Fashion
Madewell & J.Crew Just Extended Their Jean Sizes & Fans Are Celebrating The Inclusion
Finding the perfect pair of jeans in your size just got a bit easier. Madewell and J.Crew just extended their jean sizes in an effort to make their denim selections more inclusive.
Sister brands offering some of the best denim around, J.Crew and Madewell have made some major moves that curvy girls can certainly support. Gone are the days of their collections capping off at size 32. A selection of high-rise, straight-leg, and skinny jeans will now be sold up to size 35.
"Extended sizes? We’re on it," reads a post on Madewell's website regarding their spring 2018 denim additions. Meanwhile, J.Crew kept the super exciting news on the hush, launching the new jeans without dedicating a landing page on their site to the update.
Whether it was widely broadcast by the brands or not, word of a size extension has fans doing a happy dance.
Styles in the extended sizes are already selling out fast AF, and it's really not that surprising. Those previously excluded from trying on a pair from both brands now have options that fit their curves, so it makes sense that the new jeans are being snatched up.
Previously capping at size 14, neither brand had super size-friendly jean collections. There's still room for improvement, of course. But this update, now accommodating customers who wear sizes 16, 18, and 20 is a big step in the right direction for becoming more all-inclusive.
UPDATE: As the Revelist reported on Jan. 25, official garment measurements from Madewell and J.Crew seem to conflict with industry standards. By the Revelist's calculations, a size 20 in Madewell or J.Crew jeans would be a size 14 or 16 in for other brands, based on waist measurements. However, Madewell told Bustle on Jan. 26 that their size 35 denim does fit the average U.S. size 20, adding that the brand researched how their specific denim fits actual consumers before launch. For its fit, Madewell says the brand sizes denim according to how much stretch and recovery there is in the weave. For the new extended sizes, Madewell increased the waist, hip, and thigh measurements to fit plus size consumers. The brand says there is no universal standard for denim brands because every company uses a different type of fabric, so sizing varies from brand to brand. Regardless, the brand says a size 35 jean was made to fit a size 20, not a size 14 or 16.
Before you bust out your happy dance, however, it's worth noting that you'll have to hunt down your perfect pair of jeans first. Finding the updated sizes may be a bit of an Easter egg hunt on J.Crew's site, considering many pairs are already sold out or on backorder — and there isn't separate a page for the plus sizes. Instead, the extended sizes are mixed in with the regular jeans.
Madewell, on the other hand, makes their denim collection a little easier to navigate. A page extension for denim ranging from sizes 33-35 narrows things down so customers can shop a specific assortment.
Even if finding the extended jeans is a bit of a scavenger hunt, customers are on board with the denim launch, sending tweets of gratitude towards the brands.
Still, others are critical of the fact that it took this long for the jean makers to extend their sizes to a range.
Despite some critiques, adding more sizes is still major for both brands. With a solid range of styles and washes to choose from, shoppers should have no trouble finding a pair worth slipping into.
Curvey High-Rise Skinny Jeans, $128, Madewell
You can never go wrong with hand-torn distressed denim. Knee holes and ripped details at the hem and hips give this otherwise plain pair of jeans an edgy, "It Girl" twist.
Stretchy Toothpick Jean in True Black, $110, J.Crew
A sleek pair of black jeans is definitely a wardrobe essential. This curve-hugging pair is actually made with a stretchy denim so you're sure to feel comfy in them all day.
Toothpick in Classic Wash, $110, J.Crew
If nothing else, a pair without all of the extra bells and whistles never fails. Whether you opt for a dark or light wash, plain-Jane denim is a classic for a reason.
Fingers crossed that the size extension doesn't stop here for J.Crew and Madewell. With such quality jeans in their repertoire, denim lovers of all shapes and sizes should get the opportunity to enjoy a pair.