other keywords you canstart to search for, or you
know, just like build yourvisual vocabulary so that you
(26:19):
can start to make choices inyour brand expression that feel
really resonant to you.
Because I think, yeah, like oneof the most valuable things
about feeling excited about theway you are visually represented
is it it brings you more energyand motivation and power and
confidence to show up and to befully yourself.
(26:40):
And, you know, I know when I'mout there connecting with people
online and people say the samething to me too.
Like when you really resonatewith someone's visual style,
it's just like an instant cuethat you're gonna connect, you
know?
It's like an instant dooropener, and you're just like the
DMs are gonna, I mean, that'svery like Gemini, but um yeah, I
think it's you know, there's somuch power in how we choose to
(27:04):
represent ourselves, and itdoesn't always have to be, you
know, super complicated orexpensive.
Like I didn't really have muchof an awareness of these skills
when I started my business, andI just started with wearing my
favorite clothes and capturingphotos of my favorite places
that I like to hang out, andthen you know, really like
building out simple graphicsusing those colors.
(27:25):
So, yeah, what are your tips forpeople who are like, I feel like
I'm not fully authenticallyexpressed in the way that I
dress or style myself orrepresent myself?
Like, where's a good place forthem to start?
SPEAKER_01 (27:36):
Yeah, I think, yeah, to your point, yeah, you don't
need a ton of resources.
Like you can do, I've beenDIYing all this stuff, you know.
It's like I'm in Canva, the freeversion of Canva and Pinterest,
and like that's where I'm doingthe majority of my inspiration
gathering and synthesizing.
But yeah, I think like startingto gather images that you
(28:02):
resonate with and that you likeis a great first step playing
around whether you're on Cosmosor Arena or Pinterest.
Um, just starting to play thereand um notice what you like,
notice the colors you're drawnto, notice the things that you
reach for consistently in yourwardrobe and like why they feel
(28:23):
good, or maybe why they'restarting not to feel good.
Like there is a lot of just likenoticing where you're already
being drawn to first andforemost.
And I think oh, there's like somuch I want to say.
Like my brain just gotscrambled.
Um but I think starting to umlike understand the deeper roots
(28:51):
of it, like you don't have to goon a massive deep dive, but
aesthetics, visuals, style,clothing are all their own form
of language.
Like you were saying, like, youknow, you're just drawn to this
person because of branding, likeyou're communicating something.
And so starting to have thelanguage for why you're
attracted to something and whyyou're like, oh, I like like I
(29:12):
like this, I like somethingabout this.
Um, even if it's not quote, yourstyle or whatever, like kind of
getting rid of some of thehangups of what you think you
should be doing and what you ummaybe like think you should
like, you know, just gettingpushing the sheds to the side
and starting to find thatinspiration, finding inspiration
(29:36):
from real life too.
Like I wanted to start anInstagram account.
I just moved to the beach inAustralia about seven months
ago.
And um I love like just randompeople's style here, especially
like parents and like people areit's like very surfy culture,
but everyone's sort of has theirown like style vibe.
(29:56):
I feel like Australians arelike, they they have their own
thing going.
On and I'm always just soinspired by just seeing someone
wearing like baggy jeans withlike this oversized top, and
it's like they're just it lookslike they just threw it on, but
I'm just like them justconstantly out there, just like
checking people out and likegetting out there in real life.
(30:17):
Like I feel like I lovePinterest.
I don't love necessarily loveInstagram for this.
Like I feel like Instagram likestyle people are amazing, and
there's so many that I love, butlike I actually find it really
hard to like save something fromInstagram and go back to it for
inspiration.
Like I need to like have itplaced somewhere and like maybe
(30:38):
try making your own Canvaboards, like mood boards, things
to like go, like you can put onthe back of your phone or
whatever it is.
Like I think there's somethingabout that like copying and
pasting and bringing thingstogether under a theme for
yourself that helps you getclearer.
Like that's my process anyway.
And maybe that's just my brain.
(31:00):
But um I definitely think likewhen I'm going to, when I'm
feeling stuck on like writingsomething or creating something
or doing something for mybusiness, I'm like, I'm gonna
make a mood board about this,not as a procrastination tactic,
but as a way of like helping merefine what I'm actually trying
to do and say, and it it reallydoes.
It works a different part ofyour brain to help you get there
(31:22):
in the end.
Sorry, I rambled there, but umYeah, no, thank you for sharing
your process.
SPEAKER_00 (31:27):
It's it's so helpful.
You know, because you can justtry, you know, it's like try.
There's so much power in justmixing up your thought process
and mixing up your creativeprocess because it even if it
doesn't like fit or you don'twant to do it forever, it might
spark something, or it mighteven just spark um insight that
oh, if this isn't resonating,then it makes me even more
(31:48):
committed to the way that I knowresonates for me, you know?
And especially with clothing,like I do I do find it
difficult.
Sometimes I'll find images thatreally inspire me.
And something that has workedwell is identifying specific
pieces, like, oh, I love theselike purple flares.
So I'll write down like purpleflares or you know, or like pink
(32:09):
crop jacket, or like specificitems that I see.
And you know, then if I seesomething out, I can try it on.
And sometimes when we seesomething in a picture, you like
love it and it really inspiresyou, but then you realize that
it's not really actually a fitfor you once you get the item
and you try it on, and you'relike, oh, actually, like, yeah,
these colors don't look so goodon me.
(32:30):
And then you just start to buildyour vocabulary of what fits
you, and you can be like, oh,okay, maybe this style inspires
me, but like I need it in thiscolor, which will be different
from this picture that'sinspiring me.
And um, yeah, like it's it's areally cool way of just getting
to know yourself more.
And I think, yeah, obviously,like our bodies change and our
(32:51):
style may or may not changethroughout the years of life.
Like, I'm sure there's thingsthat have stayed the same, and
then there's yeah, it's been itdefinitely is you know, getting
older and going through fashionchanges and feeling like an old
fuddy duddy and being like, ohgreat, flares are back in again.
I just got on board with skinnyjeans.
Like I refuse, I refuse to, youknow, jump on the trend.
(33:14):
And then a few years go by andyou're like, okay, I'm ready to
jump on the trend.
There's enough variety out therefor there to be something that's
in this trend that I can get onboard with.
So yeah, it's just like anongoing conversation with
yourself.
SPEAKER_01 (33:26):
We are evolving, it's always gonna sort of
change.
And I think like one of thequickest ways to like update or
um make your style feel freshwith like playing with you, with
what you have or like realizingwhat you have gaps with is like
(33:47):
playing with that sense ofproportion too.
I think that's something likeone of the like I love, yeah,
like identifying those thingswhere you're like, um, I love
that piece, but I also love likelooking at a general look on,
you know, an a Pinterest orwhatever and being like, oh,
what I like about this is thatthere's like ease throughout
(34:08):
without everything beingoversized or whatever it is, you
know?
And just kind of like tinkeringwith that.
I feel like, especially for melately, and yeah, like that that
is always front of mind whereI'm like, I just need to have a
more relaxed element there toback to our soft pants
discussion.
But yeah, like uh and findingways to do that that feel, yeah,
(34:31):
it doesn't need to feel trendyor current by any means, but
just like yeah, finding thoseproportions that feel good.
Um, I think is huge.
And staying in your own closet,like we kind of have to like try
things, and it can be likedaunting sometimes.
Um, I know it is for me, and Ithink about this stuff, and I
(34:53):
love this stuff all the time,but like giving your like
setting aside just an hour andtrying to create some new
outfits out of what you have,realizing like what you have
that you actually like and wouldbuy again and the stuff that
maybe you don't.
I have like a whole uh closetaudit uh that I send to clients
that they can do on their own tokind of play around with that
(35:14):
sort of stuff.
But um, yeah, like it doesinvolve a little bit of trial
and error and a little bit ofgrace.
It's like that Iraglass quoteabout like getting frustrated
that you're not good atsomething because your taste
level is really good and you seeother people like doing things
at your taste level.
I'm like over-explaining andbutchering the quote, but like,
(35:36):
and then like working at it andlike getting yourself there
eventually.
Like we're not like it's veryhard to to kind of grasp um all
the various rules and languagesand things that are going on in
style.
SPEAKER_00 (35:51):
Yeah, it takes work to be a style icon.
But I will say, you know, it'sso valuable to even have one
conversation with a stylist.
Like I've always needed friendsum who have an eye for style to
help me pick out my outfits forum photo shoots.
And you know, I'll always justlike go to the thrift store and
like buy a ton of stuff and thensee like what goes well
(36:12):
together.
That's usually my vibe.
And um, one of my friend, myfriends whose background was in
fashion told me that thesilhouette is like something to
pay attention to, and you know,like knowing like which part of
your body you want to accentuateand then buying clothes, like
for me, it's like definitely mywaist.
So I love like cropped thingsand high-waisted things, and I
(36:33):
feel really comfortable in thosetypes of clothes.
But you know, then I can I feellike I can have a little bit of
like bagginess in the trousersand feel very free or like
stretchiness, but still have asilhouette that's like striking,
that can, you know, show mymovements and my posture that's
you know, gives a lot ofinformation in a photo.
So yeah, even just having likeone conversation with someone
(36:55):
who knows what they're talkingabout, who can kind of like
assess you and give you a couplelittle snippets that can then
give you some metrics to makedecisions around when you're
shopping and yeah, and you know,you have to make mistakes.
And that's another reason why Ilove thrifting, is like if you
make a mistake, it was a$10mistake instead of like a$50
mistake.
SPEAKER_01 (37:16):
I know, like buying like pre-lov stuff.
I am just I am I've been likealmost exclusively on Depop.
Um and it's a joy.
I'm like it's always like a funexperiment and um yeah, like low
stakes.
SPEAKER_00 (37:33):
Cool.
Well, thank you so much forsharing these really helpful
nuggets.
Please can you tell everyonelike where can they find you?
What have you got going on atthe moment?
Sure.
SPEAKER_01 (37:43):
You can find me uh on Instagram at Leah.vandervelt.
Uh my website is my name,LeahVelt.com.
And I'm over on Substack.
Um, my Substack is cosmic style.
Um, those are yeah, the threemain places you can find me and
you can book through my websiteif you want an astrology reading
(38:03):
or a cosmic style reading.
And yeah, say hey, say hello.
I'm I'm around.
I love to chat.
And yeah, if you have thoughts,opinions, style ideas, astrology
things, I would love to hearthem.
SPEAKER_00 (38:17):
Definitely go check her out.
You you are gonna go and wannasee her Instagram.
It's a beautiful place.
And uh please share this withanyone who you know would love
it.
Thank you so much, Leah, forbeing here.
Thank you, everybody, forlistening, and we'll see you
next week.
Bye.
Thank you.
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