OOTD: SPRING BREAK EDITION

Buongiorno fashionistas!! I hope all of you had a wonderful spring break! My boyfriend, Q, and I just got back from a week trip with his parents where we explored a few of Italy’s major known cities, including: Sienna, Pisa, Cinque Terre and Rome. We also celebrated my 21st birthday!! Traveling was wonderful and I would love to share one of my favorite outfits featuring my newest birthday present, a Florentine leather handbag, given to me by Q.

On this bright and beautiful day, we happened to be visiting Pisa. It was perfect weather for a leather jacket and my new sunnies from H&M (as well as photo ops with the Leaning Tower of Pisa).

I paired my favorite high-rise jeggings from American Eagle with a cropped black long sleeve top from Zara. Since it was supposed to be a little chilly that day, I wore my Andrew Marc leather jacket that I got while I was in NYC last semester. The accessories are where the fun begins!

I wore my favorite pair of maroon booties from Aldos and tied a silk scarf (thrifted!!) around my neck for a Florentine inspired look. To complete the look I added bold black and gold hoops with rose gold sunglasses and my new “Chic” handbag!

I hope you all enjoyed my post! I linked the sunglasses above and as always if you have any questions or comments you can contact me by email!

 

Until next time fashionistas!

xoxo,

Madison ❤

 

10 Looks That Made You Fall in Love With Gigi This Runway Season: Milan Fashion Week 2018

It’s February and you know what that means!… FASHION WEEK!!! Being abroad in Florence has its perks, because your girl got to go to Milan during Milan’s Fashion Week! Just knowing that I was in the same city as Gigi and Bella made my heart swell with joy. The streets were filled with fashionistas and the store windows of all the fashion houses were impeccably put together, ready to welcome in the new collections.

Sadly, we did not get to attend any shows while we were in Milan; however, I was able to catch them online. Now for those of you who don’t know, Gigi Hadid is my muse. Gigi is a fashion icon that I look to for style inspiration. For Milan’s fashion week, Gigi rocked the runway at most of the major shows including: Moschino, Versace, Fendi, and many more. Since she strutted so many looks, I narrowed it down to my top 10 personal favorites!

Look #1: Flawlessly Chic At Fendi

Fendi Milan Fashion Week Fall RTW 2018

I love the simplicity of this look: from the clothes to the minimal makeup to the sleek no-fuss hairstyle. Chic meets trendy as this feminine silhouette is paired with white cowboy boots. The pairing of the neutral tones adds to the simplicity of the silhouette; however, as you look closer and notice the chevron stitching, pleated front, and embroidered collar you’ll find that the fine details are what really make this look stand out.

Fendi’s entire collection can be found here at: http://wwd.com/runway/fall-2018/milan/fendi/review/

Look #2: Cheetahlicious at Max Mara

Max Mara Milan Fashion Week 2018

Gigi was dressed head to toe in cheetah print for her first look in Max Mara’s show. I love the mixing of the cheetah print with leather sleeves and suspenders for an edgier look. Also new: skirts over pants. Last season dresses as tops became a major trend, so its not far fetched to think skirts over pants might catch on. Animal print was seen all over the runways for Fall 2018 RTW collections. From zebra, to cheetah, to leopard, and even animal motifs, get ready to mix and match your prints.

Look #3: Black and Bold at Max Mara

Max Mara Milan Fashion Week 2018

For Gigi’s second look, she struts down the runway in all black everything. I love the smokey eye and untamed braids that add to this dark, edgy look. Long, black, silky dress with a low v-neck and the max logo paired with the fringed fur over coat create a bold, luxurious combo.

You can find Max Mara’s entire collection here: http://wwd.com/runway/fall-2018/milan/max-mara/review/

Look #4: Preppy at Versace

Versace Milan Fashion Week 2018

I love, love, love this look! Honestly, my first impression was modern day Clueless, but Gigi makes this look 10x better! I love Versace’s use of embellishments and charm-looking-brooches. Versace took the primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) that are coming in and twisted them to create a preppy school girl look. The leather pants and embellishments create an edge, but the ensemble is kept chic with the camel colored peacoat, simple makeup and slick backed hair.

Look #5: Fringe in eye popping colors at Versace

Versace Milan Fashion Week 2018

Versace brought back the 80’s and added a new twist… fringe! This mini dress is everything: eye catching colors (including those trendy primary colors!), fringe, and sequins! I love the matched fringe earrings and the bedazzled heels. Gigi looks ready to hit the dance floor in this vibrant ensemble.

You can check out all the looks from Versace here: https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/fall-2018-ready-to-wear/versace

Look #6: The Revival of Jackie Kennedy at Moschino

Moschino Milan Fashion Week 2018

Moschino was incredible this season. Jeremy Scott’s entire runway collection took you to outer space. Extraterrestrial, intergalactic & out of this world, pretty much sums it up. Jeremy Scott created a new Jackie Kennedy inspired ensemble using vibrant color schemes, furry fabrics, and leather detailing/accessories. Gigi rocked the intergalactic runway in an all orange ensemble. The leather details in this look bring a bit of edginess, and the leather Mary Jane’s channel Jackie Kennedy’s style. Gigi also closed the Moschino show in an emerald green gown. Be sure to check it out in the link below!

Check out the rest of Moschino’s looks here: http://www.vogue.it/en/shows/show/moschino

Look #7: Calling all 80’s fans at Alberta Ferretti

Alberta Ferretti Milan Fashion Week Fall RTW 2018

Gigi strut her stuff at Ferretti’s show in an 80’s inspired ensemble. I love the mix of metallics and patchwork detailing on the knee high boots. I love love LOVE the purple pants paired with a studded belt and fuzzy sweater.

Look #8: Metallic Goddess at Alberta Ferretti

Alberta Ferretti Milan Fashion Week Fall RTW 2018

Gigi came out wearing this stunning floor length gown with metallic motifs. The sheer material of this dress, the high neck line, shoulder pads and cuffed sleeves make this dress hard to forget.

All the looks from the Alberta Ferretti Show can be found here: http://wwd.com/runway/fall-2018/milan/alberta-ferretti/review/

Look #9: Speedway Ready at Tommy Hilfiger

TommyxGigi Milan Fashion Week Fall RTW 2018

Gigi hit the racetrack themed runway at full speed with a leather pant and crop top ensemble fit for any speed loving fashionista. Race stripes, zipper details, and burnt rubber graphics make this look racetrack ready. I love that Tommy stuck with the red, blue, white, and black color scheme, and showed his own rendition of the primary color scheme that is coming into trend this season.

Look #10: Nascar Royalty at Tommy Hilfiger

TommyxGigi Milan Fashion Week Fall RTW 2018

Gigi closed the Tommy show in a flowing gown fit for Nascar royalty! I loved the mid-drift cut out and sheer flowing skirt with printed graphics. This was Gigi’s fourth and final collaborative collection with Tommy, and she definitely left a lasting impression!

You can check out all the looks from the Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2018 show here! http://wwd.com/runway/fall-2018/milan/tommy-hilfiger/review/

I don’t know about you, but Gigi definitely made me fall in love with her and Milan fashion week! I hope you enjoyed this article just as much as I enjoyed writing it!

xoxo,

Madison ❤

What I’m Listening to This March

Hey fashionistas! I was playing with the idea of starting a new segment on my blog dedicated to music, since music is such a big part of my life. I love discovering new artists, so if you guys have any suggestions I’d be happy to hear from you! Here are some of my favorite songs I’m listening to this month!

1.) On the Loose (Alternative Version) – Niall Horan

2.) Want You Back – 5 Seconds of Summer

3.) Forgotten Love – Beau

4.) Tetris – Madilyn Bailey

5.) Getting Over You – Lauv

6.) Big Girl – Stella Mwangi

7.) Buy Me Diamonds – Bea Miller

8.) Outside – Bea Miller

9.) Girlfriend – Bea Miller

10.) Make Me Feel – Janelle Monáe

11.) Like I Do – David Guetta, Martin Garrix & Brooks

12.) Pray For Me – The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar

13.) Hurt Somebody – Noah Kahan & Julia Michaels

14.) Montana – Justin Timberlake

15.) Better (BASECAMP Remix) – VÉRITÉ

16.) Sooner Or Later – Aaron Carter

17.) What Did You Want To Say? – Aaron Carter

18.) Fool’s Gold – Aaron Carter

19.) I Won’t Mind – Raveena

20.) Heart To Break – Kim Petras

21.) Love Lies – Khalid & Normani

22.) Dead – Madison Beer

23.) Say It to My Face – Madison Beer

24.) Teenager in Love – Madison Beer

25.) No Excuses – Meghan Trainor

26.) Wild Love (Jonas Blue Remix) – James Bay

27.) Put Me Back Together (feat. Kiiara) – Cheat Codes

28.) Strangers – Sigrid

29.) Heaven – Julia Michaels

30.) Champagne Clouds – Malia Civetz

So that concludes my March playlist! Let me know what you think! 🙂

xoxo,

Madison ❤

Pictures from Livorno, Italy

 

Why You Must Bring These Essential Items in Your Carry On

Let me just start off by saying, yes, you should pack those extra couple pairs of underwear in your carry on bag. To start off my wonderful semester in Florence, my first flight to Paris was pushed back, and then overbooked because someone put our chaperone on stand by and we couldn’t travel without her. So all because one person could not fit on the plane, the ENTIRE group of 25 was kicked off. Wonderful, right? I know. Not. So we get stuck sitting on the cold, tiled airport lobby floor for three hours as the airport now has to find us a new flight, search for our luggage, since it was already on the plane to Paris, and find us a place to stay (all considering we wouldn’t be able to get another flight to Paris for the next 2 DAYS).

Long story short, I am living the reality of every traveler’s worst nightmare: being stranded for two days without a flight or luggage, and only having your carry on on your back.

I would like to prevent all of you from having to go through this experience, and giving you the best and most informative advice possible about what to bring in your carry on the next time you are traveling or if you plan to study abroad. Because who knows… you might end up in my shoes.

What I originally packed in my carry on: (I bolded the items that came in handy the most)

*Note: I used a backpack for my carry on and just carried a small cross body bag with my money and passport in it*

• Laptop w/ charger
• Portable phone charger
• Phone w/ charger
• Headphones
• Adapter
• Travel Journal
• Important documents (flight info, copies of my passport, insurance card, etc.)
• Planner (for academic purposes)
• All of my prescription medication
• A weeks worth of my medication in a pill holder (yeah yeah I’m a grandma when it comes to medication)
• One pair of emergency underwear
• Deodorant
• Aquaphor (for chapstick)
• Essential oils (for skincare)
• Hair tie
• Jewelry
• Make-up brushes
• Passport
• Money (about $25 – honestly, probably should’ve brought closer to $50, but who knew I’d be in the US for two more days than I had originally planned)

What I WISH I had brought with me:

• Hairbrush and/or comb
  • Ladies please, this is a must. The airport was kind enough to provide us with a dinky plastic comb, but I am dying over here without a real one! (major, major knots)
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste (travel size)
  • The airport also provided us with a tiny pack of toothpaste; however, I had to go and purchase my own toothbrush at the hotel we are staying at. (Honestly, not bringing a toothbrush was a rookie mistake)
• Shampoo/Conditioner/Razor/Shaving Gel/Body Lotion (travel size)
  • These are not major in retrospect since most hotels will provide you with toiletries; however, if you are very particular about the products you use or can only use a specific brand, I suggest bringing your own travel size containers.
• 2 Extra Outfits (2 tops, 2 bottoms, 2 pairs of socks and underwear, a big tee to sleep in, etc.)
  • If you listen to any part of this note, I hope you at least pack the socks and underwear (seriously, I haven’t changed my socks in 2 days…)
• Advil PM
  • This will come in handy for the throbbing headache you are sure to get after dealing with this whole mess. But if your flight does work out, you can certainly use it to help you sleep on the plane and try to prevent major jet lag!
• Face Moisturizer/Skin care (travel size)
  • I have extremely sensitive skin, so not having my moisturizer was extremely disappointing Yay for dry skin!
• Snacks
  • Now I wouldn’t go overboard, but having a couple snacks comes in handy when you’re waiting at the airport for hours on end waiting to see if your flight is still going to take off on time.
• Patience
  • LOL. But its true. They don’t say “Patience is a virtue” for nothing.

 

I hope this post was helpful for all of you potential travelers! I would never wish this upon any one else. This is my first time traveling really anywhere, so while some of the items I listed may seem like “duh” I’m learning as I go… so hopefully this helps some of you plan for the worst case scenario in the future! (I know I will!)

As of right now, there may be another ice storm, so who knows when I’ll end up in Florence. Wish me luck!

xoxo,

Madison

Flying to Florence…

Today marks the first day of an incredibly promising semester. As I head off to spend the next five months in Florence, Italy with my best friends and boyfriend, I can only dream of wanderlust and luxurious fashion. For those of you who don’t know much about me, I am currently studying Fashion Merchandising at one of the top fashion schools in the US: Kent State University. I spent the first half of my junior year attending Kent’s studio in New York City and am now heading overseas to study European fashion ( I KNOW… honestly I still can’t believe it!)

The start of the trip has been a bit hectic, as our flight has been pushed back multiple times, we’re missing our connecting flight and we may be stuck in Paris overnight (although, who could complain about that… unless we’re stuck in the airport). However, I am staying open minded and positive because WHO could be mad when they’re about to be in Italy.

***I should also note that this will be my first time out of the country, so this trip is a pretty big deal.

The next few months will bring adventure, fashion, site seeing, architecture, fashion, and lots of food and wine. I want to journal throughout my trip to keep up with family and friends, but I would also love to inspire other young individuals to travel and be able to give them the best study abroad advice possible. I can’t wait to hear what you guys think!

xoxo,

Madison

How To: Dorm Decor

Hi fashionistas!

I know what you’re all thinking…two blog posts in one week?! I know, crazy stuff. But on a serious note, I’m def trying to post more often so you can get your weekly does of Madison Ave. So, this post is for all you crafty gals (and guys!). A few months ago I was getting ready to celebrate one of my best friend’s birthdays and wanted to do something extra special for her since she was going away to college for the first time. Now, your college girl is balling on a budget here, so I wanted it to be super personal but still look high quality. After doing some pretty extensive research on etsy, I decided to create some wall decor for my fave female (Deja-bae <3).

Moving into your first dorm can be pretty overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time being away from home for an extended period of time. Way back when I was a freshman, (well, it seems like years ago) I wanted my dorm to be as homey as possible and really reflect who I was. Honestly, decorating your dorm room is one of the best parts of moving into college (although that’s my personal opinion). It can also be pretty pricey once you start looking at bed spreads, sheets, laundry supplies, a mattress protector, shower caddy’s, etc., etc., etc.! This wall decor was super simple to make and cost me less than $20 to put together for all three (just to put that in perspective, on Etsy people charge about $15-$20/each). PLUS it’s super adorable and will seriously have people asking where you got it!

So first things first, I picked out three different expressions I wanted to use: “Hello Gorgeous”, “Stay Humble”, and “Goal Digger”. You can really use any expressions you want, and you definitely don’t have to do three, I just wanted mine to be a set!

The next thing I did was search free fonts on the internet to find the perfect one. I personally don’t care for most of the standard fonts Microsoft has to offer, but if you don’t feel comfortable downloading a font off the internet you can use one of the standard’s that Microsoft offers. I like to use sites like dafont.com, fontsquirrel.com, and 1001fonts.com. I had this particular one in mind, so I searched calligraphy inspired fonts free download, and found this one (Dandeleon Vintage Demo).

Next, I opened up a new Word document and inserted two additional pages (3 total). I created text boxes on each page and typed out my phrases and sized the font appropriately so that it would be seen from across a room (for this particular example I used 130 font).

Now for background images, you could very easily search any image of your choice on google and size it in the background to your desired size. I happened to come across a super cute site that had free downloadable images, which I’ll link here: (https://angiemakes.com/free-girly-graphics/).  Trust me, I’m the most indecisive person, and it took me forever to decide which images to use since all her stuff is SO CUTE. (Here’s the flower package I downloaded).

After I downloaded the images, I added them in the background and sized them how I wanted to. I also turned the transparency down 1 on each flower because I really wanted the text to pop. Once I finished placing the text and images where I wanted, I saved the document as a PDF. **THIS STEP IS SUPER IMPORTANT, IF YOU USED A DOWNLOADED FONT** I’m putting this in all caps because I went all the way to Staples to print it and I couldn’t because I didn’t save it correctly (yeah, I wasn’t too happy). But anywaysssss, please save your file as a PDF and you won’t have to go through the same pain I did 🙂

Now before you go and print you do want to buy the frames you want to hang them in. I went to Target and picked up three 11″ X 14″ black front closure frames. They were only $4.99 each ( I know, a STEAL).

Now you can head over to your local Staples and get these bad boys printed. I asked for a higher quality paper, you know NOT computer paper, but also not glossy since the glass frame is already going to give it a glossy effect. So essentially like card stock. I had them print it to 11″ X 17″ and cut it down myself at home to fit the frame (if you ask them to do it there it costs extra). I think it cost me $.42 a page, so it was like $2 max.

When I got home I sized them down and followed the instructions on how to put them in the frame. The frames I picked out were super easy to assemble. And VOILA, you have yourself some home made, SUPER cute, fun wall decor for your room/house/dorm room! I was low-key upset I gave these away as a present (just cause they turned out so CUTE), but I’ll definitely be making some for myself for my future apartment!

I hope you all enjoyed this post! I’ll def be posting more “how to’s” in the near future, so keep your eye out! If you have any suggestions I’d love to hear from you! You can always dm me on Instagram (@madison_ave323) or connect with me through the Contact page on my site!

Until next time fashionistas ❤

Mads, xx

 

Rei Kawakubo, Sep. 17

Hi fashionistas!

So as some of you may know I am spending this semester studying at Kent State’s Fashion Studio in NYC and one of my classes actually takes us to places all over the city to visit industry professionals and explore different fashion career paths. During the very beginning of the semester we took a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see Rei Kawakubo/ Comme des Garçons Art of the In-Between exhibit. Now for those of you who don’t know who that is, she is a Tokyo-based designer who likes to challenge the notion of conventional beauty and fashion. If you’re wondering what I mean by that just wait until you see some of her pieces from the collection. They’re VERY different. Her designs are for the viewer to interpret in their own way, so they’re not necessarily practical to be worn on the street…or wear ever really. Nonetheless they’re still beautiful works of art for fashionistas who love this kind of stuff!

 

How to rock a neck scarf this Fall!

Hey everyone! I hope you’re all enjoying the back-to-school season! This time of year happens to be one of my favorites. The weather is perfect, back-to-school shopping for clothes and supplies, and its the season of PSL’s! One of my favorite new styles this fall is wearing a neck scarf. It’s so simple, but it takes your outfit up a few notches. While shopping for your back-to-school haul, I recommend picking up one of these scarves (or even a bandana works!) to up your style game this fall.

The one I’m wearing above is actually from Target! I bought this Mossimo bandana for $5.99. I mean seriously, $6…I couldn’t resist. I styled mine by tying it in a double knot and placing the bow on the side of my neck. I paired the bandana with a pair of black distressed festival shorts, a Calvin Klein t-shirt, and a pair of tan, suede slip-ons. I thought the scarf really pulled the whole ensemble together. With just one accessory you go from wearing your old basic shorts and a tee, to having a fashion-forward street look.

Well there you have it fashionista’s! Whether you’re looking for a way to freshen up your go to shorts and tee ensemble or you’re looking for a new back-to-school style to take on the year, try adding a bandana to your fit.

Until next time fashionistas<3

Mads

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

When in New Hope…

Hey everyone! This is a special article because it’s my first ever blog post! And what better way to start my blog off than writing about my favorite outfit and my favorite town to adventure around in: New Hope, PA.

New Hope, PA

New Hope, PA is a very vibrant, colorful, hipster town. From restaurants to tattoo parlors to vintage shops, there’s so much to see and explore! My boyfriend, Quinn, came down from Michigan for a week to visit and this was one of the few destinations I had planned for us to visit while he was here!

Best dressed couple goes to…

But first, can we just talk about this romper? I. AM. IN. LOVE. Whoever came up with the idea to incorporate a maxi overlay with a romper, all the power to you. I found this super adorable piece from TARGET. I mean why not make this post about all of my favorite things, because Target is my absolute fave! Now typically, I would pair this romper with wedges or some mules or booties. However, since we were going to be doing lots of walking around New Hope I went with something a little more conventional and stuck with black strappy sandals. I dressed the look up a bit with some gold accessories: my Michael Kors watch, gold pendant necklace, rose gold princess ring, and some teardrop, dangly earrings.

The boy-f and I spent the day exploring New Hope and Lambertville, the neighboring town across the bridge into New Jersey. The day started off pretty sunny, and VERY hot.  Halfway through our day though it started down pouring and we had to cut the trip short. While the trip was short-lived, we did get to hit up a few of the clothing boutiques around town and even feed the ducks by the river:)

A cute family of ducks walked by while we were adventuring!

Railroad tracks in Lambertville, NJ

We ended up going back to New Hope the next day to finish adventuring and eat at one of the local restaurants for dinner. We chose to eat at The Landing, which actually sits overlooking the river. Afterwards, we got New Hope’s beloved treat for dessert: Nina’s Waffles! Nina’s is a local ice cream shop that serves ice cream on waffles. Not just any waffles though. Imagine a normal waffle but coated in a golden, sugary, sweet glaze (YUM, am I right!).

The Landing Restaurant

Nina’s Waffles and Ice Cream

(Peep his camera lens) he’s vlogging every moment of our trip

Overall, we had a wonderful time adventuring around New Hope, even though it took two days to see everything! 10/10 would recommend visiting New Hope and trying Nina’s waffles. Also, 10/10 would recommend getting one of these super comfy, super adorbs rompers this summer! Dress it up for a night out, or dress it down for a weekend adventure, either way I can guarantee you’ll turn heads rocking a maxi romper.

Until next time fashionistas<3

Mads