Eddie Bauer vs Madewell: which sweater to buy, and when
Both land in the mid tier: the Eddie Bauer Open-Front Cardigan (women's) at $80, the Madewell Cotton-Blend Pullover Sweater at $88, $8 apart. Here is how they stack up, head to head.
| Eddie Bauer | Madewell | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $80 | $88 |
| Material | 60% cotton, 40% acrylic in a light open knit; owner reviews describe the weight as suited to summer layering rather than cold-weather warmth. | Cotton or cotton blend, mid gauge; some recycled-fibre and wool-blend styles. |
| Fit | An open front with a relaxed drape and no closure. Some owners find the shape easy to wear over anything; others report the loose cut reads shapeless, particularly on fuller midsections, so it is a style-dependent fit. | Relaxed lived-in fit, true to size. |
| Quality | The few owner reviews on the brand's site rate it well and describe the knit as good quality for a light layer, but the sample is small. Forum discussion of the brand's knitwear over the years has been skeptical, so long-term durability is unproven. | Mid-tier — soft and easy-care; cotton-heavy and pills at the budget end. |
| Best for | Shoppers who want an inexpensive-on-sale, lightweight layering cardigan for offices and summer air conditioning rather than a warm winter knit. | Casual relaxed knits, easy cotton care, and a lived-in everyday look. |
| Care | The cotton-acrylic blend is machine washable; wash cold and dry flat or on low heat, since acrylic content is prone to pilling and heat damage with rough treatment. | Machine wash cold gentle and lay flat; shave any pilling. |
Both are cotton-blend knits suited to casual layering rather than warmth, and both are best purchased on promotion rather than at list price. The $8 gap between them is narrow enough that it is functionally irrelevant — the real question is what each brand's markup actually reflects in construction and positioning.
- The case for Eddie Bauer
- The Eddie Bauer is the slightly lighter, more summer-specific layer, and its lower effective sale price (low $60s on frequent markdown) makes it the cheaper entry point for air-conditioning-weight coverage.
- The case for Madewell
- Madewell offers a more consistent fit reputation with a true-to-size relaxed cut and occasional wool-blend or recycled-fibre options that give some styles a marginal material edge over a straight cotton-acrylic mix.
VerdictThe pick
Buy the Eddie Bauer if the purchase will be made on sale and the sole use case is lightweight office or summer layering — at $60-odd it is adequate for that narrow purpose, and the $8 saved over Madewell is real even if small. Step up to the Madewell if fit consistency and a lived-in everyday knit for repeated casual wear matter more, since its relaxed cut has a stronger track record across body types than Eddie Bauer's shape, which reviewers flag as reading shapeless on fuller frames. At full price, neither knit justifies its list tag — both are cotton-heavy blends prone to pilling, and the $8 gap between them buys no meaningful upgrade in material or durability; it is largely brand positioning on both sides.
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