This Is Our Favorite Brand For Elevated Basics. It’s Obvious, But Also ... Sort Of Not.
They’re back.
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by The Candidly Team
For a while there, Madewell was … not very Madewell.
We’d walk into the store and be greeted with so many patterns that we’d walk right out.
But when they are on point, there’s no one doing elevated basics better. No one. Every piece has some kind of small, perfect detail that makes it more wearable, more comfortable, more chic. And of course, the jeans. We recently crowned them the best mid-range jeans on planet earth. Because they are. The fit is, simply, unmatched. The size range is unreal. They do a curvy line. A plus line. Tall and petite lengths. The stretch is otherworldly. Madewell is sort of what The Gap used to be … in 1994. Just the place you get your jeans and t-shirts and sweaters and belts, because they’re smartly priced and you know they do them better than anyone else. That’s Madewell now.
So without further ado, let’s look at some of our favorite classic, elevated basics that are available right now, styled into cute outfits to give you ideas if you’re sick of thinking about it.
1. The perfect Striped suit that’s not too dressy
The Superwide-Leg Trouser in Pinstripe Linen Blend*, Relaxed Blazer in Pinstripe Linen Blend*, and Cutaway Vest in Pinstripe Linen Blend*
You can stop reading now. Because this is perfect. Ignore the dumb uggs, but with a darling flat or loafer? It’s a perfect don’t-have-to-think-about-it set that looks effortless and chic for literally any occasion. The vest creates a gorgeous cinched waist but has room in the boob so you can breathe. And if you have a belly it just skimmmms right over it. Be warned—the pants run at least one size large if not 2 sizes. But they also fit great—wide legs, comfy waist. This is the outfit we will be living in this fall.
Or you can wear it as a complete suit with the matching blazer*.
Price: Varies with sale
2. The most flattering jeans for curves. Ever.
Curvy Flared Wide-Leg Crop Jeans*
They. Just. Fit. The bit of bell shape at the ankle balances out the hips/thighs/butt, and the waist goes riiiiight up over the bum. Zero waist gap. They’re gloriously stretchy, they come in petite/tall/plus,* and of course curvy.*
Price: $105
3. The Nipping Vest That Makes Everything An Outfit
Another vest that similarly creates a gorgeous, slim waist, even if you don’t have one! And the scoop neck is incredibly flattering on wider shoulders.
Price: $60
4. The cropped leather jacket we didn’t know we were missing but now it dominates our wardrobe
Shrunken Zip-Front Jacket in Leather*
We can’t say for sure when this happened, but we do think of Madewell specifically for gorgeous leather goods. Gorgeous leather boots*, of course their famous bucket bag* (which bizarrely we don’t own but really want) and…the perfect leather jacket. Yes, it’s an investment. But a perfectly cut leather jacket is one of those truly timeless pieces you have in your closet forever. It’s something you throw on and it turns anything you’re wearing into a full blown outfit with no effort. Exhibit A:
And yes. It’s cropped. We wrote a whoooole thing about how cropped things are actually more flattering HERE. This jacket hits us at the smallest part of our waist, and makes even baggy jeans look crisp.
And we’re wearing it with our favorite wide-leg jeans* from Madewell which we own in multiple washes. Here’s a side angle of the jacket to show how polished a cropped jacket can be because we KNOW you’re skeptical.
Price: $498
5. The Most Flattering Everyday Pants
Madewell The Slim Straight Utility Pant*
You won’t necessarily know it when you first see them, but these are the casual, perfect fitting, effortless, Jennifer-Aniston street-style pants of our dreams. We tried them on and immediately rushed to write about them HERE.
They’re unbelievable on curves, and you can throw them on with literally anything and look almost accidentally chic.
Price: $138
6. The Jeans That Give You Gorj Proportions
Madewell Kick-Out Full Length* And Ankle Jeans*
We’ve talked about the ankle version of these jeans for years because the fit is so incredible on thicker hips, butts, and thighs. They smooth and balance out all our proportions like so:
Sadly, the ankle jean sells out constantly, however there is a full-length version that is the perfect jean for fall … and is still in stock, so pounce!
Price: $138
7. The Wide-Leg Jeans You’ll Want To Reach For Daily
Yes, these are the same jeans we showed you early on in this article, but the fit is so leg-lengthening and waist-nipping that they’re worth mentioning more than once. They come in many washes but they also sell out all. the. time.
Price: $60 - $158
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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