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It's not every weekday afternoon we're whisked away to the Hamptons, trading in a desk for a front-row seat at a fashion show. The location—horse stables set in the middle of a picturesque vineyard—was out of the ordinary too, but nothing short of perfect for a Ralph Lauren Girls runway filled with equestrian-inspired looks styled to bright back-to-school perfection. There was also another reason we couldn't resist a trip out East for the day: Madison Beer.
The 14-year-old singer has been on our radar since Justin Bieber tweeted about her YouTube covers last summer and signed her to his label soon after. Madison's spent the last few months working on her debut album, and we caught up with her after she performed (among horses and the stylish kids who attended the show) clad in a cool fall look from Ralph (striped socks and leopard sneakers included!). Read on for the rising star's style secrets and music musts.
In our May music portfolio curated by Justin Bieber, you told us you were working on your album. How's that going?
It's going great! I'm releasing my first single, "Melodies" soon, and hopefully the album will follow after that.
What kind of sound are you going for?
A cool R&B pop kind of vibe. I don't want to be bubblegum! Sound-wise, I really like Rihanna and Lana Del Rey.
How would you describe your style?
I wear a lot of shorts, skirts, and crop tops. I'm into trendy dressing, but that might change after seeing all of the preppy Ralph Lauren clothes! I loved what the models were wearing—I was like, "I want that, I want that, I want that!"
Do you dress differently on stage than when you're hanging out?
Yeah, when I'm with my friends, I usually go with a big T-shirt and sweatpants. But when I perform, I want to feel like I'm wearing something special that I wouldn't wear on a regular day.
Where do you like to shop?
I love Forever 21 and LF. I go to a lot of stores like that! Forever 21 will always be my ride or die.
We have to imagine you're going to be hitting up red carpets pretty soon. Do you have any idea what you'd want to wear?
Actually, I've always wanted to wear something from Forever 21 to show that you don't have to just go with Chanel or Versace or something like that. Girls who are watching the red carpet can be like, "Mom, can I get this dress?" and they can! I like the idea of wearing something that's not crazy expensive that other girls can buy.
What are your back-to-school styling tips?
Just be yourself! That's what I did. I felt confident and tried to keep the most positive attitude I could because school can be dreadful sometimes. It's important to be happy in the skin you're in and the clothes you're wearing!
Do you have a favorite first-day-of-school outfit?
On my first day of second grade, I wore a black sequined skirt with a yellow tank top, big yellow earrings, and a black and yellow necklace. I was very matchy-matchy, but it was such a fun outfit. I saw those pictures the other day, and I was like, "How did I do that?!" But in the photos, I looked confident and happy!
What music are you into right now?
The song I've had on repeat is "Instant Crush" by Daft Punk. I've also been listening to Rihanna's Unapologetic album a lot. I have so many songs on my phone that it changes all the time! I'm constantly listening to something.
Is there anyone who you want to collaborate with?
I'd love to collaborate with Rihanna, of course. You see how much I talk about her—I'm obsessed! But if I could collaborate with anyone dead or alive, it would probably be The Beatles. That's a hard question though. If my life was on the line, I would still need a few more minutes to answer that!
