My Best Madewell Purchases
If you’ve been reading for any length of time, you know how much I love and wear Madewell. When I first started blogging many years ago, I was a super fan of ModCloth (it was ModCloth’s Style Gallery that introduced me to style blogs, which led to me starting my own blog). My style evolved over time as I went through grad school and discovered more brands. Eventually, I was introduced to Madewell (J.Crew’s hip cousin) and haven’t looked back! I still love the brand to this day.
According to my Stylebook app closet stats, Madewell makes up nearly 17% of my closet, which is the highest percentage of any brand. I really try to branch out and give other brands a chance, but I really do come back to Madewell often—and not just for their denim, which is hands down my favorite for fit and comfort. I created an entire outfit from Madewell favorites here, and I’d consider all of these items among my top Madewell purchases. Let’s dive into each category!
The Best Items to Buy from Madewell
JACKETS AND COATS
One section of the Madewell website I often find myself perusing is the jackets and coats section. For living in an area with all four seasons, I actually don’t think I own that many coats even though I’m highly tempted by every coat Madewell offers, haha. This utility jacket has been a mainstay in my wardrobe since summer 2014. It’s the perfect lightweight jacket for spring and fall, and the color is basically a neutral in my wardrobe. I also own a burgundy wool coat and a navy puffer from the brand, and they’re all well made staples!
FLANNEL SHIRTS
In the fall and winter, I looove a good flannel shirt, and Madewell makes some of the best flannel shirts. I own six flannels by Madewell, and my favorite style is the flannel Sunday shirt; I own three of them (including the striped version shown in this outfit). These shirts are thick AND feature hidden side pockets at the waist. Random, but kind of fun if you want to leave the house without a coat and still have useful pockets haha!
DENIM
As I said above, Madewell’s denim is my favorite for fit and comfort. Most of my Madewell jeans are high-rise skinny jeans, though I do still own a couple of low- to mid-rises from my earlier blogging days (back when those were in style!). I’ve since discovered that 10” is the perfect rise for me, as it sucks everything in around the midsection but doesn’t dig in. Also, their magic pockets are TRULY magic. I cannot explain it; you just have to try them to believe me, haha.
In addition to their skinny jeans, I also own a pair of demi-boot jeans and love those, too. The jeans in this outfit are my first pair of curvy skinny jeans, and I’m so happy I finally tried them. They hug my hips and nip in perfectly at the waist! I’ve since purchased a pair of curvy Roadtripper jeans.
ANKLE BOOTS
My very first Madewell order back in spring 2014 was a pair of ankle boots (the Billie boots, to be exact). I still own them, and have since collected three other pairs of Madewell ankle boots. The boots I’m wearing here are the Regan boots, which are still available but unfortunately not in this red color (dark cabernet) anymore. I love their boots for their supple leather and durability!
BASEBALL CAPS
Since I’ve decided that 2020 is the year I no longer do my hair, I’ve amassed quite the collection of baseball caps (my hair is so long now that I just throw it up into a baseball cap while I work during the day, lol). Most of mine are from Madewell because they tend to have a variety of different colors and fun textures. I try to catch them on Poshmark when I can!
LEATHER BAGS
Other than denim, Madewell is most known for their leather bags—more specifically, the Transport tote. I never owned the original Transport tote, but a few years ago, as a treat to myself when I started my full-time job, I ordered the medium Transport tote. I’ve carried it to work every single day since then (obviously that isn’t happening anymore now that I’m WFH for the time being, but once I’m back in the office I’ll be back to using the bag!).
The medium Transport tote is the perfect size if you’re petite, like me. (I consider myself borderline petite—at 5’4”, I can wear regular or petite lengths depending on the item.) The bag has held up beautifully after about two and a half years of carrying it every day. Granted, I don’t fill it to the brim, and it’s not usually full of heavy things, but it’s put up with quite the beating and still looks fabulous! I don’t use the crossbody strap but it’s nice to have the option. Other than the tote, I also own a simple black clutch bag and a belt bag by the brand.
OUTFIT DETAILS
Madewell jacket / old; similar or similar (on sale!)
Madewell shirt / old; similar
Madewell jeans / exact (on sale in limited sizes) or similar options: 1 / 2 / 3 (review here)
Madewell boots / exact style
Madewell hat / exact
Madewell tote / exact (zip-top version)
Dior Lip Glow in pink / exact