The Maddie Diaries

by Maddie Ziegler

  I think most teens feel like I do: There’s this tug-of-war that happens in your heart. You want to be on your own, to break free and become your own person, but your mother knows you better than anyone else (mine can read my mind). I don’t tell her very often, but I need her. When something happens—good or bad—she’s the person I want to run to. And being away from her for that many weeks kind of drove that point home for me. Just recently, we went to a screening of the film. Finally, she got to see what I had been up to.

  “Oh my gosh, Maddie,” she said, hugging me extra tight. “You’re wonderful.” She cried the whole movie (fair warning: It’s a major tearjerker), and, believe it or not, so did Mackenzie. I’m so proud of this project, but also proud that it was my first time doing something totally new all by myself. It felt a little like walking on a high wire without a safety net—my mom wasn’t there to catch me if I fell. Moms complain a lot about how hard it is when your kids get older and you “lose” them and have an empty nest. But it’s hard for us kids, too. The good news is I’m only fourteen; I’m not ready to move out yet! And even when I do, I might just give my mom her own set of keys . . .

  Dear Maddie

  My longtime dance studio is closing and I have to go to a new one. I’m so sad and scared—what if the girls there hate me? What if the teachers are evil? My studio was my second home!

  It’s always hard to leave a studio—the people there become your family. But just because you won’t see each other every day doesn’t mean they need to disappear from your life. You can stay in touch—maybe some will even go to the new place, too? As for starting at a new studio, don’t assume the worst. If you do, you’ll shut yourself out from good things and good people. No one likes a Debbie Downer. You have to go in thinking and believing it’s going to be just as good as (maybe even better than) your old studio, and give it your best shot in the friendship department. Be warm, be friendly, be open. Give it a chance!

  Everyone who competes has to pay for these expensive costumes and my family just can’t afford them. I’m embarrassed to tell my dance coach, and I’m afraid she’ll kick me off the team.

  She won’t kick you off! You haven’t done anything wrong; your family just isn’t made of money. So what? There are some moms at my studio who do work at the front desk, help file stuff, organize the costume closet, etc. when they’re struggling to pay tuition. Talk to your coach and say, “Look, I can’t afford to pay for a costume right now. Can we work something out?” Be up-front early—not the week before the competition—so you can figure out a plan.

  It feels like everything I try, I fail at. Everyone has a talent but me!

  People aren’t always good at something right away—sometimes it takes time and a lot of practice. When you try something and don’t nail it, do you just get upset or frustrated and abandon it? I really believe that you can achieve anything if you work hard at it. There are lots of things I’m good at and lots of things I’m not good at. My older brothers tried their best to teach me a sport: basketball, soccer, hockey, you name it. I’m a klutz. I can’t throw a ball. So that’s just not my thing. But that doesn’t mean I’m a failure—and you’re not one either. You just have to keep searching for the “thing” that you love so much you want to excel in it. And when you find that passion, don’t let go. Keep plugging away till it sticks.

  Today Is a Beautiful Day to . . .

  Wear a big bow—à la JoJo (all the time!) and Sia/me that one time on the red carpet. It was a tease to the video for “The Greatest,” but those giant black bows were kinda hard to miss. Turn heads with your dramatic do! It shows you’ve got confidence and you don’t mind standing out in a crowd.

  Nominate someone to take on a challenge! My friends just dared me to do the twenty-two-push-up challenge to raise awareness for veteran suicide—and I passed it on to three more peeps. And you better believe I did the ice bucket challenge for ALS! It was fun and it spread the word about important issues.

  Hit refresh on something in your life: Move things around your room so it’s more feng shui; cook something you love to eat without cutting any corners—like marinara from scratch; fill your home with flowers (even better if they’re picked from your backyard) to bring some color and scent to your space.

  When I was younger, my mom did all the shopping and styling for me—and I have the “fashion don’t” pics to prove it! Yeah, sure, I was cute—but those poufy dresses, matching headbands, and Mary Janes? Eek! What I wore back then I would never wear now, but that’s because I’m a teenager, and my style has evolved into something that reflects the real me: part girly-girl, part tomboy, and all about feeling comfy. I think my passion for fashion really started up a few years ago when I went to my first New York Fashion Week. Elle magazine and Teen Vogue both invited me to attend the runway shows for them, and I soaked it all in. At the Alice + Olivia show, I got to hang with The Carrie Diaries/Soul Surfer star AnnaSophia Robb, who told me she was a fan of Dance Moms. I met designers Rosie Assoulin, Karen Walker, and Gilles Mendel of J. Mendel. I got to “take over” for a day at Seventeen magazine recently, too, raiding the fashion closet and picking out my fave pieces to spotlight that issue. I felt like I was in The Devil Wears Prada (minus the mean editor—all the people who work there are so nice!).

  I’ve walked in a few runway shows as well for Ralph Lauren. I love getting a sneak peek at what the new colors and trends will be for the next season. Sitting in the front row is amazing! Last year, I went to Rebecca Minkoff, Betsey Johnson, Opening Ceremony, Tommy Hilfiger, Zac Posen, Ralph Lauren, and Christian Siriano. Fashion Week is always a whirlwind, and I love it, but I get really nervous that a model is going to fall on the runway. One time, I was watching an Opening Ceremony fashion show, and a girl fell right in front of me . . . then another . . . then another. It took a few minutes for the audience (and me!) to figure out it was part of the show; they were falling on purpose. At the end, they all got up and broke out into a dance. But it kinda scarred me for life; I always think some poor model is going to wipe out!

  If I spent my early years in need of a fashion makeover, you really can’t blame me. While we were shooting Dance Moms, all I got to wear was dance clothes, day in, day out. So it wasn’t like I had a lot of practice perfecting my style! When I was out of the studio, I just wasn’t confident in my fashion choices. I was more worried “What will people think? Will they make fun of me for trying too hard?” But now, I really don’t care. I wear whatever I like and I don’t think about being trendy or in. My lazy-day look is typically shorts, jeans, or joggers; a tee tied at the waist or not; and sneakers or booties. You won’t really find me in a cropped top unless it’s with a high-waisted jean (I don’t really like to show my stomach even though I know it’s a big trend right now), and I stick to a gray/black/white palette. Kenzie is a lot more comfortable with color than I am. I might wear a pop of it, but never a lot unless it’s for a party. I’m not someone who necessarily likes to stand out in a crowd. That’s just me.

  If I do have an event, then I work with my amazing stylist, Linda Medvene. I’ll send her some ideas I might have, some looks I’ve seen and might like to try, and she’ll roll in this rack of clothes and we’ll go through it, try some stuff on, see what feels and looks good on me. I’m really lucky, because designers like Christian Siriano from Project Runway have actually custom-made outfits for me to wear out. I love his clothes—they’re so unique, elegant, and pretty, but they also have a youthful edge. He knows I want to look fourteen not forty, so that’s how he designs for me. Two of my fave outfits he made me were a two-piece bright yellow shorts set and a peach and pink floral-embroidered romper. The colors reminded me of a sunrise. Zac Posen and Wesley Nault have also designed for me—they’re both so hip and cool, and we’ve always created fabulous one-of-a-kind looks together. Wesley did a blue strapless dress for me for my first SYTYCD show. It was icy blue lace and it had a Cinderella feel, absolutely magical.

  If I have a style role model,
I would say Gigi Hadid. She has the cutest casual outfits, like jeans and a blouse. She always looks comfortable but never sloppy. I’d like to have her closet, all of it, but first I probably need to grow a couple of inches to be her height. I hear she’s like 5 foot 10!

  This year, I got the opportunity to design my own clothing line and that’s been a dream come true. I always felt like there was nothing good out there fashion-wise for tweens. Kids’ clothes are either too childish or something I would never wear, and most of the time, adult clothes are either too big on me or feel too grown-up. I felt like there needed to be something in between, so girls can relate to what we want to wear instead of trying to look like something we’re not. When they asked me to describe the feel of the collection, I came up with three words: chill, comfy, cute. I wanted it to be sporty but also feminine (because that’s so me). I wanted to be able to mix and match the pieces so you could build a whole wardrobe of looks off of it. The best part was how we tested out the line—we sent out surveys through social media to get girls’ opinions: I like this, I don’t like that. I loved that feedback; it’s like we built this line together.

  I’ve been really involved in the whole process from the concept to the sketches to choosing the fabrics and pieces. We went into a boardroom, and they brought in tons of different fabrics and racks and racks of clothes. I went through them all, and got to say, “I like this cut and this style in this fabric and color.” It was like piecing together a puzzle! The next step was creating samples, and once again, they really let me make the fashion choices. I could decide, “That shirt is really cute—but what can we do to make that plaid not so boring? Can we make it more sophisticated—like an adult shirt instead of a kid one?” Or “I love this skirt—but could we make it shorter?” We kept editing and editing down until we arrived on the first collection for Back to School. I love every single piece in it—and there’re about thirty of them. I’ve done three different seasons now, and modeled the collection for ads and the website. I love that the colors are so me—nothing bubble-gum pink or too bright, just earthy and cool—and you can actually move comfortably in the clothes. As a dance kid, that’s a must. The clothes are being sold exclusively at Nordstrom and also online at MaddieStyle.com, and I’m really proud to have my name on them.

  I think girls should dress the way they feel—and that can change daily. Some mornings I get up and I’m in a biker jacket mood; other days it’s a comfy plaid shirt. The point is, you should always think of your style as an extension of yourself—you wear it, it doesn’t wear you. You should wear what moves you—that became the tagline for my collection. This is the perfect time in your life to start piecing together your style—you can actually choose what you like, not what your mom picks out for you! But before you shop till you drop, start by combing through your closet: What’s in there that already works? What can you recycle? What needs to go to Goodwill or to your little sis (you’re welcome, Kenzie) because you haven’t worn it/seen it in a year and you don’t like it/fit into it anymore? Once you cut the closet clutter, you’re ready to gather a few new pieces.

  Ten Things Every Girl Needs in Her Closet

  1 A denim jacket. It can be light wash or dark wash, ripped or not ripped. Basically, you can’t go wrong with a jean jacket—you can wear it over anything, from a tee or a tank to a cute sundress, and it’s a great layering piece. My fave hits just at the waist, but I also love the cute cropped styles out there and the vest versions.

  2 Skinny jeans. You can dress them up, you can dress them down. I’ve worn mine to a party with a sequin jacket! Dark blue or black high-waisted ones look the most “put together” (as my stylist Linda will say) when you pair them with a jacket or sweater. They just have to fit perfectly—no bagging or pinching anywhere, especially not at the knees, butt, or waist—and be the perfect length. Mine stop right below the ankle bone so I can wear them with both sneakers and heels.

  3 Boyfriend jeans. I have a lot of pairs of these because they’re so comfy and easy to wear with anything. They can be ripped, worn, sand-washed—they should look a little lived-in. Try them on before you buy them to make sure they don’t look too big or baggy—the silhouette is supposed to be slouchy but not sloppy. I like to cuff mine and roll them up mid-calf. I will literally wear anything with them—a tee, a sweatshirt, a cute cropped jacket. My mom will groan, “Not those jeans again!”

  4 A basic white and a basic black tee. If you find some inexpensive ones, it’s always a good idea to stock up (in case your little sister steals yours). I like ones that are soft with a relaxed fit, with a not-too-high round neck and not-too-plungey V-neck (I’m really picky!). I know a lot of people who spend $80 on a designer black T-shirt, but honestly those look the same as one I spent a few dollars on.

  5 Ballerina flats. You don’t have to be a dancer to own a pair of these. They’re a must-have for me, and I’ll wear them with anything from skirts and jeans to shorts and dresses. Black and beige are the most neutral, but there are a lot of options: I once wore gold metallic ones to the Kids’ Choice Awards.

  6 A mini backpack. I’ll be honest: I don’t usually carry a bag; I just grab my phone and put it in my pocket. But if I’m traveling or have to bring snacks, water, makeup, whatever with me on the go, a small backpack is perfect. It leaves my hands free (to text!), and it’s light and roomy. Look for colors that will go with anything, like black, brown, navy, gray, or white. And it should be made of sturdy material that won’t tear, like leather, vinyl, or coated canvas.

  7 Sneakers. Not the ones you’d wear to PE class, I’m talking a stylish pair you can wear out and about. I’m currently obsessed with my Adidas Superstars. I have the basic white, but when I did a cover shoot with Seventeen recently, they had every color of the rainbow and I was so excited. I wore the gray ones on the cover. I also love a basic basketball shoe (like a Chuck Taylor) in low- or high-top. Make sure whatever kicks you choose are comfy (there’s nothing worse than sneakers that rub!), then make them your signature shoe.

  8 A cute clutch. So here’s the thing about these little bags—they don’t hold a lot. I can usually barely fit my phone and some lip gloss in them! But when you’re going out and you’re dressed up, you really need one to accessorize the outfit. I have a few amazing ones by Edie Parker or Benedetta Bruzziches that look fun on the red carpet. I think the key is to go for something that catches the eye—it can be glittery, colorful, whimsical, whatever you personally prefer. I don’t like mine to be too matchy-matchy with my shoes or my outfit. It can add a pop of color or even make you smile because it’s fun and different—like the beaded wristlet I carried to a People party that said WOW on it.

  9 A plaid flannel shirt. When I don’t know what to wear, I reach for one of these because it’s just so easy and looks good on anyone. You can wear it open, button it up, tie it around your waist. I think it’s the perfect layering piece and a way to add warmth, color, and pattern to even the most basic (or boring) outfit.

  10 A bomber jacket. This is a classic that never goes out of style—my mom says she used to wear them. I kinda want one in every color this year! I like how they feel casual and tailored at the same time—I even wore one to New York Fashion Week. You can get a basic in black, olive, or brown, or go for one with different-colored sleeves (we created one for my collection with metallic sleeves—so cool). Even more fun: Add a few pins or patches to it.

  Fashion Emergencies

  My friends and I are always freaking out when something happens to our clothes or shoes (because in life and in fashion, stuff happens!). Linda has this cute little emergency kit she carries with her for just those situations. She’s a whiz at working things out . . .

  You get lipstick on your fave white sweater. Take one of those little white triangular makeup sponges you find in the drugstore and wipe it dry across the stain. The sponge should pull the color right out. If that doesn’t get it all, use a Shout stain-remover wipe to clean off the rest. They’re magic.

  Y
ou rip your best pair of jeans. Patches are so cool right now—and a great, easy fix for a tear. You can choose a smiley face, a peace sign, a word—anything that speaks to you. You can even patch with another shade of denim, then sew another patch on top of that. Look at this emergency as a blessing in disguise: You now get to creatively embellish your plain ol’ jeans!

  The hem on your cute dress suddenly unravels. Get yourself to the beauty-supply store and pick up Topstick, an inexpensive double-sided tape that comes in different widths. Toss this little yellow box in your bag for whenever you need it. In this situation, apply a piece to the underside of the hem to hold it in place till you can get home and stitch it back up.

  You accidentally toss a white tee in with a red hoodie in the laundry. So you now have a one-of-a-kind work of art! Let everyone think you bought that pink tie-dye tee (not that you created it in the rinse cycle). It will look great with denim shorts or under a jean jacket. Wear it proud and don’t cry over the unexpected dye job.

  You scuff your new leather boots. A damp towel (not a soaking-wet one) rubbed on the spot should smooth it out. If it’s not a perfect fix, you can take it to a shoemaker, who can reapply color. But the vintage look is so in right now, maybe you should embrace the lived-in look instead of trying to get it out?

  You snag your best cardigan. Use a needle—or, if you’re in a pinch at school, a pen (top on!) or paper clip—to pull the loosened thread from the outside in.

  What’s Today’s Fashion Mood?

  The way I choose my outfit depends on a lot of things: where I’m going, the weather, what’s not wrinkled or dirty (not kidding!), and what do I feel like today and how do I dress the part?