Happy Monday friends! I’m going to make this intro pretty quick because I’m trying to get this post up for you guys before…
well, let me back up a bit:
Madewell is currently hosting a 20% off sale for their Insiders (free to sign up!), and J. Crew is currently having a 30% off sale, but the Madewell sale ends today!
SO I’m trying to get this post up for you guys today before the sale ends.
Recently I picked up a few things from the sale, and so I thought I’d do a little new in/mini review post for you guys. I was not drawn to anything even remotely fancy while perusing the website ha! So everything is very soft, comfortable, easy… basically exactly what I want to be wearing right now.
Okay. Let me show you what I picked up:
Shop the Edit:
Let’s break it down:
Graphic Tee: I LOVE this graphic tee! It really reminds me of the Anine Bing tees: thick, substantial material that’s still so soft and comfy. And when I say thick, I don’t mean hot and uncomfortable, but just… well made. It’s not overly long or overly cropped – it reminds me of a baby tee from the 90’s, but not… quite. It has a bit looser fit than the traditional baby tee, and the sleeves are a little bit longer while still retaining the slightly flared shape. I usually wear an XS in Madewell tops, but I did go up to a small in this to give myself a bit of extra room.
Cream Tee: This has a very similar shape to the graphic tee, but with a few differences: it’s called a raglan tee so it has the diagonal shoulder seems which add a bit of interest to a pretty basic tee. It’s also a cotton blend so it has a slightly different feel than the graphic tee… still super soft, but with a bit of texture if that makes sense. There is a very slight ribbing to the fabric so it definitely feels a bit more special than a typical tee. Online, and even in these photos, it looks pretty white, but it’s an off white color in person FYI.
Slingback Flats: Oh you guys, I LOVE these! They are SO good! The square toe, the lizard embossed leather, the warm cognac color… sigh. I am going to live in these come spring and summer! They fit true to size, and were super comfortable right out of the box. I was worried the ankle straps would rub, but not even a little (I wore them around my house for a day to test them out for you guys!).
Strappy Mules: AND again, I LOVE these. They are just everything I want in a warm weather mule. The quality is so nice, the leather is moldable and comfortable to wear, they don’t fall off when you walk… just so good. These are more of a chestnut color than cognac. The perfect tone for pairing with warm AND cool accessories. They do run a bit big so go down a half size.
Perfect vintage jean: These aren’t new, and I already have a review here.
Balloon Jean: a more detailed review will be coming to my Madewell Denim Guide soon, but for now I’ll tell you this: they run big so size down! I typically wear a 26 in Madewell denim, and I had to get these in a 25. They may feel a bit tight at first, but they will loosen up as they do have 1% elastane in them. However, if you want them to be truly a loose fit then stay with your regular size. The silhouette is a true balloon leg… I KNOW that’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I like it! It’s just a little fresh and different from your regular denim styles. I also love the wash on these, and think they will be super cute with a fitted tank and sandals when it warms up!
Water Resistant Jacket: this was a more practical purchase if I’m being honest. I wanted something like this: not truly a rain coat, but something that would keep me dry in a light drizzle, and that still looks cute. This checks all the boxes! It’s a really pretty deep forest/olive green (it looks way lighter on the website, but the color is more accurate in my photos). It does run big so I’d definitely recommend sizing down UNLESS you’re planning on wearing your bulkiest sweaters underneath. But even sized down, there’s still plenty of room underneath for regular sweaters and layers underneath. I also love that it has the cinching at the waistline to give that extra bit of versatility.
Split Neck Blouse:
I had seen this top online and didn’t pay it much attention, but when I went to a store to exchange my balloon jeans for a size down I saw this in person, and instantly fell in love! What can’t be captured online is the really lovely fabric of this blouse. It’s so lightweight, floaty, and it has the prettiest texture to it. It’s made from organic cotton, and you can just… tell. It also has a really pretty gathered seam at the back which I love. It IS pretty sheer, but it’s fine with a nude bras. I was wearing a white one in this photo, and you can see it peeking through a bit if that gives you a better idea for the sheerness. I did size up to a small because the sleeves felt a bit tight in the XS so I’d recommend doing the same.
Well that’s it! So many good pieces right? I’m just SO excited to put these pieces to the test with some warmer weather. I was telling David today that February is always the hardest month for me. In January you’re still coming down from the high of the Holidays, and it usually goes by quick. But in February everything just SLOWS down with the knowledge that winter will still be around for at least another couple of months (at least here in the frigid north where I live). But then once March hits my mindset completely changes because a.) it’s my birthday month (yay!), but b.) a few weeks of cold left seems much more doable than a couple of months. That may make NO sense to any of you, but that’s where my brain goes ha!
SO anyway… cheers to February being almost done, AND cheers to be being past the (most likely) worst cold spell of the season.
I hope you enjoyed this peek at Madewell and J. Crew’s new offerings! Let me know your favorite piece in the comments below!
Until next time,
Karin
