Madewell’s New Jeans Are … Skinny?

By,a senior writer at the Strategist covering fashion.She joined the Strategist as a writer in 2021 and before that worked at NBC and HuffPost.
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Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

Normally, I wouldn’t bat an eye at an email from Madewell about a new style of jeans, but today’s subject line made me pause: “Introducing: The Pencil Jean.” I knew it had to be on the slimmer side, but pencil-skinny? It turns out it’s just that: fitted through the hips, thighs, and the rest of the leg, like skinnies of the 2010s were. It’s quite the departure from Madewell’s recent fare — theLow-Slung Baggy,Arc-Leg, and the many pairs that make up the “wide-leg,” “barrel-leg,” “straight-leg,” and “baggy and relaxed” categories — despite being in the same price range, at $148. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised: Alexa Chung’s everywhere, andLos Angeles Apparel(née American Apparel) just opened in Soho. It’s basically 2011 all over again. “Oh, we’re heading toward arecession-recession,” I joked in the Strategist staff Slack channel. “We won’t go back,” our deals editor Sam Daly answered back. Writer Rachael Griffiths agreed: “We’re not gonna take it.” I don’t know if I’m ready to squeeze into my skinny jeans again!

Madewell The Pencil Jean (Concho Wash)
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Madewell The Pencil Jean (Black Frost)
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Madewell The Pencil Jean (Paxville Wash)
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Madewell The Pencil Jean (Rembert Wash)
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The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

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