Today we’re talking all about Mott & Bow. I’m sharing sizing, fit, and quality details on the four pairs of women’s jeans and the t-shirts I own (including the pair that didn’t work for my body and the pair I’ve worn on repeat for the last few months). This post contains affiliate links, and every opinion is my own.

I first ordered Mott & Bow jeans about four years ago, right before skinny jeans were on their way out. I bought a dark wash slim jean (called their “mom jeans”) and a dark wash boyfriend jean. I wore them (predictably) a lot less than I planned to, because everything in my closet suddenly had a wider leg.

My husband, on the other hand, has worn his Mott & Bow jeans into the ground for going on four years. He’s owned plenty of premium denim, from AG and Paige to Frame and Agolde, and his Mott & Bow pairs have outlasted jeans that cost twice as much.

This summer Mott & Bow sent me a white straight leg pair and a tee to try, and after a full season of wearing them, I’m ready to write this post. I also broke out my skinny jeans last month and have been getting a lot more wear out of them. But the real question is this: are Mott & Bow jeans actually good quality for women, and are they worth the price?

Quick verdict: Mott & Bow makes jeans that are on par with Agolde in fabric quality at a lower price, and a clear step up from Quince. The fit is less consistent from style to style than Agolde’s, so pick your cut carefully. The Mercer cropped straight OR the Gilmore is the pair I’d rebuy tomorrow.

Mott & Bow discount code: Use code ELISABETH for 10% off.

👉 Shop Mott & Bow women’s jeans here

What Is Mott & Bow?

Mott & Bow is a New York based brand founded in 2014 by Alejandro Chahin. They started out selling mostly men’s jeans online (which is still who most Mott & Bow reviews are written for) and expanded into womens denim and great basics later.

According to the brand, their jeans are made in family-owned factories in Honduras using 12 to 14 ounce denim from Japanese and US mills. Their tees are mostly 100% combed cotton.

One thing I appreciate: the branding is minimal. The name is on the button, and that’s it. There’s no leather patch or logo tag on the back of the waistband and the tee shirts are free from any branding at all.

And before we get into the actual review, one thing worth mentioning, I think Mott & Bow’s own marketing undersells the product. Based on the product photos and styling on their site, I expected a basic mid-range jean. What showed up feels like a pair I’d expect to pay more for. If you’re used to shopping Madewell or Reformation for denim, I think you’ll be impressed with Mott & Bow.

Mott & Bow Jeans Review: The Four Pairs I Own

My Mercer, mom, and Laight boyfriend jeans are all 98% cotton and 2% elastane with different fits. That little bit of stretch is the magic of this denim. They have real structure, the way a rigid jean does, but they give enough to be comfortable through a full day of school runs and weekend plans. It is a really great mix between a rigid jean and a stretch denim. (The Gilmore is the exception. Mott & Bow lists it as 100% cotton with mechanical stretch, more on that below.)

For reference, I’m 5’4″ and wear a 24 in Agolde, Quince, and a 23 or 24 in most Madewell styles.

⭐ Favorite Overall: High-Rise Cropped Straight Leg Mercer in Bone ($119)

These are the jeans I’ve worn on repeat since they arrived in early June. I’ve worn them at least a dozen times. They are my go-to for anything where I want to look a little more put together than my everyday jeans: kids’ birthday parties, a weekend day date, girls’ night, and back to school night (at least thats where I’ve worn them the last month).

The Mercer is listed as a straight leg, but it wears more like a slim wide leg. The rise hits right at my belly button, and the 27″ inseam lands just above my ankle (just where you want a cropped straight to hit). All summer I’ve worn them with slip-on sandals or a heeled sandal. (If you’re looking for sandals that work with a cropped jean and can handle a full day on your feet, my favorite travel sandals are here.)

Quality note: The Bone wash is a slightly thinner fabric than the dark wash denim. They do wrinkle and I’ll iron them if I’m wearing them somewhere nicer. I held them up to the light off the body to check, and in certain light you can faintly see where the pockets are. I’ve never noticed it while wearing them. They haven’t stained. I don’t wash them after every wear, and the few times I’ve gotten something on them, a stain treatment took it right out.

Sizing note: I’m wearing a 24 x 27, my current size, and they fit true to size without being too tight.

Styling note: My favorite way to wear them casually is with the Mott & Bow tee tucked in and a leather flip flop. I’ve been dressing them up with a nice linen top and dressier sandal through the summer. Now that it’s fall, I’ve worn them with sweaters and mules.

What I love: The wider straight leg, the cropped length for my height, and the fact that I have no notes on the fit. For me, this pair is on par with any pair of Agolde jeans I own. It is also the most complimented pair of denim I’ve worn in 2026.

Verdict: If I lost these tomorrow, I would buy them again without thinking about it.

👉 Shop the Mercer High-Rise Cropped Straight Leg jeans

The Mom Jean in Dark Wash ($119 but 30% when posting this)

This is the pair I’ve owned the longest. I bought them four years ago in a 25 x 28, and they’re the higher rise of my two dark wash pairs. The rise sits just at my belly button, the same as the Mercer.

They’re technically a mom jean, but on me they wear like a great high-waisted slim or skinny jean. I didn’t reach for them much when skinny jeans went out, but I’ve pulled them back into rotation this fall and I’m wearing them right now as I write this, working from home.

The dark wash is a classic, clean, dressy dark wash (and we’re seeing this dark indigo color EVERYWHERE in fall 2026). I wear them casually with a sweater or a tee for school drop-off and pickup, and I’d wear them with nice flats and a little jacket for dinner out. If you work in an office that allows denim, these are the pair I’d wear.

Quality note: Four years in, I’ve seen no fading. They’ve never bled onto my hands or our white couch. I washed them once on cold before the first wear, and I lay them flat to dry. They haven’t shrunk or stretched out.

Sizing note: I was a 25 when I ordered these, and I’m a 24 now, so they’re a little big on me today. I still wear them with a belt and it works. Go with your regular denim size for a tight skinny jean fit and one up for a slightly looser fit.

What I love: The rise, the dark wash, and how versatile they are.

What to know: This is a slimmer leg. If you’ve moved on from skinny jeans completely, the Mercer is the better pick.

Verdict: I would buy the mom jeans again if I needed a great dark wash slim jean.

👉 Shop Mott & Bow mom jeans

Laight Mid Rise Slim Jean: The Pair That Didn’t Work for Me (on sale)

I got the boyfriend jean at the same time as the mom jeans (in the same size and the same dark wash). The fabric is just as good. The fit on these just doesn’t work for me.

The rise is lower than the mom jean, and there’s more fabric through the hip and waist. It bunches a little, which I know is part of the slouchy boyfriend look. But with my proportions, and after four kids, that extra fabric sitting right at my midsection isn’t flattering or comfortable on me. So I don’t wear them.

They’re probably great for a different body. I like the wash and I don’t mind the style. If you want a mid-rise jean with a relaxed fit, this could be a great pair for you.

Verdict: The quality is there but the fit is off for me. I’d skip it if you carry weight or loose skin through your lower belly and want your jeans to hold you in.

If you want a boyfriend jean, shop them here.

New to My Closet: Gilmore High Rise Wide Leg in Dark Blue ($119)

Full disclosure: these arrived last week, so this is a first impressions review, not a long-term one. I’ll update this section once I have more wear on them.

That said, these are so flattering. I’ve worn them twice and have already gotten so many compliments. They’re comfortable, too.

I’ve cuffed them with a wide cuff (love that the dramatic cuff is in this fall) and worn them with mules and dressed them. up with a heeled boot. These would also be a great pair of denim for pumps.

I’m wearing a 24 x 32. At 5’4″, the 32″ inseam is the perfect length with a heeled boot.

Fabric note: Mott & Bow lists the Gilmore as 100% cotton with mechanical stretch, an 11″ rise, and a 22″ leg opening.

Sizing note: 24 x 32, my usual size, and they fit true to size.

What I love: How flattering they are, the comfort, and the length that gives you legs for days.

What to know: Two wears isn’t enough to judge durability. Check back for my update.

Verdict so far: If you want one pair of jeans that will get you compliments, start here.

👉 Shop the Gilmore High Rise Wide Leg jeans

Mott & Bow Women’s Jeans at a Glance

	Mercer Cropped Straight	Gilmore Wide Leg	Mom Jean	Laight Mid Rise Slim
Wash	Bone	Dark Blue	Dark	Dark
My size	24 x 27	24 x 32	25 x 28	25 x 28
Rise on me	At belly button	High rise	At belly button	Below belly button
Leg	Wide straight, cropped	Wide	Slim	Relaxed
Best for	Weekends, events	Heeled boots, compliments	Every day, office	Mid-rise lovers
Would I rebuy?	Yes, tomorrow	Early yes	Yes	No, fit
Shop	Link	Link	Link	Link

Mott & Bow T-Shirt Review: The Three Tees I Own

Two of my Mott & Bow tees are new to me this year and one I’ve been wearing and washing for four years, so between them I can speak to both how they feel out of the package and how they age.

Everyday Cotton Crew Tee in Honeydew ($39.99)

Mott & Bow sent me the Everyday Cotton Crew Tee in Honeydew, a soft seafoam green that is right in my color palette. I’ve worn it at least a dozen times and it still looks brand new.

This is a midweight tee. It isn’t thick, but it isn’t see-through either, and it’s soft and falls nicely instead of clinging. The neckband hasn’t stretched out which is a win (and surprising for a crewneck I hang on a hanger). The length is slightly cropped, which means it tucks perfectly into a high-waisted jean without any bulk. I sized up to a small for a more relaxed look.

I do wear it with the Mercer, but I mostly wear it with my more casual jeans.

Quality note: A dozen wears and washes in, no stretched neckline and no loss of shape.

Sizing note: I wear a small, and it fits true to size with a relaxed, slightly cropped fit.

How it compares: It’s a better t-shirt than the Quince tees I own, and a solid step or two above a Target tee. I have some older James Perse tees, but those are a slub fabric, so it’s hard to compare them directly.

Verdict: Yes, it’s worth $39.99. I’d love it in more colors.

👉 Shop the Everyday Cotton Crew Tee

Long Sleeve Crew Tee Marcy in Heather Gray ($44.99)

This is the tee that tells me the most about Mott & Bow’s quality, because I’ve had it for four years. I’ve worn it and washed it regularly that entire time, and it has held up beautifully.

It’s a fitted long sleeve crew neck with a longer body that hits at the hip, so it works tucked in or left out. The fabric is a 50% Pima cotton and 50% modal blend. It is soft and looks like a fitted long sleeve tee with the tiniest bit of stretch.

This one is a true staple for me. I wear it as a layering piece under sweaters, and I wear it alone with jeans.

Quality note: Four years of regular wear and washing, and it still looks great. No notes. I just wish there were more color options.

Sizing note: I wear a XS and it runs tts for a fitted look.

Verdict: A great staple and a great layering piece. If you only try one Mott & Bow top, this one in white would be my pick for the fall/ winter.

👉 Shop the Long Sleeve Crew Tee Marcy

Fitted Crew Marcy Tee in Vintage White ($44.99)

This one also arrived last week, so these are first impressions. The fabric is so soft and drapey (Mott & Bow describes it as combed cotton and modal). It is a little sheer. I love that the Vintage White isn’t a stark white. It’s a creamier white that works better with my coloring and with a lot of deep fall colors.

Sizing note: I sized up two sizes to a medium for a more oversized fit, and I wish I’d only gone up one. If you want a relaxed fit, size up one.

Styling note: This is the perfect base layer under blazers and sweaters for fall and winter.

Verdict so far: Soft and drapey in a creamy white, and a little sheer. Size up one for a relaxed fit.

👉 Shop the Fitted Crew Marcy Tee

Mott & Bow Sizing: Do They Run Small?

In my experience, Mott & Bow women’s jeans run true to size. I wore a 25 four years ago when I was a 25 in other brands, and I wear a 24 in the Mercer now that I’m a 24 in Agolde and Quince. Mott & Bow also says their sizing runs true.

The bigger fit variable is the cut, not the size. The mom jean and the Mercer both have a true high rise that hits at my belly button. The boyfriend sits lower and has more room through the hip. If you have a shape you know works on your body, stick close to it.

For inseams, I’m 5’4″ and the 27″ cropped Mercer hits just above my ankle.

How Mott & Bow Jeans Hold Up After Washing

This is the part of a jeans review I care about most, and the part most reviews can’t answer because they were written a month after the package arrived.

My dark wash pairs are four years old. No fading, no bleeding, no shrinking, no bagging. To be fair, I haven’t worn them hard for all four of those years. My husband has, and his are the better durability test. He’s worn the men’s Mercer Slim Jean for more than three years, and it still looks sharp, the fit is as good as the day he got it, and it has faded less than his AG jeans. One of his pairs is starting to show some fading, but his Mott & Bow jeans have held up better than pairs twice the price that he had to replace sooner.

My white Mercer pair has been through a full summer of weekly wear and still looks new, with a stain treatment here and there.

How I care for them: wash cold, and lay flat to dry. I washed my dark pairs once before the first wear.

What My Husband Thinks (He’s Worn AG, Paige, Frame, and Agolde)

My husband’s closet has had plenty of premium denim over the years, and the Mott & Bow Mercer Slim Jean ($129) is the pair I named the best men’s jean for work. The dark indigo wash reads clean enough for the office, there’s no visible branding or flashy stitching, and the slim fit works under a blazer or with a tee on the weekend. There’s enough stretch to be comfortable through a full workday without the jeans losing their shape.

He also owns and loves the Mott & Bow Slim Crosby. I wrote about exactly how he wears them in the best men’s jeans for work, so head there if you’re shopping for him too.

👉 Shop the men’s Mercer Slim Jean | Shop the Slim Crosby

Mott & Bow vs Agolde, Madewell, and Quince

Mott & Bow vs Agolde: Agolde is my quality benchmark for denim, and the fabric here is on par. I have a looser fit Agolde straight leg in stretch denim, and the Mercer has a little more structure than it does. Where Agolde wins is washes, fit and style options. You’re going to get more on-trend styles with great whispering detail. Mott & Bow has fewer and more classic options but the quality is just as good.

Mott & Bow vs Madewell: I’d call the quality comparable or superior to Madewell (you just have more limited style options).

Mott & Bow vs Quince: The Mott & Bow denim is better quality than Quince. I recently bought a dark wash pair of Quince jeans, and the wash and fabric look very similar to my Mott & Bow mom jean. The difference is that 2% elastane. Mott & Bow gives you most of the benefits of a rigid jean with enough stretch to be comfortable all day, and they’re noticeably more comfortable than my Quince pair. I’ll report back on how the Quince pair holds up next to them. (My full Quince review is here.)

Style selection: When I first ordered four years ago, Mott & Bow was mostly slim and skinny styles. They’ve since added wider legs and straight styles like the Mercer. Agolde still has the edge on range and trendier cuts.

	Mott & Bow	Agolde	Madewell	Quince
Fabric quality	On par with Agolde	Benchmark	Comparable	A step below
Fit consistency	Varies by style	Consistent	[YOUR TAKE]	[YOUR TAKE]
Style range	Growing	Best	[YOUR TAKE]	Basic
My size	24	24	23 to 24	24

Who should buy which: Buy Mott & Bow if you want Agolde-level denim in classic cuts for less. Buy Agolde if trend-forward washes and fits matter most. Buy Quince if price is the priority. If you like the Good American fit, my Good American jeans review covers how those compare.

What I Don’t Love

• Fit isn’t consistent across every style. The Mercer, Gilmore, and mom jean are winners on me. The Laight is a miss.
• The Vintage White Marcy tee is a little sheer. Size up one for a relaxed fit.
• The white denim is thinner. You can faintly see the pockets in certain light, and I iron them for nicer events.
• The website undersells the product. The styling and product photos don’t match the quality of what shows up, and I think that keeps a lot of women from giving the brand a try.

Mott & Bow Discount Code and Where to Buy

I ordered my first pairs directly from mottandbow.com. Shipping is free on orders over $150 so please add a great tee to whichever pair of jeans you’re trying. I haven’t made a return or exchange yet, so I can’t speak to their customer service.

Conclusion: Would I Buy Mott & Bow Again?

Yes. Mott & Bow makes great quality jeans at a good price. In my closet they sit right alongside Agolde for fabric and comfort. The Mercer cropped straight is one of the best pairs of jeans I’ve added to my closet in the last few years, and the dark wash mom jean has held up for four years without fading.

Also, you just have to catch the vision. Madewell jeans are styled with full photoshoots and all their on-trend tops. Mott & Bow is shown on more realistic models with a basic tee. You can feel good that you aren’t paying for all the advertising and styling production but you might have to use your imagination a bit.

Mott & Bow Review FAQ