By the title of this post you are probably thinking, “how in the world can you shop cheap at Madewell when a bandana costs almost $20?” You’re right. Madewell is not cheap and even though it is good quality, it’s a little out of the price range of college student like myself. In this post, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I’m going to show you how I’ve managed to never pay full price for anything at Madewell and how you can stop paying full price too!
First things first: become a Madewell Insider.
This will save you a ton of money and the best part is it’s totally FREE. You sign up on their website with your email and birthday. I’m usually one to sign up for rewards programs to try to save any penny I can. I end up never really using the ones I sign up for because I am required to spend a certain amount before I can save money, which in the end just means I’m spending the same amount I would have without signing up in the first place. Madewell is the rare exception. It’s 100% worth it to sign up, so do that first before you make any purchases.
Perks of being a Madewell Insider:
- Free shipping and returns
- Free monogramming
- Early access to sales
- Birthday rewards
The free shipping is what sold me. $5 shipping adds up if you are always online shopping. That money that could be put toward a new pair of jeans, am I right? Also, my birthday reward last year was a $25 off code. I’m almost positive it was $25 off of $25 or more, which is unheard of. This is an actual birthday present that I used!!
Once you’ve become an insider: SHOP SALES ONLY
This is the #1 lesson I’ve learned when shopping at Madewell. They have amazing sales and I totally mean that. They usually have some sort of sale going on all the time. They also have sales for the start/end of every season and these are most of the time the bigger sales. I’ve only paid full price for a couple items when I first started shopping at Madewell and I can honestly say each one of the items I purchased went on sale for half price (or more) than I bought it at. Of course this made me upset when I realized I could have waited a month and saved a lot of money. My biggest tip would have to be: wait until it goes on sale. I promise almost everything they sell goes on sale at some point. They almost always still have my size (xxs) in stock when it goes on sale for a fraction of the cost.
Something that I recently took advantage of was the middle-end of summer sale. One week it was 30% off of sale items. The next week I got an email saying it was 50% off of sale items. I bought three items that ended up being 75% off the original price. Believe me when I say, Madewell has GOOD sales that are always worth the wait.
It’s one thing to hear about all of the money you could potentially save, but it’s another to SEE how much money you can really save on really high quality clothes. I’m going to show you most of my Madewell purchases and show you exactly how much money I saved. I will also include links to everything I have from Madewell that I LOVE!
Embroidered Madewell Easy Crop Tee (Navy) –https://www.madewell.com/embroidered-madewell-easy-crop-tee-99105151470.html
Original price: $39.99
What I paid: $31.99
This is one of the first things I bought from Madewell. I bought it during Black Friday when I didn’t know what kind of sales Madewell was capable of yet. Not the most money I’ve saved, but nonetheless still money saved!
10″ High Rise Skinny Jeans: Drop Step Hem Edition- https://www.madewell.com/10%22-high-rise-skinny-jeans-drop-step-hem-edition-99105161688.html
Wide Leg Crop Jeans: Confetti Floral Embroidered Edition- https://www.madewell.com/wide-leg-crop-jeans-confetti-floral-embroidered-edition-99105318708.html
Original price: $135 (skinny jeans) and $145 (cropped floral)
What I paid: $27.99 (skinny jeans) and $29.99 (cropped floral)
What. a. steal.
I have tried jeans from everywhere. Nowhere else fit me as good as Madewell pants do. I am 4’11 and pretty petite. For me to be thrilled about jeans, you know they are good jeans because they are hard to come by for me!!!
Northside Vintage Tee (Weathered Olive) – https://www.madewell.com/northside-vintage-tee-99105128788.html
I bought the striped tee at Nordstrom Last Chance, so I don’t know what it’s called but I think it is the Whisper Cotton Crew Neck!
The Gemma Mule in Leather- https://www.madewell.com/the-gemma-mule-in-leather-99104707340.html
Original price: $16 (northside) and $98 (mules)
What I paid: $10.87 (northside), $3 (striped tee at Last Chance), and $73 (mules- I used my $25 off birthday reward on these!!)
Texture and Thread Tie Strap Romper- https://www.madewell.com/texture-amp%3B-thread-tie-strap-romper-99105536791.html
Original price: $79.50
What I paid: $32.99 (I got this for more than 50% off and it’s one of my favorites!!)
Ex Boyfriend Tee in Sedalia Stripe- https://www.madewell.com/ex-boyfriend-tee-in-sedalia-stripe-L8945.html?color=KA6758&position=0&position=0&activeChunk=0#q=sedalia%2B&lang=default&start=1
Rivet and Thread Ex Boyfriend Long Sleeve Tee- https://www.madewell.com/rivet-amp%3B-thread-ex-boyfriend-long-sleeve-tee-H1201.html
Original price: $45 (striped tee) and $59.50 (grey long sleeve)
What I paid: $11.99 (striped tee) and I bought the grey long sleeve in the store so I don’t remember exactly what I paid, but I know it was below $25
Texture and Thread Drawstring Top (Spiced Cinnamon)- https://www.madewell.com/texture-amp%3B-thread-drawstring-top-99105564675.html
Original price: $49.50
What I paid: $10.99 (I scored this cute top for 75% off, see it can be done!)
Also, something to note on this top. The picture on their website makes this color look a lot more muted, when in reality it is very bright red. This was the only issue I’ve ever had with an item being misrepresented on Madewell, but I still adore this top for the upcoming fall/winter season!
Lace Camilla Bralette (Dark Tobacco)- https://www.madewell.com/lace-camila-bralette-99105450495.html
Lace Liana Triangle Bralette- https://www.madewell.com/lace-liana-triangle-bralette-G1238.html?color=PK6314&position=16&position=16&activeChunk=0#q=bralette%2B&lang=default&start=1
Original price: $35 (Camilla) and $32 (Liana)
What I paid: $8.99 (Camilla) and I got the blue bralette for Christmas last year, but I know these go on sale often (this is my hands down FAVORITE bralette I own)
Not pictured:
Thompson Pocket Pullover Sweater (Heather Fawn)- https://www.madewell.com/thompson-pocket-pullover-sweater-AA782.html?dwvar_AA782_color=GR6674&cgid=women&position=4&position=4&activeChunk=1#q=sweater&lang=default&start=1
I bought this sweater at full price and it soon went on sale a couple weeks later 🙂 I believe it’s still on sale now! It comes in a few different colors and I think this is the cutest sweater!
Bandanas- https://www.madewell.com/bandana-99104317793.html
I have two bandanas! I bought one at full price for $12.50 and the other on sale for $9.37 on Black Friday
The Mom Jean in Melva Wash- https://www.madewell.com/the-momjean-in-melva-wash-99105349305.html
I’m super excited about these jeans because I am getting ready to buy them. I just ripped my favorite pair of jeans from Zara that were mom jeans so I am in desperate need of a new pair. Yes, I am buying these at full price because it’s an urgent need, but I’m sure they will go on sale at some point if you are interested!
I know Madewell can seem over the top expensive, but I’m here to tell you that you CAN shop cheap at Madewell. I’ve been doing it for over a year now and I will continue to do it even when I have a steady income because why not save some money!
I hope this was helpful and I’d love to hear about all of the money you save at Madewell!! Remember: The sales are always worth the wait.
Avery
