i used to think my favorite season to shop for was fall, but madewell’s spring collection is REALLY having me second guess myself. i popped into the store yesterday to do a thorough try-on of some of their newest arrivals for the season and fell in love with just about every single thing. i’m still having a hard time deciding which pieces i want to make a home for in my closet! in the meantime, i’ve provided a thorough assessment of everything -including sizing information and possible styling suggestions on how to incorporate each item into your current wardrobe. as always, each look is linked in the liketoknow.it app and the videos will be up on my instagram stories at 1:00 p.m. PST (and saved as a highlight in my profile). enjoy!
cami tier midi dress in metallic classic corsage (0) || after seeing this gorgeous gold colored midi dress on lauren kay sims, i knew i had to try it on for myself. besides its longer tiered hemline, i fell in love with the color palette and the feminine floral detail. i normally take a 2 at madewell in dresses but they didn’t have my size, so i took a risk and grabbed for the 0 instead. in all honesty, the 0 fit perfectly, especially given my smaller bust (i’d probably go braless and opt for petal covers instead). the bodice is elastic in the back offering a little wiggle room and the straps are adjustable which also helps in opting for a size down. i will note that there is no zipper closure, it’s one of those dresses that you just have to pull over your head, so that may be a factor in determining your proper size. overall, it’s a gorgeous gown that would be perfect for spring/summer wedding season. pair it with a gold heeled sandal or a pink espadrille.
size verdict: hard to say for sure but i’d say you could try both your normal madewell size and one size down, depending on your bust size.
ruffle-sleeve maxi dress in classic corsage (0) || it’s obvious that i have a major crush on this classic corsage pattern after snagging this smocked peasant blouse just a few days ago. i was hesitant that i would love the pattern as much in the dress version, especially given the fact that it’s a wrap silhouette (wrap dresses aren’t always flattering on my shape). however when i tried it on, i realized that it’s a faux wrap and that it has a zipped closure all the way up the back (as opposed to a belt-tie at the waist). the fact that this dress has a bit more structure and the waistband hits me at my actual waist made this frock much more flattering than i originally suspected. similar to the tiered dress above, this dress was only available in the 0 in the store. to be honest, i think the next size up would have been a bit too baggy for my frame. besides the fit, i loved the tulip hemline and the ruffled sleeves. while i wouldn’t recommend wearing a mostly white dress to a wedding, i think it would be a great option for the bride-to-be for a shower or bachelorette weekend. and if wedding bells aren’t in your future, it’s the perfect midi for easter brunch! throw a denim jacket over it and pair with a flat lace-up sandal and you’ll be the best dressed at the egg hunt.
size verdict: stay with your normal madewell size or possibly size down.
texture & thread button-front dress (small) || this dress totally surprised me, in the best possible way. despite it being quite big (definitely size down!), i loved the button-detail and the overall column shape. it’s fairly stretchy which makes it uber comfortable and the olive color is right up my alley (i don’t see the ivory option at madewell, but nordstrom is showing it available in the lighter hue, FYI). though i love my pretty floral patterns, i really love a frock that is more simplistic in nature simply for its versatility. i could easily wear this dress alone with a simple pair of sandals, or layer it over a white tee with d’orsay flats for a completely different look. i’d even style it right into fall by layering it over a turtleneck and tights and pairing it with my favorite pair of leather booties.
size verdict: size down! if i decide to purchase it, i’ll definitely opt for the xs.
jersey tank dress (small) || for a girl who usually can’t find longer-length hemlines this time of year, i was SO pleased by how many midi dresses madewell has in their spring collection. this tank dress tends to make its annual return to the store once the temperatures start to heat up. this year it’s being offered in the prettiest shade of cornflower blue. similar to the button-front version above, this dress would be super versatile and especially great for travel. it’s a jersey material which wears and washes well and very light-weight for hot climates. you could just as easily throw it over a bathing suit and head to the beach as you could pair it with wedge sandals and a large straw hat for afternoon cocktails. personally, i like shirt dresses to fit a little more on the baggier side so i would stay true to size as opposed to sizing down. and for those expectant mommas, i think this would be a great option for a growing bump!
size verdict: true to size.
ruffle-strap cami top in gingham (small) || when i arrived to the store, i noticed that they had released even more new arrivals than what i saw when i stopped by a few days prior. one of those items was this cute little gingham tank with a peplum hem (p.s. it also comes in chambray). a sucker for the seasonal print, i made sure i grabbed one to add to my try-on pile. unfortunately the fit was a bit off for me. it appeared as though it would have a more flowy fit, but it was strangely tight in the bust and sat really high along my chest. i suspect it’s better on a more petite frame. so while it was a no for me, on the right person, it would be the perfect feminine tank to pair with high-rise shorts and white denim. speaking of white denim…
size verdict: true to size.
10″ high-rise skinny jeans in pure white (26) || like many people, i’d imagine, i have a love/hate relationship with white jeans. i certainly love the idea of them, but when it comes to actual execution, i often resort to wearing my everlane wide-leg cropped pants instead. there’s something just a little vulnerable about white denim -well white skinny denim. they tend to show off every nook and cranny, not to mention the fact that you’re a magnet for stains. but if i had to pick a pair of white jeans that made me feel pretty darn confident, i will say that this button-front raw hemmed pair fulfills that role. as a fan of all things high-waisted, i really appreciate the 10″ rise and though they gapped just a tad in the waist, i wouldn’t size down. oh! and though i am wearing nude undergarments, i will say that this pair is relatively thick so i think the whole see-through problem often attributed with white denim wouldn’t be an issue.
size verdict: true to size.
the addie slide sandal (TTS) || after trying on this similar budget pair at old navy and striking out, i was interested in seeing how the addie slide sandal also fared with my wide foot. unfortunately the end result was the same -my tootsies are just no match for the tight tubular straps. i actually had to physically pull the straps down around the top of my foot to get it to slide on -womp, womp. BUT if you have been blessed with a narrower foot, they are super cute and well made. if you’re keen on the rainbow trend, they also come in a multi-color version, too.
size verdict: true to size (not so wide foot-friendly).
in all honesty, this was hands-down my favorite outfit. i put all three pieces on hold and am pretty sure i’ll be headed back to the store to snag them all.
ruffled crocheted sweater tank (small) || i am a sucker for a ruffle, so it’s no surprise that i gravitated toward this tank upon spotting it online. i was a bit concerned it would be a tad too short for my long torso, but i was pleasantly surprised to find that it hit me right at my hip bones, making it perfect for french tucking it into one of my many high-waisted pants. the website describes the color as ‘marled vanilla’ and it’s definitely more of an off-white vs. a true white. the muted color gives it a vintage feel, almost as if it’s a piece your mom crocheted for herself in the 70’s and saved for you to wear decades later. i will definitely be snagging this for my personal collection. it’ll be perfect with shorts, jeans, and skirts!
size verdict: true to size.
slim wide-leg jeans in garrett wash (26) || i had a request to include this new silhouette in my try-on session and i was happy to oblige because i, myself was also very interested in seeing how they slimmer leg line looked on my body. while i’ll never grow tired of my wide-leg pants/denim, i will say that i fell madly in love with the silhouette’s slighty more slender kid sister. it’s as if a straight-leg jean and a wide-leg jean had a baby and the result was the best features of both styles. whereas straight leg jeans tend to fit a bit closer to the body, and wide-leg jeans give the legs plenty of room to breathe, this slimmer wide-leg version splits the difference which ultimately produces a mile-long leg line. i felt like a tall drink of water! i took my normal size (26) and wouldn’t size down, though madewell jeans tend to give a bit with wear.
size verdict: true to size.
harper mule in woven leather (size up 1/2 size) || despite the fact that i’ve kind of given up on the flat version of the mule, i am a fan of the backless style when it comes as block heel. after falling in love with my gold harpers last fall, i was definitely drawn to this woven pair for spring. however, i had kind of concluded in my mind that i didn’t need a second pair of the same shoe. all that changed, unfortunately, when i actually tried them on because hi, they’re adorable. i’m seeing this woven detail popping up on all sorts of footwear this season (still love these slingbacks) and it feels so fresh for spring/summer. they’re definitely a bit more than i normally like to spend on shoes, but the buttery pecan color would truly go with everything… decisions, decisions!
size verdict: i like to size up 1/2 a size to ensure my heel doesn’t hang over the edge.
huston pull-on crop pants in bold stripe (xs) || i actually have this pair of pants in a similar chambray stripe from a few seasons ago. i wore them all the time during the summer -and they were a great versatile pant for both work and weekends. i love this style of pants for a few reasons -one, they have an elastic waistband (jazz hands emoji), two, they’re made from a linen like fabric that’s super lightweight and perfect for warm weather, three, they have a wide-leg silhouette that is pretty much universally flattering, and four, they can be styled a zillion different ways and as i stated above -dressed up for the workplace or down for the weekend. the above pair is particularly festive for spring/summer with its wider stripe and ‘dark cinnabar’ and white color scheme. it reminds me of an orangesicle (yum!). i’d personally pair these pants with chambray or white. or maybe a white tee with a denim jacket tied around my waist? since they’re a bolder choice, i’d keep everything else fairly simple and let them take center stage.
size verdict: size down since the elastic waistband has a lot of give.
huston side-button pull-on crop pants in rainbow stripe (xs) || rainbows are having a moment right now and madewell has plenty of pieces boasting ROYGBIV. unfortunately many of the rainbow striped items weren’t available at our local store, and if they were, they were no longer stocked in my size. BUT i managed to find this cute pair of cropped pants -pretty much identical to the pair above. besides the difference in color palette and stripe thickness, this particular pair had cute button detailing down the side of either pant leg. the small addition gives the pants a little character and in my opinion, makes them feel a little dressier. i mention this in the styling videos, but i love flowy pants like these as an alternative to skirts and dresses for fancier occasions. i think an outfit like the one above -paired with a feminine blouse and heeled mules is just as flattering for a bridal shower or family brunch as any summer frock. it’s also the perfect business casual ensemble for a casual workplace.
size verdict: these have the same fit as the other huston pants, so size down for the elastic waist.
topstitched coverall jumpsuit (2) || and for the big finish, a pink jumpsuit, naturally. i had a request from instagram to try on a few jumpsuits but as luck would have it, there weren’t very many to model in the store. i did managed to locate this cute rosey number and i was happy to slip it on. i mean, who doesn’t love a good jumpsuit?! especially one that accommodates this gal’s ample torso. with the stitching, it definitely has a more masculine/industrial feel, but i think it’s a nice juxtaposition to the overtly feminine shade of pink. coveralls tend to be stiffer in stature, but i was pleasantly surprised by how soft and pliable this one was. the button-front detail gives the jumpsuit both visual interest and versatility as you could choose to button it all the way to the top, or leave a few buttons undone and let a cute lace camisole peek out underneath. the hemline is slightly cropped and at a hair under 5’7″, it hits me at a hair above my ankle. in my opinion, this length makes the jumpsuit perfect for pairing with both flats (how about a cute pair of white sneakers?) or heels (i actually loved how it looked with the woven mules).
size verdict: true to size (and still comfortable with my long torso!).
hopefully this gives you some incentive to stop by your local madewell store to try-on a few of these pieces for yourself. i can’t emphasize enough how good this spring collection is!
now tell me, which of the looks is your favorite?
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