Madewell Lightspun Reviews: Easy Pull-on Shorts, Pull-on Balloon Pants, Mid-rise Jogger Pants, Tapered Leg Jumpsuit
Last month, I placed a couple of large Madewell orders with a variety of items from their Lightspun collection! Lightspun is their best-selling, comfy double-layered cotton gauze. It’s really soft and airy—perfect for the warmer months. It sounded like a dream to me, so I was all-too-happy to try a bunch of items (and slightly worried I’d fall in love with everything I ordered!).
I reviewed four different Lightspun styles: the Lightspun Easy Pull-on Shorts, the Lightspun Pull-on Balloon Pants, the Lightspun Pull-on Mid-rise Jogger Pants, and the Lightspun Tapered-leg Jumpsuit, including helpful information on sizing (especially for my fellow curvy/petite ladies!). I ended up selecting only one of the items to keep in the end; can you guess which one it was?
Read next: Curvy denim reviews: Madewell vs. Everlane
For sizing reference, my current size in most retailers is S/2/26 depending on the item (ranges from XS/25 up to 27). I am borderline petite at 5’4” and have broad shoulders and long arms. I tend to size up in tops for extra room in the shoulders and length in the sleeves. I buy a mix of petite and regular length jeans and pants depending on the inseam.
Read next: Madewell demi-boot jean reviews and comparison: Cali vs. curvy Cali vs. slim
Madewell Lightspun Reviews
Lightspun Easy Pull-on Shorts
My color and size: Black coal, size small
Price: $49.50
Description from the Madewell website:
The cut: Complete with pockets, these laid-back seamed shorts have a high pull-on waist and easy open legs (add the matching top for the breeziest set). The fabric: our best-selling supersoft and airy Lightspun double-layered cotton gauze.
High rise, slight A-line shape through leg.
Front rise: 12 1/2"; inseam: 3 1/2".
Do Well: We partner with the Better Cotton Initiative to improve cotton farming globally.
100% cotton.
Machine wash.
I’m so impressed by the lightspun fabric! It’s so soft, just as advertised. The shorts are super comfortable in size small; the elastic waistband isn’t too tight or too loose. They feature pockets at the hip. There’s a slight flare/A-line shape in the leg openings so that they aren’t too tight on the leg. And they’re comfortable to sit in! I’m wearing a black tank top, so you can see how they aren’t a true black like what I was hoping for but rather more of a washed black/charcoal grey.
Lightspun Pull-on Balloon Pants
My color and sizes: Dried flax, size small and size small petite (photos on the right)
Price: $68
Description from the Madewell website:
The cut: The comfiest take on an iconic '80s style, these laid-back pants have an elastic paperbag waist and curved "balloon" legs. The fabric: Our best-selling supersoft and airy Lightspun double-layered cotton gauze.
12" rise, 15" leg opening, 26" inseam.
Cotton.
Do Well: For each piece made at the Fair Trade Certified™ factory, we contribute to a Community Development Fund managed by the workers.
Machine wash.
I was sooo excited for these pants, and they really are just as great as they seem. The only thing I’m not crazy about is the color! I had a feeling the dried flax color wouldn’t look good on my skin tone, and sadly I was right. I think they’d look beautiful on more olive/darker skin tones. Besides the color, the fit is spot on; I love the high rise, and they would make perfect summer work pants. I ordered two lengths to try (regular and petite) and really like both. Being borderline petite, I’m right in between regular and petite lengths, and in these I actually think I like the regular length more.
Shop the Lightspun Pull-on Balloon Pants! (Here’s the petite version.)
Lightspun Pull-on Mid-rise Jogger Pants
My color and sizes: Deep indigo, size XS (photos on the left) and size small
Price: $88
Description from the Madewell website:
The cut: The easiest pants around (and a genius alternative to sweats), these pull-on joggers have oversized pockets and cool seaming on the waist. The fabric: Our best-selling supersoft and airy Lightspun double-layered cotton gauze.
11 1/2" mid rise, easy through hip and thigh, 10 1/2" leg opening, 27" inseam.
100% cotton.
Do Well: We partner with the Better Cotton Initiative to improve cotton farming globally.
Machine wash.
Like the balloon pants, the jogger pants are amazingly comfortable. They feature a mid-rise instead of a high rise, and they really didn’t feel that much shorter than a high rise. The legs taper towards the ankle, where there’s an elastic hem, but they’re loose enough around my ankles that I don’t even really notice the hem. They also feature an elastic waistband and pockets at the hips, though there’s sort of a weird dropped seam just above the hips, and the pockets are set below that, which is sort of awkwardly far to reach. The deep indigo is a really gorgeous dark navy color!
I originally ordered the jogger pants in a size small, but they felt big all around (and billowed at the hips), so I reordered them in a size XS, which fit better in the legs and aren’t tight around the waist or hips. I would recommend sizing down if you can!
Lightspun Tapered Leg Jumpsuit
My color and size: Coastal blue, size 2
Price: $135
Description from the Madewell website:
Made of our supersoft Lightspun double gauze, this drawstring jumpsuit has a banded collar, elasticized legs, flap pockets and ready-to-roll sleeves. Warning: You'll literally want to wear this one every day.
Waisted, tapered leg fit.
Front rise: 13"; inseam: 27"; leg opening: 12" (based on size 6).
Do Well: We partner with the Better Cotton Initiative to improve cotton farming globally.
Cotton.
Pockets.
Machine wash.
Doesn’t this jumpsuit give you pilot jumpsuit vibes?! Once I had it on, I realized it’d be perfect if you wanted to be a pilot for Halloween (NASA pilots wear jumpsuits to fly). It’s one of those perfect pieces that can work as a Halloween costume but that doesn’t look like a costume in every day life!
I ordered this jumpsuit because I’ve really been wanting to add more “fun” items to my wardrobe, and this one got great reviews (plus I don’t own one). I love the color, and the size 2 is perfect, though I will say I struggle to get it on and off. I’m not a big fan of the sleeve tabs being right at my elbow, but I’m impressed that when unrolled, the sleeves actually hit my wrists. I do have to hike it up a bit so it hits at my natural waist, and there’s a waist tie to hold it in place if needed. I also wish the shoulders weren’t slightly dropped because they make me look even more like I have linebacker shoulders.
The Lightspun Item I Kept
As much as I wanted to keep everything, I pretty quickly knew that the balloon pants weren’t going to work for me. The color I ordered didn’t work with my skin tone. I’d probably keep them if they came in a different color, like navy! I also really wanted the joggers to work out because they were so comfy, but I just didn’t love how much they billowed around the hips and how low the pockets were. The jumpsuit I was really close to keeping because it’s so fun (and I don’t own a jumpsuit), but ultimately I hate a really hard time getting it on and off, and the slightly dropped shoulder seams didn’t look great on my already broad shoulders.
With that, I kept the Lightspun Easy Pull-on Shorts! I’m looking forward to wearing them this summer. They’ll work perfectly for any occasion (except the office, ha).