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I came of age around the same time that low-rise skinny jeans became popular (damn you, early aughts), and it scarred me for life. I have vivid memories of crying in dressing rooms trying to find a pair that looked good on me (which I now know was a fairly common experience among my millennial peers, because who the F looks good in low rise skinny jeans), and for that reason, always assumed that jeans were meant to be suffered through instead of enjoyed. Whenever anyone told me they “liked” wearing jeans, I was deeply confused, and honestly thought they were lying to sound cool. In my experience, jeans were not comfortable, or cute, or something I wanted anything to do with.
Thankfully, in the years since, low-rise styles have fallen out of vogue and Gen Z declared death to the skinny jean, which has paved the way for styles that don’t completely suck to become popular—including the Madewell Perfect Vintage Jean, which are so beloved that a pair of them sell every minute.
The original Perfect Vintage Jean features a high-waist and tapered leg—they’re the quintessential mom jean, and fit like a glove. Given the success of the original style, in recent years Madewell has expanded the Perfect Vintage line to include a number of different cuts, colors, and rises, and now they’ve added the latest love of my life: a wide-leg version.
The Wide Leg Perfect Vintage Jeans ($128-$138), which launched last month, are the exact opposite of the low-rise skinny jeans I tortured myself with in high school. They’ve got a high waist that hits right below my belly button, a wide leg that’s easy to move in them, and soft-yet-structured fabric that makes them look slouchy without being schlubby. You know how jeans get more comfortable the more you wear and wash them? Well, these babies feel that way from the very first time you zip them up—as if they were broken in for your body.
They come in four washes (Elmont, a faded blue; Edmunds, a light grey-blue; Tile White, a crispy white; and Montclare, a vintage blue made from the brand’s recycled TENCEL denim), two lengths (cropped and full), and range in size from 26 to 32 (though the Edmunds wash comes in petite, plus, and tall styles, too).
I received a pair of cropped Edmunds in a size 26 last month, and I have worn them every day since—seriously, that’s not an exaggeration. They’re beyond comfortable, so I love to wear them lounging around the house, but they also look really cool paired with a jacket and flats for work or heels and a crop top to go out in. Plus, they make my butt look freaking amazing:
Now, I finally understand what people mean when they say they “love” their jeans, because I never want to take these babies off.
The Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Crop Jean in Edmunds Wash — $128.00
The Plus Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Crop—Edmunds Wash — $128.00
The Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Full-Length Jean—Elmont Wash — $138.00
The Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Crop Jean—Tile White — $128.00
The Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Crop Jean—Montclare Wash: TENCEL — $128.00
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