Madewell vs Aritzia: which jean wins?
Both land in the mid tier — the Madewell The Perfect Vintage Jean (women's) at $128, the Aritzia Denim Forum High-Rise Jean at $128. Here's how they stack up, head to head.
| Madewell | Aritzia | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $128 | $128 |
| Material | Cotton/elastane blend, ~12oz; sourced from several mills depending on the run. | Ranges from rigid cotton denim in wide-leg styles to cotton-elastane stretch in fitted cuts, in mid-weight fabrics. |
| Fit | High-rise straight at the natural waist, forgiving through hip and thigh. Sizing varies by wash — check reviews for the specific colour; the elastane relaxes the fit through the day. | Offered across many named fits, including high-rise straight, wide-leg, bootcut and skinny. Owners report fits run true to size with helpful fit guides per style. |
| Quality | Solid mid-tier and the category benchmark. Consistent construction; the elastane is the main limit on long-term shape retention. | Reviewers describe washes and construction as well-developed for the price, with rigid styles holding shape and stretch styles offering good recovery. |
| Best for | A flattering mid-tier high-rise straight for daily rotation that pairs with almost anything. | Trend-aware shoppers wanting a wide range of current rises and leg shapes in quality denim. |
| Care | Cold wash inside-out and air or low-heat dry — high heat noticeably fades the wash and can tighten the fit short-term. | Wash cold inside out and air-dry rigid styles to preserve the fit and wash. |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
Which should you buy?
They sit in the same tier and are priced identically, so it comes down to what you want out of a jean. Lean Madewell for a flattering mid-tier high-rise straight for daily rotation that pairs with almost anything; pick Aritzia for trend-aware shoppers wanting a wide range of current rises and leg shapes in quality denim.