Fall Shopping Haul *September 2017*

Hey everyone! How is September treating you? As you know, I love everything about the Fall/ Autumn. I love the styles, and the weather so much. The only slight sadness is going back to school which means back to studying, tests, and waking up early. But, there are so many back to school sales! In August, I went to the Tanger Outlets in Riverhead, Long Island to get the best deals on Fall Clothing. I go to a catholic school, which means that I wear uniform, I took the opportunity to buy clothes I can wear on dress down days and weekends. Here is what I bought :)

Vera Bradley 

I have quite a bit of trips planned for my senior year such as weekends at my friends' houses, skiing, and to Washington D.C., and I needed a new duffle bag that would fit everything I need. This bag was originally $120, and it was 70% off, which meant I only paid $36 for this huge duffle bag. I love the pattern of this bag, and the colors all go together so nicely.  I can't wait to use it!

Nine West 

 As much as I love handbags, I needed to be real with myself...and get something I'll use more. I bought a cute, small-ish, fashionable backpack from Nine West. I've never shopped there before, but my mother took me there and I was immediately drawn to the backpacks. I can definitely use this bag for going around the city, a day trip, or just to bring my computer and books on a vacation. I like the bag because it's small enough to make the distinction between going on a day trip and going to school. I can also style this with an array of outfits.

Nine West Backpack $60

Calvin Klein

At the Tanger Outlets, other stores give coupons that are valid only for that day. For example, my family and I went to Nike, and they gave us a 10% off coupon for Calvin Klein. I bought a sports bra (with cool back straps), and an "athletic" shirt that's so comfy I would rather wear it as pajamas.

(Kinda) Funny Story: I recently bought a black and white Calvin Klein dress from Century 21 for $50, and I saw the exact same dress but in red in the store for around $90. This has happened a few times, when I found the same article of clothing for cheaper at other places (it's a good thing to shop around).

American Eagle Outfitters

AEO is one of my favorite stores! I can always find good jeans, fun dresses, and cute shirts. First, I bought a $30 book bag for my senior year. I was in need of a good bag to fit my computer and binders. Since it's my last year of high school, I decided that I would go with the bag I found the best, rather than the usual one I always used (it's been through a lot).

AEO was having the buy one get one half off sale on jeans/jeggings. I bought three pairs of high waisted "jeggings", which are more like really stretchy jeans. Honestly, how did the early 2000s celebrities where low-rider jeans! High waisted are soooo much better! I can't wait to where these pants throughout the Fall and Winter.

I love socks! I bought two pairs of shoes on this day too, so I needed gray socks to go with it. AEO has the comfiest socks, and honestly if my mom wasn't there; I would've bought more pairs.

I'm not the biggest fan of shirts with words on it, but I really like this shirt. If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you would know how big of a feminist I am. I am glad AEO is selling shirts with sayings like this to promote feminism and women empowerment. Girls can do anything! Also, I will 100% be wearing this shirt with one of my new pairs of jeans.

 My camera was being annoying, and this is the only shot of this shirt I got (but, there's an outfit of the day coming out with this shirt on!). This shirt is cropped and long sleeve, and has an elastic around the waist. I pair it with high waisted jeans, and it black boots or slip ons.

 This is just regular gray t-shirt with flowers, but I thought the pattern was so pretty. I am planning on wearing this shirt with a ripped denim jacket (from Forever 21 below!).

Forever 21

For me, Forever 21 is a hit or miss store. I can sometimes go in there and find tons of clothes, and other times I'll get only a few items. This time, I bought two items and I am perfectly happy with them. The denim jacket was $32 and is a sturdy jacket. Usually denim is so much more expensive, and I wasn't originally looking for a jacket, so I was pleasantly shocked with the price.

I got a pair of shorts for $12.50, and they are good for just hanging out around the house or pairing with a t-shirt.

Steve Madden

I bought two pairs of boots from Steve Madden because they were having a buy one get one half off sale (which is my weakness when it comes to shopping).

These rose-velvet boots are definitely the cutest shoes I own at the moment. They are so easy to get on because instead of lacing them up, you just zip them up on the side. I believe these shoes were around $70.

Yes, I already own about three pairs of black boots with heels. The difference between those and these are that these boots zipper on the side and is about 5x more comfortable. I can't wait to pair these boots up with dresses and jeans. These shoes were about $90 before the discounts.

Eddie Bauer

Northeast winters are freezing, and I needed a coat that would last me for years and keep me warm. This coat is from Eddie Bauer and was originally $275, but it was on sale and I bought it for around $130. I really like this coat because it's the perfect length and I can wear it over my uniform on the train. Also, there's fake fur on it which is good because I wouldn't have bought it if it had real fur.

Victoria's Secret

At Tanger, the VS outlet was one of my best buys. I bought these two sports bras for $10 each, and a regular bra for $19. Usually these sports bras at least $25, and I wasn't willing to pay that much. I was in desperate need of sports bras for my field hockey season, and VS did not disappoint.

LOFT

 I'm going to a christening for my new baby cousin in the end of September, and I needed a dress to wear. I've never been to LOFT before, but my mother is a big fan of the store. I automatically fell in love with this dress. It was originally $82, but I got 10% because I asked for a student discount. I can't wait to show you all my OOTD.

Question: What is your must-have Autumn clothing?

Hope you liked this post! Don't forget to comment :)
  
                                                                           xx
                                                               Christina Madeleine

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Also Checkout www.theweeklybuzz.org for news stories told by teens for teens!


*Note: Tanger Outlets has all/most items on sale, and I didn't get anything for free. This post wasn't to brag at all, but to show you all what I bought. All photos were taken with a Canon Powershot.

My Favorite Fall Fashion Trends: September 2017

Hey everyone! When I was thirteen, I started this blog to talk about fashion, and it seems that I haven't wrote about actual trends in years! Of course, I have done ootds, but can I still call myself a "fashion blogger." Since my last fashion trend post (four years ago), I have been through a ton of trends to find myself. The worst being my time when I would wear galaxy tights underneath denim shorts, but let's not talk about the fashion don'ts! I, absolutely love Autumn (especially months September through November). I like the idea of wearing cute jackets with jeans, nice scarfs, faux fur coats, and knee high boots way more than I like shorts. This Summer I enjoyed wearing skirts and dresses though, so I might continue that style into the Fall.  Today, I want to talk about my favorite Fall trends.

1. Turtle Necks 

I love turtlenecks. Last year, I bought two from Land's End, and I paired with everything. I styled outfits of pink skirts with a black turtleneck, tights, and knee high boots. The trend of turtlenecks have been around for ages; we've seen Marilyn Monroe and The Beatles wear them. This trend looks classy and you can pair them with jeans, overalls, dresses that go over them (but it depends how thick the shirt is). Also, chunky turtleneck sweater dresses paired with tights and ankle booties is perfect for winter weather. Lastly, turtlenecks are SO COMFORTABLE. Last year, I literally wore them everyday because of the fact that they are usually made of cotton, and feel like pajamas.

2.  Ankle Boots 

Ankle boots or Chelsea boots have been seen on celebrities like Harry Styles to models like Kendall Jenner. I, personally, adore this trend because 1) it's so easy to have a chunky heel that is comfortable 2) it goes with everything. My staple would be black ankle boots, but there are some colors like maroon and blue that also go with many outfits. Also, wearing ankle boots gives you the excuse to wear knit socks that are taller than the boot and match it with either tights or a dress. As shown above, you can also pair black ankle boots with jeans. How could you go wrong with this fashion staple?

3. Paper Bag Waist Pants 

Paper Bag Waist Pants are definitely one of the newer trends that I really like. Pants, like these, are sold at stores from H&M to Stella McCartney. There isn't much freedom when it comes to styling these pants, but not every article of clothing needs 10 ways to style. These pants would go well with either heeled sandals (if it's warm enough out) or chunky ankle boots. With the two photos, the pants are styled with white shirts, but is always subject to change with the color of the pants. I like the style of tucking in the shirt because it makes the outfit look classy enough for a work day or just to dress up. The pants are stylish, but comfortable. This year, I hope I can get myself a pair of these pants.

4. Faux Fur Coats 

I hate REAL fur because I don't believe in killing animals for their fur. But, FAUX fur sign me up all the way. Last year, I bought a purple faux fur coat from Forever 21 for about $55 and I was so obsessed with it. You can see me wearing it back in an OOTN from last December. I find faux fur coats to be so fun, especially when they are in different colors. Also, if you style the coat well, then it can go with so many outfits. For formal events, you can wear it over your dress and pair it with heels. But for a day out, you can pair it with jeans. It's perfect for the Fall because usually faux fur coats aren't heavy, but it'll still be warm enough out to wear them. Once again, it's a cute look and no animals are killed in the making of it.

5. Blazers 

I think blazers are great. When I was in middle school, I bought a blazer at Century 21 and I wore it with everything to make it look fancier. I recently bought the blazer on the right for $50 from Century 21 and it's Tommy Hilfiger. I saw the same jacket at Macy's for $82, so now I feel a bit better for how cheap I got it. I bought the blazer because I will be joining the Congressional Youth Cabinet of New York in September, and I felt I needed it for the occasion. I might do a post about how I style it because currently I am planning on wearing it with dark jeans, a white shirt, and black boots.  Blazers in general can turn a casual outfit into a formal-business outfit very quickly. You can wear blazers over dresses, with pants (maybe even the paper bag waist pants). This is definitely a staple to have in your closet for the Fall.

6. Jeans 

First of all, I included the image of the jeans with the fishnets underneath them because I love that style. I have yet to try it, but this Summer I saw the trend so much. Secondly, jeans are great. My recommendations for good jeans are American Eagle, Topshop, and Hollister. Out of the three, I prefer American Eagle the most just because their jeans fit so well, and come in a variety of styles from high waisted to boot cut. Also, their jeans are pretty affordable. Topshop is a bit pricey, but 100% worth the investment. I own the Jaime jeans from Topshop, and they were $80, but I wear them all the time. Jeans are so easy to style, and they go with everything from t-shirts to chunky sweaters. Also, you can wear almost every type of shoes with jeans.

7. Knee High Boots (and over the knee)

I just really like boots, okay? I recommend if you are going to buy knee high boots go to Steve Madden.  At the moment, all my shoes are either Adidas or Steve Madden, and I have no regrets about that. Steven Madden shoes are so durable, and you can get them cheaper in the Fall (student discounts sometimes!), and at the outlet stores. High Boots are so fun to style with dresses and cardigans. I don't like wearing them with jeans, so tights usually is the way I go with them.

8. Scarfs 

Once I start wearing scarfs, I know its officially Autumn. Big, chunky scarfs are good to match with sweaters (as shown above) or with dresses. Scarfs are good to wear on chilly days, or to make a plain outfit look a bit more fun. The trend carries on into Winter, so it's six months of styling scarfs! Adding a scarf can change a whole outfit, and it's a subtle accessory.

Questions: What are your favorite fall trends? Do you have any of the same as mine?

Leave a Comment! 

                                                                    xx
                                                        Christina Madeleine

Follow My Social Media:
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Also Checkout www.theweeklybuzz.org for news stories told by teens for teens!

*None of these photos used in this post are mine. I take no credit for these pictures. If I took a photo from Google that is yours, let me know by contacting me and I will take it down *

School Tips: Resources for Studying & Homework

Hey everyone! Education is a wonderful thing to take advantage of, but school can be very hard. For me, I find science incredibly hard, and it's not my favorite subject. What've I learned in my 14+ years of being in school is that it's 100% okay to ask for help when you need it. Teachers go very fast when they are teaching, and sometimes they can't make sure everyone understands the concepts. Today, I am going to give you guys some resources and advice when it comes to asking for help in school.

1. Chegg online tutors

My sophomore year of high school,  I was having a hard time in Chemistry because I couldn't grasp the concepts in my 75 minute class. During my frees, I would meet with my teacher, but sometimes it wasn't enough. Chegg Tutoring is available at all times through the day, and it matches you with a tutor in minutes for live sessions. I have used Chegg tutors for SAT prep, Physics, Chemistry, Algebra, and Geometry. The tutors are very helpful, and you can talk to them through messaging, video chat or phone calls. You can even see the tutors credentials, and usually they are either teachers or college students who study the topic you need help in.  The program costs some money, but it's not expensive. I really recommend this website, especially since it's a 24 hour service.
http://www.chegg.com/


2. Crash Course

I am a huge fan of John and Hank Green. They are such great people to look up to, and specialize in educating younger people (as well as  adults) on what's happening in current events, and in the past. Crash Course is a Youtube Channel that has 15 minute videos in topics such as World History, Chemistry, Literature, Physics, US history, etc... Some of there videos are narrated by John or Hank, but other videos are taught by people who have degrees in the subject. The videos are very concise, engaging, and also have fun facts to not just teach students, but help them retain the informations. All of their videos are fact checked and accurate. I use these videos for history class as a review before tests.
https://www.youtube.com/user/crashcourse

3. Memrise

Memrise is an app and website that was originally made for learning languages, but can be used to study vocabulary of any type. I take Spanish at school, and we have vocab quizzes quite often so I put them onto the Memrise app on my phone and download the list, so that I can study on the train. This app is super helpful because you can test yourself, and it even tells you what words that you're having more problems remembering. I've been using this app since I was a freshman, and it's helped me so much in my English and Spanish classes.

4. National Honors Society tutors 

National Honors Society is a group of juniors and seniors, who have a 3.7 or higher GPA, who are designated to help out students in certain topics. Many schools offer NHS tutoring for free because it's just peers helping out, but usually these students have passed the class with high scores and can clarify concepts. I wouldn't recommend NHS tutors for all the time tutors because they are students too, but meeting with them for 30 minutes before or after a class can be very helpful. I have previously had NHS tutors in Spanish and Geometry, and it made quite the difference.

5.  Group Meetings

Everybody is different, but I prefer to study with a partner or in a small group for big tests. Every year during finals, my friend and I sit in a classroom or facetime in order to study everything we know about a topic. Talking with a partner definitely helps me retain information because we take turns explaining certain topics. At my school, you can meet with a teacher and bring three people and have a mini lesson to go over topics. Teachers are meant to help you, and they want you to succeed. Working with other people can be beneficial, and it's so rewarding when all of you do well. Tip: unless you are using your phone to study from, make your whole group put their phones on silent, so that there are no major distractions to take you from your studying.


 I hope these resources help you. I start school on September 6 (the beginning of my senior year of high school!) and I want to do my best, so I wanted all of you to do your best as well! A mind is a terrible thing to waste, so become educated and get excited to learn. School can be tough, and sometimes defeating, but it goes faster than you think. 

                                                                     xx
                                                       Christina Madeleine

Follow My Social Media:
Instagram: @chriistinamariie
Twitter: @thisfashiongirl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisfashiongirl

Also Checkout www.theweeklybuzz.org for news stories told by teens for teens!