My Honest Mott and Bow Review: What to Know Before You Buy

Jeans are stuck in an odd place right now. The proliferation of fast fashion and the continued endurance of luxury brands over the past decade can make it feel like the only men's jeans available are either disturbingly cheap and an ethical nightmare, or else prohibitively expensive and ultra-chic. In between, there's a hole in the market—one that New York-based designer and e-commerce retailer Mott and Bow has emerged with the intention of offering “premium-grade jeans at a reasonable price.”

Given the internet-fueled hype surrounding Mott and Bow jeans, we decided to see for ourselves how they fit, feel and, of course, look. Here's my honest Mott and Bow jeans review as a men's fashion staple.

What Is Mott and Bow?

Born in Honduras, founder and CEO Alejandro Chahin hails from a family that's been manufacturing denim since the early 1980s. When he moved to New York City in his 20s, he said he was astonished by the high price of American denim. So he set out to develop his own brand of high-quality denim at fair prices, drawing on his decades of experience in denim craftsmanship. Delivering “elevated basics that last” is a lofty ambition, but exactly the thing men are looking for when shopping on a budget. And thus, Mott and Bow jeans were born.

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The other thing men look for: ease of buying online. Mott and Bow jeans are available only on the brand's website—not in stores, which has caused some complaints (more on that later). The company's been around for over a decade, and it’s developed a reputation as a reliable denim brand.

Mott and Bow Jeans Review

I decided to try a couple pairs of Mott and Bow’s most popular denim offerings to see how they compare to the competition. First up was Mott and Bow Skinny Wooster Jeans in Dark Blue . It’s been years since I’ve worn what would be described as “skinny jeans,” having long since reverted to the baggier fits popular for much of this decade. And though I got pretty nerdy about things like Japanese selvedge denim back in the early 2010s, now I wear Levi’s 501s almost exclusively. I find them sturdy, flattering, and versatile. And, because the brand and style have been around forever, there’s never any danger of them seeming outdated.

Mott and Bow Skinny Wooster Jeans: Style, Size, Build, Fit, Comfort

As soon as I slipped on Mott and Bow Skinny Wooster Jeans, I remembered the appeal of this slimming silhouette. The Woosters are pliable and stretchy, with a good amount of visible structure, but plenty of give as well.

Paired with a button-down and blazer, they look streamlined and decidedly professional, like a casual twist on a suit—exactly the kind of thing that’s become the go-to for offices around the country. They're comfortable while still seeming business-ready. Though the fit is not exactly on-trend, and would probably mark me as a millennial in an instant, I admittedly found the look appealing and complementary to my style. They look like serious “adult” jeans.

The build quality surprised me in a good way. Mott and Bow sources its denim from a denim mill in Turkey called Orta Anadolu, then the jeans are manufactured at Chahin’s family facility back home in Honduras. It’s clear right away these are higher quality than other jeans available at similar price points—at around $130.

They look and feel like they’re punching well above their weight, with a premium construction that impressed me. They're also very, very comfortable, thanks in large part to the added elasticity. I spent an afternoon walking around town, eating in restaurants and doing my shopping, and they always felt supple and supportive, solid but fairly lightweight.

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I did find the rise slightly lower than I’m used to. Mott and Bow describes the pants as mid-rise, but compared to my beloved 501s, they sat a bit lower on the hips than what I was expecting (and frankly, what is currently fashionable), which meant that occasionally I found myself instinctively reaching back and pulling them up a little. It wasn’t a deal-breaker, though, and over time I got more comfortable with where they sit.

They don’t necessarily look too low and, with a belt and a shirt tucked in, they seemed sensible enough. If you’re interested in a super-contemporary style, this might be worth considering.

Mott and Bow Slim Mercer Jeans in Khaki: Style, Size, Build, Fit, Comfort

My second pair was Mott and Bow Slim Mercer Jeans in Khaki . The Mercer is made of soft twill, and what’s immediately obvious is that it doesn’t look like a pair of jeans. In khaki, these look like chinos, and Mott and Bow’s own website advertises them as being “appropriate for business casual and everyday wear,” which is to say they probably could pass muster even with a no-denim policy at work. These are the definition of modern office wear, and paired with some loafers and a cardigan, I felt like I was ready for a meeting with the boss.

I was surprised to find the Mercer was billed as "Slim" compared to the Wooster’s apparent "Skinny," because to my eye, I couldn’t notice a marked difference in the look and overall feel of the two silhouettes. The Mercer was still conspicuously on the skinny side for a modern pair of jeans, fitting close through the thighs and straight down the calves, without much room to breathe. Thankfully, like the Wooster, the Mercers are stretchy and pliable, and I found them very comfortable—in fact, even more comfortable than the Woosters, with a smoothness that’s almost buttery.

The downside of this smooth, stretchy construction is that they can seem a little on the thin side. My keys and wallet were clearly visible through the fabric, and when I wore slightly thicker men's underwear , the inseams stood out faintly as creases in the thigh. My heavy-duty 501s, by contrast, never give anything away, and I found myself less comfortable without that invisibility. This wasn't a big deal with the Wooster because the dark color is concealing, but the khaki, which otherwise looks nice, leaves nowhere to hide.

What to Consider Before Shopping at Mott and Bow

Accuracy of Sizing: Is It True to Size?

Both pairs fit true to size at both the waist and inseam. I wear a 32x32, and found the fit almost exactly right—no straining, no excess roominess. (It’s worth noting that Mott and Bow’s website advises you to size up when ordering, but that wasn’t necessary in my experience.)

Does It Look Like What’s Promoted Online?

A big annoyance when buying clothes online is finding out that how they look on a professionally photographed model on your digital screen... doesn't exactly match up to reality when they arrive.

Thankfully Mercer jeans mostly live up to their product photos: The colors looked similar to how they appeared on the website, although on the model the Mercer seemed a bit looser-fitting and more relaxed through the leg, which I found slightly misleading. A thicker thigh pulls at the fabric more, and on me the fabric didn’t fall quite the same.

Still, both pants were more or less as advertised, and I was satisfied that what I got in the mail was what I was imagining when I ordered.

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Shipping

Per the company's shipping policy, Mott and Bow jeans supposedly arrive in three to seven business days when shipping to the U.S. (with multiple delivery options available at checkout). But since I live abroad, I had to go with international shipping, which takes from two to 10 business days—a significantly wider range of time—and is handled via local carriers. Thankfully, though, my Mott and Bow Jeans safely landed at my doorstep on target.

Return Policy

The most common criticism of Mott and Bow is its return policy. This is because Mott and Bow basically doesn’t accept returns in the traditional sense—they only offer a credit for its online store or another pair of jeans in exchange, and there’s a $9 fee for processing the transaction if you want your money back on a gift card. Further, you only have 30 days to return the jeans.

It’s not a very generous policy, and considering Mott and Bow is exclusively an e-commerce business—meaning you can’t go to the brick and mortar to try any on before buying them—it's demanding a level of commitment that’s quite bold.

It would be a better expression of its faith in the product if the brand allowed full returns for unhappy buyers. Buying denim is a personal thing; some people, inevitably, aren’t going to like these jeans, and they should have more recourse than a gift card.

Quality Offerings That Hold Up?

Thankfully, in my case, no returns will be necessary. I found both pairs of Mott and Bow jeans fit well, looked good, and impressed me despite my reservations about the silhouettes and the styles. This is not an especially trendy pair of jeans, but there's nothing wrong with that as long as you like them. Indeed, that means that Mott and Bow is not just a trend-chasing brand like so many subpar competitors crowding the space, which is a relief.

These are, as advertised, elevated basics, with a premium quality and a reasonable price tag. Again, given the solidness of the denim material, I expect these to hold up quite well. On the whole, I was very pleased with what they offered, delivering a comfortable, nice-looking pair of denim that was much better than fast-fashion alternatives and much cheaper than luxury offerings.

Why You Should Trust Me

I'm a long-time writer covering style and menswear, along with arts and culture. I've been on the sneakers beat for years, writing for GQ, Men's Journal ( check out my favorite gym shoe! ) , and others. I get sent products from various men's clothing brands to test to see if they live up to their marketing. And like just about every other man on earth, I've gone through countless pairs of jeans throughout my life, from the then-in-vogue skinnier varieties of the aughts to my currently (and forever) trusty Levi's 501s.

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