Curvy Denim Reviews: Madewell vs. Everlane
I didn’t purchase my first pair of curvy denim until summer 2020, and since then I’ve added two more pairs to my wardrobe! I’m not sure why I waited so long—curvy jeans are perfect for anyone that experiences the dreaded waist gap in regular pairs of jeans (oh hey, that’s me!). They’re made to fit a narrower waist while allowing extra room around the hips. I never considered myself “hourglass” (I’m probably more of an inverted triangle with my broad shoulders), but I do technically have a 9-10” difference between my waist and hips and curvy fit is great for a large waist-to-hip ratio like that!
I now own two pairs of Madewell curvy jeans and one pair of Everlane curvy jeans and put them head to head in this review: comparing the fit, feel, and overall comfort of each pair. Because I’m also borderline petite at 5’4”, I ordered the petite/ankle versions of these jeans (when applicable—noted below). For reference, my (new/pandemic) size in jeans is 26!
Since discovering the wonders of curvy jeans, I’ve been on the lookout for more. Drop your favorite style(s) and brands in the comments below!
P.S. If you want to see these jeans in motion, check out my Instagram reel!
Madewell Curvy High-Rise Skinny Crop Jeans (Dalstrom wash, size 26)
This pair of jeans was the first pair of curvy skinny jeans I added to my wardrobe! They were on sale at Madewell back in the summer, and even though they were sold out of the petite sizes, I ordered them in the regular length because they’re crop jeans—the regular-length inseam hit at exactly my ankles! So, these aren’t technically cropped on me, but I prefer a near-full-length jean anyway.
The downside to buying regular-length crop jeans in lieu of petite-length regular jeans is that sometimes the ankle opening is wider on the regular-length crop jeans because they’re constructed to hit higher on the calf and not at the thinnest part of your leg (ankle). I personally do not mind this look these days but do keep this in mind if it’s something that annoys or might annoy you!
The Dalstrom wash is a nice, lighter medium wash that appears lighter in person than it did online (that’s my one qualm with Madewell—all of their denim washes look darker online than in person!). The Magic Pockets TRULY are magic; they suck everything in comfortably, somehow! And even though I do find these comfortable, they are not quite as stretchy as the Roadtripper jeans below.
DETAILS:
- 11” high rise
- 26.5” inseam (regular)
- 10.5” leg opening
- 92% cotton, 6% poly, 2% elastane
- Do Well collection
How I wore them: with a green jacket and red boots, with an olive sweatshirt and lace-up boots, with a striped tee and gold flats
SHOP MADEWELL REGULAR-LENGTH CURVY DENIM
Madewell Curvy Roadtripper Jeans (Ashmont wash, size 26 petite)
I loved my first pair of Madewell curvy skinny jeans so much that I knew I wanted to try the curvy Roadtripper jeans next! I had heard such great things about the Roadtripper jeans—they’re stretchy AND less expensive than other Madewell styles! I’ve discovered that I am not someone that can wear non- or low-stretch denim. I just cannot stand to sit in them for any length of time. Give me stretchy denim all day every day, please! If you’re like me, you’ll love the Roadtripper jeans.
The Roadtripper jeans are definitely stretchier than my crop jeans above; they’re so stretchy that I probably could have purchased my pre-pandemic size, 25, and they still would be perfectly comfortable. I didn’t want to deal with a return, and they are particularly great to wear on those bloated days that come around every month. The petite length hits right above the ankle, which I love! I will say that the legs tend to ride up and bunch around the knees a bit as I move around.
The Ashmont wash is a great dark grey denim; I already owned a pair of grey denim by Madewell, but my older pair has a low-ish rise and the inseam is just a touch long for my preference, so these jeans more or less replace my older pair.
DETAILS:
- 10” high rise
- 26” inseam (petite), 28.5” inseam (regular)
- 9.75” leg opening
- 52% rayon, 32% cotton, 15% poly, 1% elastane
- Do Well collection
How I wore them: with a black parka and green sweater
SHOP MADEWELL PETITE-LENGTH CURVY DENIM
Everlane Curvy Authentic Stretch High-Rise Skinny Jean (dark blue wash, size 26 ankle)
I had been eyeing curvy jeans by Everlane for a while now, and this wash in particular, but I wasn’t 100% a fan of the light-colored leather branded patch on the back. I recently ordered the jeans anyway because my older pair of dark wash denim was too small and I needed to figure out some sort of replacement for whenever I’m back in the office. I’m still not a fan of the patch (it’d look much sleeker in dark brown or black…), but since I don’t really see it, it’s not a huge deal. Ha!
When it comes to stretchy denim, Everlane’s authentic stretch is great. It’s not as stretchy as the Roadtripper jeans, but it’s much more comfortable than Everlane’s other denim offerings. If you’re not a big fan of “soft” denim, I find that the authentic stretch denim still feels rough-ish and like true denim, if that makes sense? This is my third pair of authentic stretch denim (I also own black authentic stretch skinny jeans and washed black button fly authentic stretch skinny jeans) and hopefully won’t be my last! I would love a pair of these jeans in an opaque white.
Pre-pandemic, I preferred my authentic stretch jeans in a size 26, and luckily that size is still comfortable. The ankle length is the perfect true ankle length on me, and the wash is a beautiful, true dark indigo wash. I’m so hoping it doesn’t fade too much when washed! (I’m planning to wash them minimally and with vinegar and The Laundress darks detergent to prevent fading.)
DETAILS:
- 11” high rise
- 26.5” inseam (ankle), 28.5” inseam (regular)
- 87% cotton, 12% poly, 1% elastane
How I wore them: with monochrome burgundy, with a flannel shirt and Bean boots
New to Everlane? Create an account with my referral link and you’ll get 10% off your first purchase!
SHOP EVERLANE CURVY DENIM
Also wearing: Everlane seed stitch u-neck sweater (old), AUrate short beam hoops, Dior Lip Glow in pink