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Ahh I finally understand the hype!! I recently purchased my first pair of Madewell jeans during the Black Friday weekend. I’ve notoriously been the shopper that buys the budget-friendly denim, stuck on a cycle of annually purchasing a new pair of “affordable” jeans because last year’s look so warn, or they’ve lost their spunk or there are holes rubbed in the inner thigh area. It’s true. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Investing in Your Wardrobe

Shopping for jeans isn’t something I really enjoy and therefore once I found something that worked and wasn’t pricey, I held on for dear life. I like to invest in good shoes, so why don’t I invest in good jeans? I wear them so much, doesn’t it seem like a wise purchase? These questions about swirl around in my head re: all clothing, every few months, usually after a disappointing trip to my closet when something from last year no longer looks fresh and crisp. I have very few pieces of clothing that I’ve “invested” in but they’re the items I actually do find myself coming back to year after year, and loving more than any fast fashion. So I recently decided to make a short list of investment pieces, and jeans quickly moved to the top of the wardrobe investment list.

Madewell Lives Up to the Hype

I’ve no joke, walked into Madewell a couple times, gotten overwhelmed and walked right back out. I tend to be very loyal to brands and when I find a retailer I like, I figure out their approach to sales, learn the best time to buy and I’m golden. So knowing I wanted to buy a pair of Madewell jeans, I waited until we were in Kentucky for Thanksgiving so I could see my childhood bestie Katrina at the location where she works. But even if you don’t have a Katrina at your closest location, I promise you, they have super helpful, friendly staff! We chatted briefly about my ideal jeans and certain fit concerns I had and Katrina directed me toward their Denim Bar where she asked me a few questions about sizing and handed me a couple pairs to try on. Y’all the very first pair I tried on were PERFECT!! I’m serious. I’ve legit never had that kind of jean shopping experience!!

Petite 10” High-Rise Skinny Jeans

Katrina suggested this pair of jeans in Wendover Wash as my first pair from Madewell since it’s a great every-day wash and embodies classic style. I’m short (5’1”) so we decided to go with petite. These jeans are denim woven with TENCEL™ lyocell which make them extra comfy and provide a great amount of stretch! TENCEL™ lyocell fibers are derived from sustainable wood sources in a closed-loop process. You can save 30% on these jeans when you use code BIGTIME right now! (Unsure on how long this code lasts!)

I’m wearing size 29 petite.

Fit for My Body Type

So if you’ve followed the blog for long, you know fashion is a somewhat newer subject for me. I have what I would consider a normal amount of self-consciousness. Everyone has at least a little. My weight has fluctuated some over the years. And it’s gone up and down for sure over 2020, thanks to my wedding, stress, a pandemic and just a lot of life. I’ve never fully broken down my body type in a blog post but I realize that’s helpful information for readers looking for fit insight so I’ll push past the awkwardness I’m feeling and provide some details.

I’m short, we’ve gone over that (5’1”), I’m petite in the sense that I have a small frame. But I’m kind of mid-size as far as overall body type goes. Size varies drastically for me and I can wear anything from an 8-12 usually. Sometimes petite, sometimes regular sizes. I’m pretty much a medium except for when brands are weird. So sometimes I’m a large. I have chicken legs (seriously such tiny calves, feet and ankles), fluff around the midsection (I think 90% of the fat on my body is from my hips to my chest), narrow shoulders, and some might say I’ve been “blessed in the chest” (shopping for tops isn’t easy and to fit my chest I end up not fitting my shoulders, and bra shopping is literally the worst).

So when it comes to jeans, I need something that is going to first off be the appropriate length, but also I don’t want to look swallowed up in fabric, so I want a fitted look around my skinny legs, and something fitted but flattering around the waist (i.e. sucks my gut in but not cutting off the circulation in my mid section). Therefore I need a good balance of stretch and structure. I love that you can feel the quality in these jeans.

Front-Tuck High Rise Jean Trend for a Mid Size Short Gal

This whole front-tuck look is something I avoided like the plague for a quite some time. I bought a pair of high-rise jeans from another retailer not long ago and gave this look a try, I didn’t love the jeans, they’re not bad and I’ll wear them, but they’re not as fitted around the calves and ankles as I’d like. So overall it gives off a bit of a mom look. But the fit of my new Madewell jeans are ideal for styling in this way and I rarely wear tops fully untucked since purchasing them a few weeks ago!! And I think for someone of my size and stature, it actually helps a lot (when the outfit fits appropriately) to give me a waist and define my figure without being “form-fitting.”

Taking Care of Your Jeans

I love that inside these jeans are pointers for making your jeans last longer. Some of their tips include:

Try to wear you jeans 10 times before washing.
Don’t put your jeans in the dryer!

I’m guilty of both offenses with my jeans and in an effort to care for my new investment jeans, I’m trying to adopt these habits.

Why I Like Madewell as a Brand

I’m impressed with this brand for a lot of reasons - product quality, knowledgeable staff, customer service, but also for things like the recycled denim project (get $20 off a new pair of [full price] jeans when you drop off a pair of old jeans [regardless of brand]). I like the style and selection of denim and I’m excited to be a new Madewell “Insider” / major fan! ;)

Madewell Jeans