Star Struck Style

March 29 is Haider Ackermann’s birthday.

I think the world of Haider Ackermann. He’s one of those designers who came out of the gate swinging. From the first moment that I saw one of his shows, I knew who he was as a designer, and yet he continues to move his aesthetic forward in order not to bore his audience.

Something funny happened while I was writing my latest book. I had sent out a few chapters to friends that I could trust to give me a critical evaluation of the manuscript. One is a prominent force in the fashion business and a fellow Capricorn. We not only share our sun signs, but we also share a distinct disdain for Aries individuals in general. While reading the section about designers in the Aries chapter, she actually sent me an email that read “Oh no! Not Haider!”

Yeah, he’s an Aries. He also has his natal Mercury in Aries. Other than that, though, his chart is sort of all over the place. He has an exalted Taurus moon, Venus in Pisces, Mars exalted in Capricorn, Jupiter in dignity in Sagittarius, and Saturn fairly close to the moon in Taurus (they were conjunct around midday in Bogotá, Columbia on the day of his birth).

What that tells me about the designer is that he is an interesting mix of mostly fire and earth. There is something rich and sensual about his best work, with rigorous, military-like tailoring realized in the most luxurious fabrics.

I’m quite a fan of Ackermann’s work for Berluti. The label is currently trying to become the Louis Vuitton of menswear, although it still has a long way to go. I adore their signature Scritto leather goods, but they’re still only appreciated by snobs like me. I was recently talking to a menswear salesman about the appeal of Brunello Cucinelli (a label that I believe is somewhat overrated), and the guy didn’t even know what Berluti was.

Nevertheless, Ackermann’s chart is looking good for the next couple of years. I expect to see a breakthrough, but it’s going to be slow and steady — following a more Capricorn-like trajectory rather than a sudden Aries-like rise to the top. 2019 is going to be a good year for him. Of course, I don’t have a time of birth to put his natal planets in the houses, so I could be horribly wrong. I don’t think I am, though. I’ve got a good feeling about this guy.