Sunday, March 25, 2012

Madewell

Last week, when I went to the mall, I decided to check out Madewell. I have seen many bloggers buying their skimmer flats and I was intrigued.  I was in the store previously, couple of times, and I perused some items on the website, but I have never bought or ordered anything. I always had an impression that I am not their target demographic and that they want to appeal to a younger, hippier crowd.

Well, that maybe so, and maybe I am just going through mid-life crisis or whatever, but I liked the clothes maybe even better than J.Crew. I have been complaining recently of everything at J.Crew being in the same colors and about certain cuts being repeated and multiplied. Combine that with declining quality and sometimes false website/catalog presentation, I was experiencing a J.Crew fatigue.

This should actually make me happy, or least make my wallet happy, but as you know, nothing can stay in vacuum for too long. I started looking at other retailers more, revisiting some old flames (BR), and exploring some new ones, one of them Madewell.

Trolley-Stripe Sweater

This is actually nice price for thicker 100% merino, on-trend sweater, I was quite impressed with quality.

Size Medium
It fits TTS, I took Medium, which is bigger of my two sweater sizes. It is boxy, but I like the look of it and I like the colors. Thumbs up for this one.

$72, 100% Merino


I loved this tee! First of all, it is thicker cotton, not this tissue weight, prone-to-holes, see-through J.Crew variety. This one is almost sweatshirt weight, I like it for a change. I also like the colors, I love the olive tones but they don;t love me back and I have trouble wearing it next to my face. Here, they are separated with black and white stripes, so it totally works.
  
Size Medium, $49.50, 100% cotton
$49.50 is not cheap, but the quality seems so much better that J.Crew t-shirts, that sell at the same price.

If you've read my Friday's post you know that I bought it and this is how I already wore it:

Thursday's outfit
 Academy Blazer

Size 6, $168, 95% wool, 5%spandex
Again, this is less classic and a little more trendy, but I like the fit better than schoolboy, it is more nipped in the waist but it accommodates my chest and  the shoulders are not too wide. It is also more suitable for weekend wear, it does not have that office-only vibe. This is great for me, because my dress code is flexible, but I think it would be OK in more formal environment, if you wear a button down and/or pencil skirt with it. 

rouge dot skirt


Size Small, $84.99, 100% silk
I  also liked this skirt better than J.Crew Jardin or crinkle chiffon. It is longer and the dots are subtle, but add some interest. The price is actually good (now on sale), especially that it is 100% silk and similar skirts from more upscale retailers sell for much more, even in polyester. This is a true midi with longer length. As much as I like the concept, I've been having trouble styling it, but I really liked this skirt and I think I could work it!


Charade Blazer



Size 8, $138, Poly/rayon/spandex blend


Again, I liked this blazer too. It is a poly blend, but it felt soft and comfortable, more like a knit. It drapes nicely and I like the two button closure. It did not look too bad when open, which is always a challenge with double breasted jackets. The color is beautiful, somewhere between coral pink and orange, it looks soft and I think it would be flattering on most skin tones. They did not have a 6 but an 8 was a good fit, while a little oversized especially in the shoulders. I think I could get away with a bigger size, because it still has a waist definition and more room means more comfort. If this goes on sale (or promo), I would consider it, but at appears to be almost sold out on the website.

 Roseblossom Skirt


100% silk,  $84.99,  29.5" long

This skirt is similar to rouge dot skirt, but I liked the other one better. This one is a little shapeless, and sligthly bulky at the waist. If you have completely flat stomach it would look better I think. I liked the print but the shape was definitely reminding me of something I wore in the 90s. Pass.

Unidentified Polka Dot tee



Purple with red/orange dots

$45, 100% rayon
I cannot find this polka dot tee on the website, I don't know if it is new/sold out or store-only. Anyway it is pretty cute but narrow in the hips. I kind of liked how it drapes though. The colors were cheerful and flattering. It is 100% rayon, so I don't know about that, but it also isn't too expensive, so with some percentage off, it may be worth it.  


Unidentified Dress

Size 6

$118 100% cotton


It would be great vacation/weekend dress, very ligth and feels good on. It is definitely NOT see through which is great! I am actually wearing a black bra under it and it doesn't show, amazing!
The fit is TTS and you can cinch it in the waist with the drawstring.

It has long sleeves, but  they look better rolled up, I forgot to take a picture with unrolled sleeves.

Midnight drop pendant necklace

$48
Madewell also sells some cool jewelry at no exorbitant prices. This necklace is a good example. For $48 it is pretty distinct and it adds a lot to the outfit. I do love those type of necklaces a LOT, and I wear them all the time, so I am biased. Come to think of it I don't think I have something like that in blue... Guess what I am thinking?

***

I walked out very impressed. The quality seemed better than J.Crew. The vibe seemed more trendy and more fashion forward but not too young. I could easily wear many of the pieces above. My favorites were the academy blazer, merci striped tee, rouge dot skirt and the midnight drop necklace.


What do you think? 
Do you like any of Madewell items? 
Would you wear them?




27 comments:

  1. OOOOO, thanks SO much for these Madewell reviews! I wish that we had a Madewell where I live. I really like Madewell clothing and shoes. I think that I own almost all colors of the Madewell Skimmer shoes, LOL!

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    1. rynetta, you are one of the bloggers that influenced me to look at Madewell. I love your collection of skimmers!

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  2. Wow you found some great things at Madewell! That white dress is very nice, would be great for July and August. I think the fit of those blazers on you is perfect, especially the navy one.
    I also really like that merci stripe tee. Thanks so much for the reviews.

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    1. I was surprised at the blazers, I thought they woudl be inferior quality but it is not the case, I like the Academy much better than a schoolboy.

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  3. thanks so much for this. i love their website but i've not heard anything from other bloggers about them. good to know. i have been eyeing that olive striped t shirt, so cute on you. and i love that white dress. perfect for summmer. thank you ajc!

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    1. Yes, there are not that many Madewell review I think they way they are marketing the brand is confusing.

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  4. I love Madewell thanks to Rose!! She converted me. I agree with you about not thinking I was the demographic they were targeting so whenever I went to Manhattan I would always walk right by. I don't have a Madewell close by. My last visit in to NYC, I just loved what I saw. I bought things in Madewell and nothing in J Crew. I particularly love that navy blazer on you, I saw and loved it IRL. The also loved how you styled the striped tee, very nice!! Enjoy your Madewell purchases and I look forward to future reviews.

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    1. I saw Rose's reviews too and they encouraged me to check them out. I have Madewell in the same mall that J.Crew and every time I just passed by the store and even when I went in I never really looked carefully. I did notice that tehy had great scarves, much more interesting than J.Crew and this was the start for me.

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    2. I saw Rose's reviews too and they encouraged me to check them out. I have Madewell in the same mall that J.Crew and every time I just passed by the store and even when I went in I never really looked carefully. I did notice that tehy had great scarves, much more interesting than J.Crew and this was the start for me.

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    3. I saw Rose's reviews too. I have Madewell in the same mall as my J.Crew store but I always just passed by. Eeven when I went in the first time I didn;t really give them a chance. Then I noticed that their scarfs have much more interesting prints than J.Crew and I decided to give them a try.

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  5. Thanks for the reviews. I just picked up the Charade Blazer in white and I really like it. I found the fit to be quite nice, though the arms are a bit snug, but nothing I can't live with since I need it to wear over mostly sleeveless tops and dresses. The Merci Tee is great and I liked the weight of it. My store was out of most sizes so I couldn't try it on. There was a lot that I liked when I visited the store-if only I'd had more time....

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    1. I liked that Charade blazer, very comfy and good fit, I didn't realize they had them in white, I have to check it out.
      I am very happy with merci tee, it is one of my current favorites.

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  6. I really like Madewell and have been nothing but pleased with everything I've gotten from there. That white dress is so cute, and I just love their jewelry! Thanks for the reviews! So glad more bloggers are posting Madewell reviews now! :)

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    1. Looks like we are slowly warming up to the brand, at fisrt I thought this was going to be like Loft to AT or Old Navy to GAP but it is certainly not the case.

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  7. I really like Madewell and have been nothing but pleased with everything I've gotten from there. That white dress is so cute, and I just love their jewelry! Thanks for the reviews! So glad more bloggers are posting Madewell reviews now! :)

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  8. Thanks for the reviews! I love Madewell, but there are no stores in Canada (sad face). I have the Charade Blazer in white waiting for me just across the border, can't wait to go pick it up!

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    1. Hi Caitlin, do let us know how you like the blazer once you get it!

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  9. Thank you for reviewing these Madewell items, I'm lucky that I live close (less than 15 miles) from 2 Madewell stores but sad to say that I have not enough time to check them out as often as I would like to. I did however buy a dress that I would HIGHLY recommend to you, it's the dawnlight silk dress in navy. The picture on the website does not do it justice, it's a 100% silk and not see-through and it's currently on sale. I love the way the dress falls and I really believe that their shoes, their jeans are better in quality than J.Crew. You've picked my curiosity about their jewelry so I can't wait to check it out.

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    1. Hi Joelle, I will check out that dress for sure. Nad I have yet to try their shoes, I have to remedy that next time I am in the store.

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  10. Some of Madewell's sweaters are a nice cotton/slub wool blend, which makes them so so so much more substantial feeling, & less prone to holes than JC's 100% merino sweaters. Love the last dress for summer. Glad you found Madewell! Looking forward to more reviews. Thank you! :)

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    1. I do love how Madewell items seemed more durable and sturdy, I hate the flimsiness of so many current offerings at J.Crew.

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  11. Nice picks, I really like the jackets on you. It's always so helpful to have reviews when ordering online. I have ordered maybe a dozen clothing items and I visit the stores when I'm in the U.S. I've been very happy with Madewell so far. I am a big fan of their shoes, they are better quality than J.Crew IMO. I have a shoe and sweater review coming up later this week.

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    1. I thought I replied before but somehow my comment dissapeared :(
      I was saying that your reviews of Madewell encouraged me to check them out. I knew the quality must be at least different, if it passed your scrutiny ;)

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  12. I was just in Madewell yesterday and tried on a bunch of stuff! Blog post to come tonight. The Merci stripe tee looks great on you, and I loved the weight too! I didn't buy it because it's too hot here already and I don't want to have to wait until fall, haha.

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    1. Oh I am looking forward to it, wil check your blog now if you already have it up...
      Isn't it crazy that you cannot wear a t-shirt, even the thicker one, in March???

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    2. Honestly, adjusting my wardrobe to the hot climate has been the most challenging thing about moving to the South. I have so many beautiful merino sweaters and wool trousers (old J.Crew and Banana Republic from their heyday - still look brand new), and there were probably only 10 days this past winter that were cold enough to wear them.

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  13. Can you tell me what flats you're wearing in the Thursday outfit picture with the Merci stripe tee? I've been looking for a pair just like that!

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