After 12 years of wearing nothing but Madewell jeans, I’ve jumped ship – I’m an Abercrombie & Fitch denim gal now. Before you roll your eyes, let me be clear: this is not the Abercrombie of yore, folks. Gone are the models with abs of steel; gone are the migraine-inducing fragrances; gone are the implications and hints that Abercrombie is a certain type of shopper. Instead, Abercrombie in 2024 is an affordable, size-inclusive destination for easy-to-wear adult basics that won’t break the bank.
But not everyone on the EHD team was convinced – those early aughts mall memories are hard to shake! – so earlier this week, I dragged two of my coworkers to the mall (as one does) where we put Abercrombie’s denim to the test on our 3 normal, non-model bodies. We are each a different shape and different size, but we all found styles that made us feel great! The best part? Everything we tried on is on sale this weekend, through the 12th. (This isn’t even sponsored – I just love these jeans so much and wish someone had told me about them earlier.) Scroll to see our first-hand reviews and try-ons featuring 5 best-selling denim styles, one cute dress, and a perfect-for-fall trench. It’s a real “choose your adventure” kind of post – take a peek at the writer who most closely resembles your shape (our size details are below, obvi!) and HAVE AT IT. (Spoiler: a few pieces we found were too good to leave behind – I’m excited to hear which ones you would have grabbed if you’d been shopping with us!)
The Gals And Their Sizing Stats
Jess
- Size: 29/30 (28 in high-waisted Madewell if that helps!)
- Height: 5’4″ (I was recently measured with a laser (?) and am having an identity crisis with my 1/4 growth spurt).
Caitlin
- Size: 12-16, depending on the fit (usually a 31 or 32 in Madewell!). I have a big ol’ butt and VERY wide hips.
- Height: 5’8″
Mal
- Size: 26/27 or 2-4
- Height: 5’7
The Rating Scale
Before we fully get into the cute clothes. Each piece starts with a group photo with a thumbs up, thumbs “meh”, and thumbs down. We also have a 0 to 5 rating in our individual reviews but just wanted to give you all the info!
The 90s Straight Ultra High Rise (Curve Love)
Jess
- Size: 29/8R (I could have size up probably)
- Fit: They fit really great! Sure, I should have tried on a “short” style because they were waaayy too long and would have needed to be hemmed which is always annoying. I just cuffed them for these photos. Overall I liked the cut and that they were high-waisted but not too high-waisted. And as the resident flat-butted gal of the group, I didn’t have any real issues in that area. Sure, it didn’t enhance it really but that didn’t bother at all. A great everyday jean. Had I needed a pair of jeans I would have bought these.
- Rating: 4/5
Caitlin
- Size: 32/14R
- Fit: My fellow wide-hipped women will understand my struggle – it’s HARD to find a true straight jean! My eyes just kept going straight to that curve around my thighs – I felt really jealous of how the jeans fell on Jess and Mal. (I still maintain that these are STUNNING on Jess’ shape and that she should have brought them home!) That said, I am super thankful for the Curve Love line – lord knows this booty would not be fittin’ into regular jeans without that extra 2″ of give – but despite their comfort, these felt like a pass for me. BIG MEH.
- Rating: 3/5
Mal
- Size: 26
- Fit: These jeans fit well in the front and I REALLY loved the wash but ultimately it fit a lil weird on the booty area. I just felt like it didn’t quite do the things it needed to back there (shape, lift, etc) and instead, it just felt a lil tight (the seam kind of buckled in a weird way around the mid-butt lol). So basically if you’ve got a booty I’d recommend snagging a different pair 🙂
- Rating: 2/5
The ’90s Relaxed (Curve Love)
Jess
- Size: 30/10R
- Fit: Not terrible but also not good. They weren’t baggy enough to feel cool and not fitted enough to show off the goods. This style has really never worked more. I need more shape!
- Rating: 2.5/5
Caitlin
- Size: 32/14R
- Fit: Seeing these now, I can’t totally recall why I gave them a full thumbs down! They are…fine. Again, it just feels like my legs are filling these out a little too much to consider them “relaxed.” They do get points for being ultra comfortable, but they’re not really giving me a confidence boost, you know?
- Rating: 2/5
Mal
- Size: 26
- Fit: If you couldn’t tell from the last rating, one of my biggest things when it comes to the fit of a jean is how it looks on the bootay. I’m looking for a pair that makes that thing POP in the best of ways and doesn’t leave weird lines/make it look like you’re wearing a diaper. For this reason, I’m not THAT into baggy/relaxed fitting jeans – I’d rather go for a straight leg or wide leg that’s still tailored up top and then flows toward the bottom. So the reason I gave these a side thumbs up is because for baggy jeans I REALLY liked them and thought they didn’t look horrible in the back, but I don’t wear baggy jeans all that much so that is why I’m knocking them 2 points.
- Rating: 3/5
Jess
- Size: Large
- Fit: I only tried on this little number because Caitlin wanted me to. Not only is it a cut that really isn’t my style or preference, but it was also a size too big. It’s comically terrible on me lol. I loved how it looked on Caitlin and Mal though and the fabric quality was great! I think that it was also too long for my 5’4″ height. I don’t think wearing a medium would have made it short enough.
- Rating: 0/5 (just on me!)
Caitlin
- Size: Large
- Fit: OKAY, I LOVE! (And I bought.) If anyone has ever called you “hot” or “sexy,” this cut will probably not be up your alley. But as a lifelong “cute” gal, this is a slam dunk. I can’t wait to wear it solo for the rest of the summer, and I’m really looking forward to layering it with turtlenecks or Peter Pan collars and a cozy pair tights in the fall. But be warned that it does run LARGE – I’m getting a few inches taken in on the waist! Overall: great length, not clingy, and the perfect throw-and-go dress.
- Rating:
Mal
- Size: Small
- Fit: This dress was VERY comfy and super cute. I thought it looked very flattering on everyone, but in my opinion, it just needed some accessorizing (a gold necklace? a lil sweater like the one I tied around the waist??) and then it looked super polished.
- Rating: 4/5
The Baggy (Curve Love)
Jess
- Size: 30/10R
- Fit: After looking back at these photos, I actually like these jeans more! I think these were the cutest on all three of us. The wash is that perfect medium tone, the hem is fun and I like where the waist sits. Again, as a short gal, I would go for the short size but these are a great cool and causal pair! Trendy without trying too hard.
- Rating: 4/5
Caitlin
- Size: 31/12R
- Fit: I actually really liked these! Under normal circumstances – you know, before I realized that pants that fit my body existed – I would have brought them home, thrilled to have found an on-trend style that doesn’t cling. They’re baggy without being TOO baggy and they still give you some shape on the bum. The only downside was that mine gapped a bit in the back, which I didn’t love (I think they might have a slightly lower rise than I normally opt for).
- Rating: 4/5
Mal
- Size: 25/0S
- Fit: Remember when I said I don’t love baggy jeans? Well I sized down, they became not baggy and I LOVE THEM (AND BOUGHT THEM!!!) I’ve been looking for some more mid-rise jeans since all of my jeans are VERY high-waisted and these guys are literally perfect. Plus the hem at the bottom is just so cute and cool!! They’re also very stretchy so they’re super comfortable, not like that tough Levi’s kinda denim. Praise be! Buy these!
- Rating: 5/5
Jess
- Size: 30/10R
- Fit: They are a really nice mix of fitted and slightly loose (I guess I could have sized up more looseness)! I also liked that they were high rise but on me not too high rise if you know what I mean. They didn’t do much for enhancing my behind but given the style and my lack of more rounded bum, I wasn’t too surprised. I wish I had tried them in the short length because as you can see I do not have long limbs:) I just don’t need jeans at the moment so it was a pass for me.
- Rating: 3.5/5
Caitlin
- Size: 31/12R (Curve Love)
- Fit: Confession: You remember the header photo? I’m wearing my own pair of Loose Jeans in it! I was excited to try on a darker wash, and they don’t disappoint. I’ve been stopped countless times in these pants by women with similar body types who’ve asked where I bought them – it’s an honor to help spread the word. 🙂 I might prefer this cut in lighter washes, but you can’t find a more comfortable pair of jeans – have suffered through some 100-degree days in the woodshop without complaints because they’re so easy to wear!
- Rating: 4.5/5
Mal
- Size: 26
- Fit: Never have I ever hated a jean more on me. The weird flare at the bottom. The diaper effect on the butt. Hard pass. Also, lol, that my shirt kept covering all of the jeans so I keep having to lift it up. Next time I’m wearing a white tank like Caitlin.
- Rating: 1/5
The Ultra Loose Low Rise
Jess
- Size: 30/10R (Curve Love)
- Fit: LOLOL Noooooo! I don’t think I need to convince of you why these weren’t a fit for me. Partially, I think the Curve Love style for these added too much width on me but my height makes it hard for really baggy pants to look good on me. I actually have a pair from Zara I love but these were never going to come home with me. But man are they SO CUTE on Caitlin and Mal!
- Rating: 0/5
Caitlin
- Size: 30/10 (Blue) + 31/12 (Black) (Curve Love)
- Fit: I went on a JOURNEY with these – I started with some in size 14 (pictured in our group shot with my arm in the air) which were FAR too big, but also kind of cool? (My underwear band was peeking out, Calvin-style, and the gals said I looked like I belonged in Silver Lake, which I didn’t disagree with – they had a lil’ je ne sais quoi!) I ended up swapping for Jess’ 10 in blue which fit BEAUTIFULLY – they’re by far the best wide-leg jeans I’ve ever tried on! – and then I tried a 12 in the black, which I ended up purchasing. If you’re pear-shaped, strong-hipped, or large-butted, the Ultra Loose is THE JEAN FOR YOU. I felt awesome in them. (PS. If you’re under 5’6, I’d actually suggest the standard Loose Jean – I think my extra height helps me pull off the width on these!)
- Rating: 6/5 (Yeah, I loved them THAT much. Madewell who?!)
Mal
- Size: 26
- Fit: These made my knees feel so weirdly exposed and I’m just not used to that sensation. All in all I think for a ripped, baggy jeans these are a pretty good option! I’m just not really a ripped baggy jean person is what I’ve discovered from this 🙂
- Rating: 3/5
Jess
- Size: Medium
- Fit: I really loved it!! It’s just oversized enough to comfortably wear a sweater underneath. It truly looks like a real trench but in a much cooler fabric:) If I lived in a cooler place it would have come home with me.
- Rating: 5/5
Caitlin
- Size: Large
- Fit: You know how I loved the earlier dress, and it wasn’t a fit for Jess? This is the EXACT SAME situation with a reverse outcome. I just don’t have the gravitas to pull off a denim trench. Was it well-made? Yes! Was it a great price for the quality? Yup! Will I ever have the need to cloak myself in a denim top layer? Probably not. But if you need one, this would be a great pick!
- Rating: 3/5
The trench was a no for Mal so this is where we leave you! We clearly had a great time but mostly hope that this gives you the confidence to try out Abercrombie if you are looking for some new denim or other cute clothes. Let us know if you’ve had good experiences with the new and improved Abercrombie too!
