Interested in this comfort-focused casual essentials brand? Read this hands-on review of Mugsy Jeans to get the details!
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Mugsy Jeans centers around, as the brand name implies, their jean pants, which are built to be comfortably soft, and roomier in the lap area for men, all while sporting a slim, clean fit.
From here, theyโve expanded into a decent range of essential garments, from jackets to button-ups.
Iโm here to answer a few questions: Are their clothes actually that comfortable, and does that compromise durability? How do they accomplish a simultaneously roomy and slim fit? Is their coverage in a range of outlets, from ESPN to Esquire, and their large social media following justified?
Iโll be judging based on Mugsyโs specific brand promises, but also the overall general quality of the pieces I tried.
About the Brand
Chicago-based Mugsy Jeans was founded in 2015 by Leo Tropeano. After finally accepting the fact his baggy jeans werenโt flattering, he set out to build a non-suffocating slim-fit denim pant.
He prioritized flexibility, lightness, and a roomy lap area that wonโt strangle you the way early-aughts skinny pants did โ but also, a neat and complimentary look. The resulting technical fabric took five years to perfect.
Mugsy has since expanded, with sweatshirts, jackets, stretch chinos, and other casual basics, all with the same brand promise: Comfort and style.
I reviewed a pair of Clutch Jeans (a collaboration with Barstool Sportsโ Pardon my Take), the Ports Stretch Chinos, the Sad Boy Denim Jacket (another Barstool collab), and the Moss Oxford Shirt.
My Build
Iโm 5โ7โ and a half without shoes, and 130lbs at my fittest. I have a 35โ chest and wear XS tops. My waist is a size 28, but my equestrian thighs sometimes mean I have to size up for non-tailored, slim-fit pants.
What I Tried
Here are the pieces in this review:
- PMT x Mugsy Big Cat Clutch Jeans
- Port Stretch Chinos
- Moss Oxford Shirt
- Barstool Sports x Sad Boy Denim Jacket
- Mugsy Anders Chino Shorts
- Mugsy Skylines Chino Shorts
Letโs go through them one at a time.
PMT x Mugsy Big Cat Clutch Jeans
The Clutch Jeans are a classic light wash and definitely felt broken in as soon as they came out of the box. They had super light fade lines on the upper thighs, which I prefer to overly defined, less versatile fades.
Details and Stitching
Cool details I immediately noticed were the rose-gold-toned, branded front button, the fact all of the hardware is branded, and the interior pocket fabric.
They feature a fun Barstool PMT motif with (more) branding and football-themed print patterns. This very same fabric construction continues on into the inside seam of the outer legs, acting as the seamโs fortification.
The stitching is 95% perfect. As mentioned, the outer leg is well-secured and sewn inward, for a clean silhouette. The inner legs are fortified with double stitching, overlapping pieces, and a folded hem.
Basically, itโs standardly stitched, but there arenโt any shortcuts, so theoretically, these pants should last.
The only places that looked slightly sloppy were on the back pockets, which had some uncut, but not loose, threads. Still, I wouldnโt put anything in these pockets that wasnโt perfectly flat anyway, as to not interrupt the clean lines.
Fit and Style
I did like the fit overall. Iโm a good test case for pants because Iโm super slim and pretty short, but decades of tennis, soccer, and horse riding mean Iโm proportionally bigger in and around the thigh area.
In short, few pants fit well on me, and if they look fine on me, theyโll look good on most people who know how to pick their right size.
I ordered a 28 waist, and a 30 length size.
Iโd say the fit is somewhere in between slim and classic, but definitely neat looking, and super diplomatic. Those who are used to relaxed fits, but want to convert to a slimmer style, wonโt be intimidated by these jeans.
Due to my body type, they were a little tight in the seat area, but the roomier lap and the wildly stretchy waist (two of their brand promises met) ensured the pants were comfortable overall.
Moreover, the back yolk was a bit straighter instead of having a dramatic V shape, which contributed to the overall neat lines of the pants.
I think this would flatter a wider range of body types than a yolk that dips too deeply, which would overly enhance bigger seats and create a baggy effect for smaller ones.
As I alluded to when describing the flexible waist, these pants are super stretchy. Iโm not exaggerating when I say they almost feel like sweatpants. I was fully able to play hours of backyard football in these pants.
And of course, thereโs one break right above the shoe, just as I like my jeans to fit.
For those that donโt know, Pardon My Take is a comedic sports podcast from Barstool Sports that commentates on sports, but in a way that satires traditional sports commentator shows.
So this might be a touch conceptual, but other than this subline being a merchandising opportunity for both Mugsy and Barstool, I do think thereโs something self-aware about these jeans.
Theyโre basically elevated dad jeans, a sort-of satire thatโs still cool and stylish, with a design not lost on its inspiration.
Port Stretch Chinos
The Port Stretch Chinos have a super smart-casual aesthetic, which is definitely more my style. Thereโs 34% rayon in there, and while Iโm not a fan of rayon as a silk simulant, it works well in these pants as an additive, giving them a soft surface and a dressier look.
I ordered the maroon, and the color is truly top-notch. Itโs dark enough to fit into any smart casual situation but still vivid. The maroon is an eye-catching hue, tempered with a neutral and versatile dark tone without going too murky.
Details and Stitching
A lot of what I mentioned about the Clutch Jeans can be applied to the Port Chinos: Itโs a standard, but well-stitched pair of pants. Of course, since theyโre chinos, they have less hardware and the pockets are simpler and more formal.
The front pockets sport a traditional trouser style with a slight scoop, while the back pockets are fortified slits that lead to interior compartments. That being the case, these back pockets donโt have any uncut threads, so the chinos get half a point on the jeans.
Another fun detail is, like the jeans, the inner seam on the outside of the leg is secured with an extra piece of fabric. In the case of these chinos, itโs a cobalt blue fabric, which if you cuff the pants, can serve as a stylish accent.
I personally love this, but Iโm sure some people wonโt. I will say that thereโs nothing particularly provocative about this shade of blue, so while itโs one more tone to consider when putting an outfit together, I’d say itโs still neutral enough.
Fit and Style
Unlike the jeans which get their architecture from, well, their architecture, these pants get it from the clean drape. Thereโs less stitching, but the material just lands in a straight and sharp manner.
When you cuff the pants, the weight of the folds further neatens the lines, for an even sharper shape.
It has a similar slim-ish fit as well but doesnโt have a big break by the shoes, which is what we want from chinos.
And like the jeans, itโs an overall classic and trend-resistant look but is easier to style because chinos by nature are more versatile. They look great with a t-shirt or a blazer and can be worn year-round depending on how you style it.
As their name suggests, the stretch chinos are super flexible, one of their most impressive qualities. Theyโre even more flexible than the jeans. I can probably get a good few inches of stretch when Iโm pulling on the fabric, and thereโs zero sign of it wearing โ it just snaps back into shape.
Thereโs a good 6% spandex in there, which explains why itโs so comfortable and easy to move in.
Moss Oxford Shirt
Mugsyโs Oxford Shirts are definitely an example of the casualization of fashion. While with the Clutch Jeans, Mugsy adds structure and shape to the classic dad jeans, with the Oxford Shirt, they add stretch and flow to a traditionally structural design.
Details and Stitching
I have zero complaints about the stitching on this shirt. The top of the cuff, the sides, and the inner arms are double stitched, and the button holes are neat and strong. Truly, this shirt gets an A+ on that front.
The website description mentions that the Oxfords are hand-crafted in Portugal, so itโs definitely one of Mugsyโs more artisanal pieces. For about $100, thatโs not too shabby.
Small details that I found charming include a subtle blue contrast stitch at the bottom button and the corners of the chest pocket, and the branded rivet at the bottom of the side seam.
The stitching is the same blue as the inner accent fabric on the chinos, and the rivet is the same warm gold tone as the button on the jeans. It looks like Mugsy is going for some brand signatures ร la the gold stamp on the Common Projects Achilles.
Fit and Style
Okay, so Iโm 5โ7โ and slim, and I ordered a size small. When it comes to guys who are similarly smaller in stature, this shirt is not going to work for everyone.
However, it does fill a need in my closet: A casual but structured shirt for days I literally just want to throw a baseball cap on, but need something more than just a t-shirt โ say at a relaxed brunch with close friends or when Iโm doing the groceries on a lazy Sunday.
This shirt fulfills this need uniquely because itโs as comfortable and breathable as advertised, wears super loosely, and yet the lines stay put, draping as smoothly as more fitted shirts do.
Itโs more comfortable than a tailored button-down but isnโt sloppy the way an equally comfortable and equally loose t-shirt would be.
Now, I understand that this look can steer you into little-kid-wearing-dadโs-clothes territory, and thatโs why I mentioned this shirt wonโt work for every guy with modest height. Even the model on the website, who is 6โ3โ, is wearing a medium.
Out of the box, the sleeves are super long and go past my knuckles when my arms are hanging straight down while I stand.
Since itโs such a well-made shirt, you might opt to simply get it tailored if it doesnโt fit you perfectly. Thatโs fine too.
Iโm of the belief that most of your clothes should be tailored anyway. The only issue here is that youโll definitely have to move, maybe even shrink, the shirt pocket to fit the new proportions, and not all tailors can do this successfully without leaving marks.
Overall, this shirt is more casual and more stretchy than the average Oxford. Without tailoring, I can definitely pair it with super slim, cuffed chinos,
Again, itโs definitely a youthful kind of casual that isnโt for everyone.
Another option for this shirt is that it goes under a sweater beautifully because of that well-made collar, and more comfortable than regular Oxfords.
Barstool Sports x Sad Boy Denim Jacket
Another collaboration with Barstool for their Sad Boy season subline, this denim jacket is not that different from their core line of denim jackets, so Iโm sure a lot of my insights here can apply to them as well.
This jacket is probably my favorite piece from the line. It has a light wash and vintage-cool look and is the most comfortable denim jacket Iโve ever worn.
Details and Stitching
This jacket is another example of a well-built essential. Zero loose, or even uncut, threads, and buttonholes that are effectively secured with extra gold-toned stitching.
This stitch color is prevalent throughout the entire jacket. Itโs too subtle to call it an accent or a pop of color, but it definitely adds to the visual dimension, compared to if they used a tonal stitch.
The wash features darker moments closer to edges and stitchings, which also provides visual intrigue.
And finally, Barstoolโs Sad Boy motif is on every single silver-toned button. Itโs pretty cute and funny, but not in an overly irreverent way. The Sad Boy is basically just a stick figure that can easily be registered as an abstract design.
Fit and Style
Iโd call this jacket a cleaned-up classic fit. The shoulders are structured, but not overly defined to the point it gives ladiesโ power-suit-from-the-โ80s vibes.
This means I can wear it with just a t-shirt underneath, despite my small shoulders, without it looking like I’m not properly filling it out.
Plus, this gives room for you to layer. I wouldn’t recommend this style-wise, but here’s a good example.
I have to wear a full suit and tie to work and my commute home is a 15-minute walk. One randomly cold evening, all I had with me was this denim jacket, and I was able to comfortably put it over my suit jacket, the sweater vest underneath that, and the shirt-and-tie.
The sleeves are built with a little extra fabric for mobility, but the cuffs are tightly secured with Sad Boy buttons, which means theyโll stay right on your wrists.
And not to tack on another superlative here, but this is the most immediately comfortable denim jacket Iโve ever worn. Out of the box, it felt like someone broke it in for me already.
I actually slept in it on a camping trip. Itโs soft, but not cheap-feeling, and cozy but doesn’t lack structure.
Chino Shorts
The Mugsy Chino Shorts are a standard four-pocket piece made with the brand-promised extra stretch. I tried two of the exact same shorts in the Anders variant (red), and in the Skylines variant (an extra light blue).
Theyโre essentially shorter versions of their chino pants, so a lot of what I mentioned about the Port Stretch Chinos apply here too.
Chino Shorts: Details and Stitching
Again, these guys are classic chino shorts with solid, probably plastic buttons. They, along with the zipper pull, are branded with the Mugsy M.
The stitching is mostly perfect, with extra fortified weaves where it matters most (where two separate fabrics are initially connected, for example). There was a fly-away on the buttonhole of the Anders, as well as on one of the back pockets of the Skylines, but nothing that screamed โbad quality.โ
The front pockets are a scoop style, while the back pockets are, like the chino pants, fortified slits that lead to an interior compartment. One of them is buttonable.
Also like the pant versions, thereโs a blue inner seam, though it canโt really be used as an accent the way it can be when you cuff the pants. In my opinion, these shorts are the perfect length (Iโll go into more detail in the next section).
Chino Shorts: Fit and Style
I ordered the size 28 with a seven-inch length. It was absolutely perfect.
Iโm a really skinny guy, but am relatively larger in the seat and upper thigh area, considering how thin my waist and calves are. I often have to size up with certain pants, then pick up the slack with a belt or tailoring.
Since these shorts are so stretchy, everything fits comfortably.
And speaking of stretchy, you can probably do yoga and gymnastics in these shorts. Along with the chino pants, theyโre the most flexible and comfortable garment that Iโve tried from Mugsy. Since theyโre shorts though, they offer even more mobility.
Style-wise they fall perfectly above my knee. In fact, I often go just a touch longer than these with my shorts. I personally wouldnโt go any shorter than where these end, but thatโs subjective.
The drape is clean, and all of the lines go back into place, when you go from sitting to standing to kneeling.
The Anders is a light, washed-out Nantucket red with a maroon hue, which I really enjoy.
I think itโs a great, non-intimidating color, even if you never wear red bottoms. Itโs tempered enough so it isnโt loud, and the fact theyโre shorts mean they wonโt take up too much real estate on your body.
The Skyline, meanwhile, is a super light blue. Itโs basically white, with the grayish blue more prominent where seams meet.
This gives it a cool semi-ombre effect, which I like because it adds dimension to the otherwise simple color.
Overall, Iโd say I like the shorts as much as I like the chino pants.
Final Thoughts on Mugsy Jeans
Based on Mugsyโs brand promise, to provide comfortable jeans and essentials with a slim and clean fit, Iโd say they hit the mark. The only caveat here is that for small guys like me, Iโd call the fit somewhere in between slim and regular, but itโs still super neat and versatile.
As I mentioned on several occasions, Mugsy elevates relaxed looks using structure, without compromising the comfort factor.
Style-wise, there are good details throughout, like the blue inner stitch of the chinos. The fades and colors look premium, and the Barstool collab adds a touch of youthful fun that’s still wearable for all ages.
And while I found effective uses for the โsmallโ Oxford shirt, I think they would do well to add an XS to their shirt options.
Finally, the pieces are easy-maintenance (mostly cold wash), and the prices are more than fair.
Their Clutch Jeans, which again are immediately comfortable and well-built, are $128 at the time of this writing, which is right around the standard price for a decent pair of denim pants.
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