Notes from the Dressing Room-Madewell...Yes, No, Maybe So?

I got an email from Madewell last week that featured a dress that had me instantly intrigued and itching to head out to the store to see it in person. I managed to sneak away to the mall this weekend and Madewell was my first stop. Here are a few reviews:

Lacy Waves Top in Light Nectar, $148, available here

The Boyjean in Saw Duster, $135, available here

This lace top was a thumbs up from me. The color is soft, it has a pretty design and the lace does not feel like it would give away at the first sign of a snag. There is a cotton lining underneath the body of the shirt that will keep you from worrying about what to wear underneath. The lining will have you feeling like you are wearing a tee, but the lacey part is perfect for feeling a bit dress-up while still being comfortable. Fit is tts, although ladies who are a bit smaller on top might be able to get away with sizing down for a more fitted look. Although I love this top, I just bought something that is too similar from J. Crew, so it was a pass for me.

I am several years too late on this trend, but I've been on the hunt for a pair of boyfriend jeans. I saw a denim pair on the website and thought these could possibly be it. Umm, no, they most certainly are not. On the plus size, the denim is soft and it has a comfortable fit. I tried it on one size down from what I normally would wear in jeans; there was a bit of room but not enough that I would go down another size since it doesn't have a lot of stretch. Now I have some lady humps in the back and these jeans gave me a serious case of flat-ass. Totally not cute whatsoever!! I also wasn't crazy about where the hem stopped. I feel like it was border-line high water territory, but if you are the type to roll up the hem, that might not be an issue. Sadly, these were a pass for me. It comes in a few other colors too, including an interesting orangey-taupe shade that I liked. Sigh, the search continues!

Silk Neonsun Shirtdress in Neon Orange, $150.00, available here

If there is anything that Madewell does well, it is dresses (and tees). The color of this dress definitely caught my eye. It's not quite a neon orange or pale orange, but a combination of the two that I can only think to describe as a bright cantaloupe. It has a nice v-neck, floaty sleeves, and some pleating in the back. The elastic waist gives it a bit of shape to keep it from being straight up and down like most shirtdresses. This would totally look cute with a thick belt. I tried this on in my regular size and it fit well with no major issues. This gets a thumbs up for color and feel, but didn't make the cut because I have a Madewell dress that fills the bright color spot already.

 

Striped Bookplate Dress, $95.00, available here

This is the dress that I saw in an email newsletter. Now I do like stripes, but for me they can be iffy because of my body type, but I thought this might work because of the directions of the stripes at the top. My thought was that the diagonal stripes will counteract the widening effect of the horizontal stripes and I think it did. I tried this on in a size down and it fit perfectly. It skimmed the body without being tight, the cotton was soft and perfect for the upcoming hotter weather, plus the stripes are a bit different from other offerings on the market. The only thing that might be a negative is the length. It falls a bit below my knee, so it isn't a short dress nor a maxi dress. Despite that one nitpick, this got a thumbs up and buy from me. Not only that, there was a lady at the register next to me buying it as well. I can't wait to wear it (with or without a belt). 

Do you have your eye on any new items at Madewell? Where does one go to find a good (bargain) pair of cute boyfriend jeans? Have you overdosed on stripes yet?