88% matchJ. Crew
The prep-leaning sibling label, same corporate DNA
What changes: More tailoring, oxfords and prep colour than denim focus
Brand profile
Madewell
American denim-led casualwear brand, relaunched by J.Crew in 2006 from a 1937 Massachusetts workwear name and still part of J.Crew Group.
New BedfordOrigin
UnisexFocus
Workwear / HeritageStyle
$$Price
18 brands like Madewell like J. Crew, Alex Mill, Buck Mason →
What to know about Madewell
The 1937 date is a trademark
The name came from a New Bedford workwear maker whose trademark J.Crew's Mickey Drexler bought in 2004; the brand as it exists now launched in 2006.
Denim sets the whole range
Straight, wide-leg and barrel jeans anchor everything, with jean jackets, chore coats, knitwear, leather totes and boots built around them.
Womenswear chain, men's line attached
It relaunched as a womenswear retailer and still sits inside J.Crew Group; the men's assortment and a secondhand resale program are extensions of the denim core.
How Madewell fits
Overall fit
true to size
Most shoppers report Madewell fits true to size, with the caveat that cuts have drifted roomier over time and stretch denim tends to relax a half size after a few wears.
Tip: Order your usual size in most pieces, but consider sizing down in stretch denim and in the deliberately oversized tees and sweatshirts.
Medium confidence · based on 18 sources
By category
| Category | Runs | Shape | Size advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoodies & sweatshirts | slightly large | relaxed, casual sweatshirt cut with generous body room | Stick with your usual size for a slouchy look, or go down one if you prefer it fitted. |
| Shirts & overshirts | true to size | easy, relaxed cut through the chest and waist rather than tailored | Order your normal size; the drape is meant to be loose rather than trim. |
| Trousers & pants | true to size | relaxed or wide through the leg on most chino and pleated styles | Take your usual waist and plan on hemming the wider legs if you are under average height. |
| Jeans & denim | mixed | straight, wide-leg and barrel silhouettes sit relaxed through the hip and thigh; slim/skinny styles are closer to the leg | Take your usual waist in rigid/organic-cotton denim, but size down when there is meaningful elastane since the waist commonly relaxes. |
| Jackets | slightly small | denim and chore jackets sit fairly close through the shoulders and chest | Consider sizing up if you want to layer a knit underneath a denim or chore jacket. |
| T-shirts & graphic tees | slightly large | boxy to relaxed, with dropped-ish shoulders on the oversized styles | Size down if you want a closer fit; the standard cut is intentionally roomy. |
Directional fit consensus summarized from public sources with AI — a starting point, not a guarantee. Confirm with the product's own measurements before buying.
If you like Madewell
See all 18 brands like Madewell →88% match
84% matchAlex Mill
Same Drexler workwear-prep formula, smaller and sharper
What changes: Independent, more design-led and less denim-anchored
80% matchBuck Mason
US-made five-pocket denim and tees, menswear-only
What changes: Tighter core-staples range, more made-in-USA premium
72% matchEverlane
Cleaner minimalist basics at lower price points
What changes: Less denim heritage, more neutral office-casual minimalism
Madewell fit questions
Does Madewell run big or small?
Madewell fits true to size. Order your usual size in most pieces, but consider sizing down in stretch denim and in the deliberately oversized tees and sweatshirts. Most shoppers report Madewell fits true to size, with the caveat that cuts have drifted roomier over time and stretch denim tends to relax a half size after a few wears.
How does Madewell fit?
Most shoppers report Madewell fits true to size, with the caveat that cuts have drifted roomier over time and stretch denim tends to relax a half size after a few wears. Overall shape: generally relaxed-to-regular through the body, with an increasingly roomy, casual cut across recent seasons.
How do Madewell hoodies & sweatshirts fit?
Madewell hoodies & sweatshirts fits slightly large. Stick with your usual size for a slouchy look, or go down one if you prefer it fitted. Shape: relaxed, casual sweatshirt cut with generous body room.
How do Madewell shirts & overshirts fit?
Madewell shirts & overshirts fits true to size. Order your normal size; the drape is meant to be loose rather than trim. Shape: easy, relaxed cut through the chest and waist rather than tailored.
How do Madewell trousers & pants fit?
Madewell trousers & pants fits true to size. Take your usual waist and plan on hemming the wider legs if you are under average height. Shape: relaxed or wide through the leg on most chino and pleated styles.
Brand facts
Madewell is an American casual label built around denim: straight, wide-leg and barrel jeans, plus jean jackets, chore coats, knitwear, leather totes and boots. The name comes from a 1937 New Bedford, Massachusetts workwear maker; J.Crew's then-CEO Mickey Drexler bought the trademark in 2004 and relaunched the brand as a womenswear chain in 2006. It remains part of J.Crew Group, which exited Chapter 11 in 2020 under lender ownership led by Anchorage Capital. A men's line and secondhand resale program extend the core denim assortment.
- Founded
- 1937
- Origin
- New Bedford, United States
- Made in
- Indonesia, India, China, United States
- Price
- $$
- Focus
- Unisex
- Facts checked
- September 2026
- Styles
- Workwear / Heritage, Minimalist / Contemporary, Urban prep / Ivy