Mott & Bow Review: Elite Quality, Mostly Short-Man-Friendly

I had the opportunity to review a few great pieces from Mott & Bow. The brand offers excellent clothes, though some were too big for my modest man frame.

I’m of the belief that you can always count on denim-focused brands when it comes to basics. If they take the time to get jeans fit right, then they’ve nailed some essential foundations. They’ll probably do great outerwear, too. And when it comes to menswear essentials, I’m all about outerwear.

As such, I’ve always been curious about Mott & Bow. They’re based right here on the East Coast, in New York, where I live. Moreover, I’ve heard great things about them. When they reached out to let me try some pieces from their line, I jumped at the opportunity.

Here’s my honest review of Mott & Bow, covering everything from the materials to the fit and style. By the end, you’ll know if the pieces I tried are for you and what to expect from the brand.

My Build

I’m 5’7” and a half (easily 5’8″ and up in shoes) and 130 lbs at my fittest. Still, I’m generally a “skinny” guy. I have a 35” chest and wear XS tops. My waist is a size 28, which means I even have to get XS shirts tailored half the time. I figured knowing this could help you figure out how you might fit into these pieces.

Mott & Bow Review: Overview

I tried the following items:

This brand punches far, far above its price point. Many of the pieces are downright luxurious. They use high-end materials like lush goat suede and silky combed cotton. Moreover, everything is durably and cleanly stitched and constructed.

From a design perspective, Mott & Bow is 100% classic. Any guy, regardless of personal style, can shop their line. They also consider details to add distinction to every piece, like the two-piece sleeves on the trucker jacket.

As far as sizing goes, this is a great line for most guys but not always for us short guys. I’m 5’7” and found the size S shirt too big. The outerwear is hit or miss (though always workable—you’ll see what I mean). I will say that the silhouettes are clean and flattering, though.

Mott & Bow Review: A Little Bit About the Brand

Mott & Bow was founded in New York in 2014 by Alejandro Chahin. Initially a denim-focused clothier, Chahin’s family actually owned a denim manufacturing company in Honduras. Chahin noticed that premium denim was overpriced. Using his knowledge of the industry, he developed Mott & Bow to fill the market gap. 

By controlling the entire manufacturing process, Mott & Bow can deliver high-quality pieces at reasonable prices. Today, the brand offers a range of basics, including shirts and outerwear.

Mott & Bow Suede Trucker Jacket

My lovely editor mentioned that Mott & Bow wanted me to try out this suede jacket specifically. And boy, am I glad they did. I requested it in a size S and the olive colorway (it also comes in a handsome tobacco). This jacket is rugged yet sleek. It would add a sense of class to a pair of ripped jeans and boots while adding a cool factor to a suit. As someone who wears a suit to work every day, I got a lot of compliments on this guy.

I could smell the lush suede as soon as I took it out of its packaging. It has a napped, buttery quality to it. I’ve handled a lot of suede — this is truly good stuff. Mott & Bow made this jacket out of goat suede, which is more flexible than cow and water resistant. Trust me, I got caught out in the rain in this jacket, and it survived the ordeal.

Premium quality aside, the design is so thoughtful. The two-piece sleeve construction matches the sectioned-off look of the body (there’s stitching across the yoke). 

I really have nothing bad to say about this jacket. It’s tactical yet elegant, extremely versatile, and the price is shocking. I’ve seen equally premium suede jackets at triple the price.

Is the Mott & Bow Suede Trucker Jacket Modest-Man-Friendly?

It depends on how you like the fit of your trucker jackets. For me, I’m going to say yes. I like a little bit of a looser fit. In fact, I sometimes go for mediums, even larges, with trucker jackets. This jacket doesn’t fit like that, though. It’s like a loose, regular fit.  

The shoulders sit properly, and the lines are clean, which are the most important parts. If you’re shorter than my height, 5’7” (and this also depends on your proportions), it might just be long in the sleeve for you. It might fit like a sleeker-than-usual winter coat.

Mott & Bow Classic Crew Bergen Sweater

When it comes to the types of sweaters, Mott & Bow really nailed the classic cashmere sweater with this one. It comes in five different colors: black, navy, forest green, charcoal, and camel heather, which is the one I got.

Cashmere is soft and has a tight weave, which allows it to stretch while still holding its shape. You want your cashmere sweaters to be delicate to the touch but surprisingly strong, and that’s definitely the case with this sweater.

It has a mid-weight construction, not too heavy and not too light. You can wear this sweater with layers on cold days and cooler summer nights. For the latter, I recommend wearing a tank top or a light T-shirt underneath.

I wore this sweater with my work suit over my dress shirt and tie and even with shorts on an unseasonably warm autumn day. It’s a true menswear essential.

Is the Mott & Bow Classic Crew Bergen Sweater Modest-Man-Friendly?

Yes, absolutely. I ordered the XS, and the body of the sweater fits slim but not tight. I find it extremely flattering. It’s especially well-fitting with a casual button-down or a dressier button-up underneath.

It’s slightly long in the sleeve for me, but not offensively so. You can always fold it, or you can get the sleeves shortened. Just make sure you find a tailor who knows how to do this without unraveling the delicate fabric.

Mott & Bow Oversized Wool Jacket

This oversized wool jacket, a traditional shirt jacket design, comes in three colors: black, dark olive, and charcoal, which is what I went for. It has strong lapels, large buttons, and military-esque front pockets. You really can’t go wrong with a classic approach to a shirt jacket, though Mott & Bow leveled it up with detailing.

First, the shirt-tail hem is slightly curved. You don’t notice it, but it gives the silhouette a cleaner look, making it more adaptable. Wear it with workwear or suits, with a preppy aesthetic or a grungier one. Even more, the back yoke features pleats, providing extra mobility and comfort.

The fabric is textured but soft. It’s made of wool twill, which is warm, durable, and perfect for guys with sensitive skin (like me). It’s even water—and wrinkle-resistant. As a test, I packed it in my bag pretty messily. It came out mostly wrinkle-free, making it an ideal jacket for traveling.

Is the Mott & Bow Oversized Wool Jacket Modest-Man-Friendly?

Not for me, but perhaps for you. Here’s what I mean.

Admittedly, I didn’t realize this jacket had a slightly oversized fit (clearly, I missed the gigantic title of the product page). However, it doesn’t look that oversized on the model either. Since I like a pretty oversized fit on a shirt jacket, I ordered a size L, which usually gives me the fit I like. Instead, I was fully drowning in it.

I made my friend, who is 6’2” and 180 lbs and usually wears a size L, wear it. It wasn’t slightly oversized on him either; it was definitely oversized. I think a size M would have been slightly oversized on him, while an S would have given me the oversized fit I like.

That being the case, he found the jacket so attractive he decided to keep it. He said he’d wear thermals and layers underneath and wear it as a genuine winter coat.

Mott & Bow Classic Crew Driggs Tee

Like the other pieces so far, the Driggs Tee is a classic design — just a normal crewneck, short-sleeved silhouette. However, it comes in a world of colors, including some fun seasonal ones. I ordered a charming green shade called pistachio.

Based on the outerwear, I wasn’t surprised that the shirt was durably and cleanly stitched and made of high-end materials. The brand constructs this tee out of combed cotton, which is soft and almost silky. This is because combing the fiber removes short, weak fibers, leaving only the softest, strongest ones.

This shirt is great as an everyday casual piece. It’s also the perfect hot-weather top because it’s comfortable, breathable, and moisture-wicking.

Is the Mott & Bow Classic Crew Driggs Tee Modest-Man-Friendly?

No. In fact, I’m afraid this is a resounding no. I ordered this shirt in a size S, which is their smallest offering. I suspected it wouldn’t fit me well because most shirts that aren’t XS’s don’t. So when I noticed they didn’t offer an XS, I had a feeling. 

I’m also used to short-sleeve shirts being too loose in the sleeves. In this case, even the body was too loose. It’s such a well-made shirt in such a fun color, though. I may wear it around the house or underneath a cardigan or any other piece of outerwear that covers the fit.

Mott & Bow Slim Mercer Jeans

Unsurprisingly, Mott & Bow shines brightest with the Mercer jeans. Like the Driggs Tee, they come in several colors. I received the midnight, which is a cool, dark gray. This makes them perfect for every season.

The soft twill is strong but stretchy and double-stitched everywhere it needs to be. I pulled hard on the belt loops (an unreasonable thing I subject jeans to to test their strength). Everything stayed intact. 

Meanwhile, the hardware is handsomely matted and signed like high-fashion jeans, giving it a touch of rugged sleekness. These are the kind of jeans that would look smart with a suit jacket. So, whether you like a more relaxed or formal look, these jeans are highly adaptable.

If you look closely, the twill denim features nice diagonal lines, proving the weave’s strength. This is why these pants drape so well.

Is the Mott & Bow Slim Mercer Jeans Modest-Man-Friendly?

Yes, if you like a more slim-regular fit. There’s a nice break by my feet, and the lines are straight but not perfectly clean. However, they’d definitely be cleaner with the shorter inseam available, though the significant break would still be there.

I know that many of you shorter gents who’ve been reading TMM know we advocate for extra clean, slim jeans. Taller men can pull off regular fits because the relaxed lines don’t make them look like kids in dad’s clothes. 

But keep in mind that extra slim jeans aren’t really in style right now. Even more, you should be able to wear what you want — and being short isn’t a bad thing. A slim-regular is a classic fit. It won’t make you look taller, but I think that’s okay.

Conclusion: An Undeniably High-End Brand

I’m incredibly impressed with what Mott & Bow is doing. I’ve seen equivalents of all of these pieces at high-end stores in Manhattan at double or triple the price. They’re categorically giving the market something that wasn’t there before.

Again, not all of the pieces perfectly fit me. However, there were enough that do that I wouldn’t tell short men to avoid Mott & Bow. It caters to the average size, which most brands do anyway.

Do you have any questions or comments about Mott & Bow? Drop them in the comments below!