As a long-time denim enthusiast, I‘m always on the hunt for the elusive perfect pair of jeans. You know the ones – stylish yet comfortable, well-made from premium materials, and versatile enough to dress up or down. The kind of jeans you can live in all day, every day.
So when I first heard the buzz about Mugsy Jeans and their promise of "the most comfortable jeans ever," I knew I had to put them to the test. Could these upstart jeans dethrone my designer denim collection? I got my hands on several pairs of Mugsy jeans, wore them in all kinds of settings, and even compared notes with other Mugsy-wearing friends.
Here‘s my honest, in-depth Mugsy Jeans review with all the details you need to decide if they‘re worth the hype and your hard-earned cash. I‘ll cover the brand story, their entire product line-up, the materials and construction techniques that make Mugsy unique, sizing and fit tips, care instructions, the customer experience, and wrap it up with my final verdict.
But first, a little background…
The Mugsy Jeans Origin Story
Like many innovative products, Mugsy Jeans were born out of a personal frustration. Founder Leo Tropeano, a Chicago-based entrepreneur, was fed up with uncomfortable, ill-fitting jeans that restricted his movement and just didn‘t feel good to wear all day.
"I remember one day at the office, a co-worker made a comment about my baggy jeans and how sloppy they looked. But when I tried on slimmer, trendier jeans, they were so stiff and constricting. That was my lightbulb moment – what if I could create jeans that looked amazing but felt as comfortable as sweatpants?" Tropeano told me.
He spent the next year researching high-tech performance fabrics and construction techniques. Through trial and error, he developed a proprietary cotton-spandex blend with 4-way stretch and other comfort-enhancing features. The first run of Mugsy Jeans launched in 2016 and sold out almost immediately.
Since then, Mugsy has expanded into joggers, khakis, shorts and even soft, stretchy hoodies, all designed with the same ethos: clothes should look sharp without sacrificing freedom of movement or all-day comfort. The brand has been featured in Men‘s Health, Esquire, Forbes and other mens‘ fashion bibles.
Mugsy Jeans: Look Good, Feel Good Features
So what exactly makes Mugsy Jeans so different from the rigid, restrictive denim most of us are used to? It all comes down to the materials and design.
The foundation is Mugsy‘s signature cotton-spandex denim, which has a whopping 30% more stretch than most "stretch" jeans on the market. But it‘s not just about stretch – it‘s about recovery. Cheap stretch jeans lose their shape and sag after a few wears. Mugsy‘s denim snaps back to its original silhouette wear after wear.
The jeans are also cut and sewn differently, with special attention paid to common "pinch points" like the waistband, crotch, and thighs. There‘s extra room built in where guys need it most. The waistband is soft and flexible, with just enough give to avoid that dreaded waist squeeze after a big meal.
Other premium details include reinforced seams, heavy-duty zippers and hardware, and the absence of scratchy tags and labels. Even the pockets are designed with hidden stretch panels for easier access.
The result is a pair of jeans that moves with your body, never bags out, and basically feels like you‘re wearing your favorite sweats. As Tropeano puts it, "our goal is to remove all the common pain points and distractions of traditional denim. We want you to put on your Mugsys in the morning and then not think about them again as you go about your day."
The Mugsy Jeans Line-up
Mugsy now offers a complete wardrobe of elevated basics for the denim-obsessed yet comfort-seeking modern man. Here‘s a closer look at their core products:
Mugsy Jeans
The OG product that started it all. Mugsy jeans come in straight, slim and relaxed fits in a range of washes from deep indigo raw selvedge to light vintage stonewash. Best-sellers include:
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The Studio Blues: A dark, dressy jean with contrast stitching. Looks like raw denim but with secret stretch.
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The Livewires: A lighter blue wash with subtle fading, ideal for casual Fridays and weekends.
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The Black Aces: Sleek, black rinse jeans that can sub for trousers on dressier occasions.
Mugsy Chinos & Khakis
The same 4-way stretch and hidden comfort features as the jeans, but in dressier, office-friendly khaki and colors. Best-sellers include:
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The Barretts: Classic, straight fit chinos in khaki, olive, grey and navy.
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The Morgans: A five-pocket chino jean hybrid in neutral colors.
Mugsy Joggers
Probably the most sweatpant-like offering, the joggers combine Mugsy‘s stretch twill with a casual, slightly tapered silhouette, drawstring waist and elastic ankle cuffs. They look like chinos but feel like loungewear. Available in neutral solid colors.
Mugsy Shorts
Chino and denim short versions of Mugsy‘s signature bottoms, in 7" and 9" inseams. Stretchy, moisture-wicking and breathable for sticky summer days.
Mugsy Hoodies
Mugsy makes hoodies? Yep, and they‘re unsurprisingly just as comfy and secretly high-performance as the bottoms. Crafted from soft-brushed French Terry with a hint of stretch, they‘re cut slim for a more elevated look than your average hoodie. Nice details like metal-tipped drawcords and spandex cuffs help them keep their shape.
Mugsy Jeans: The Comfort Test
Of course, the million dollar question is: do Mugsy jeans live up to their bold comfort claims? After wearing multiple pairs for months, I have to say – yeah, they kinda do.
I wore my Mugsy Studio Blues on a cross-country flight and was amazed at how they never pinched, squeezed or sagged, even after hours of sitting. I could focus on my book and not on adjusting my pants every five minutes.
I sported the Live Wires to the park with my kids and was able to sprint, crouch and crawl around without my jeans screaming in protest. Normally, I‘d change into sweats the minute I got home, but I happily kept my Mugsys on until bedtime.
I even wore the Black Aces to a friend‘s outdoor summer wedding with a crisp white shirt and felt totally appropriate, comfortable and cool (in both senses of the word). I got compliments all night, and no one suspected I was basically wearing fancy sweats.
Now, to be totally transparent, Mugsy jeans are not quite as soft and loungewear-like as my worn-to-shreds weekend sweats. They‘re still jeans, with the heft and structure of denim. But what they are is the most comfortable, easy-wearing pair of real jeans I‘ve ever put on my body.
I have athletic, hockey player thighs and glutes and often have issues with tightness and constriction in slim jeans, even "stretch" ones. But my Mugsys truly move with me without binding, pinching or restricting my range of motion. And they recover their shape wear after wear without bagging out.
Some other reviewers complained that Mugsy jeans actually fit them too tight, but I think that‘s more about choosing the wrong fit vs. an issue with the jeans themselves. I went with my normal size in the straight fit and they‘re perfect – trim and tailored but not sausage casing tight. If you prefer a slimmer look, size down. For a more relaxed fit, size up.
The Mugsy Jeans Customer Experience
In my Mugsy jeans research, I came across overwhelmingly positive customer reviews – their jeans have over 8,000 5-star reviews and counting. Standout comments include:
"I now own 5 pairs and have stopped wearing any other jeans. Seriously." – Michael R.
"These are a godsend for a guy like me with bigger legs. I can move!" – Darren T.
"Wore them on a 12 hour flight and felt like I was in PJs, but arrived looking pulled together." – Jonah M.
"Finally, black jeans I can wear to work without feeling like I‘m auditioning for a metal band." – Damon W.
In the event that your Mugsys don‘t work out, the brand offers easy, free returns on unworn jeans within 60 days, or free size exchanges on first orders within the US. Their website even features a helpful interactive quiz to help you zero in on the best size and fit for your body type.
You can buy Mugsy jeans directly from their website (mugsyjeans.com) or at their flagship store in Chicago. Domestic shipping is free over $125, and they offer international shipping to over 200 countries.
One thing to note – Mugsy only makes jeans for men at this time. Sorry ladies! But given their runaway success in the menswear market, I wouldn‘t be surprised if a women‘s line was on the horizon.
How Do Mugsy Jeans Stack Up to the Competition?
So how do Mugsy jeans compare to other premium denim brands geared towards comfort-seeking guys? Here‘s my take:
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Vs. traditional designer denim (7 For All Mankind, True Religion, etc): Way more comfortable and flexible, without sacrificing construction quality. Better value.
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Vs. mainstream mall brands (Levi‘s, Gap, American Eagle): Significantly more stretch and shape retention. Elevated, modern cuts and washes. Pricier, but you get what you pay for.
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Vs. trendy direct-to-consumer basics brands (Everlane, Mott & Bow): On par comfort-wise, perhaps a bit more high-tech. Wider variety of fits. Mid-range price point.
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Vs. niche "performance denim" brands (DUER, Barbell): Very comparable – prioritizing stretch, movement and wearability for active lifestyles. Versatile, stylish cuts you can wear beyond the gym.
In the landscape of men‘s premium jeans in 2023, Mugsy has carved out a compelling niche for guys who want to look put-together without sacrificing all-day comfort. They‘re not the cheapest jeans on the rack, but for the quality, performance and style factor, they‘re a solid value in my book.
Mugsy Jeans: The Final Verdict
To sum up this lengthy Mugsy jeans review, if you‘re a denim-loving dude who‘s tired of feeling confined in slim-cut, so-called "fashion" jeans, Mugsy is absolutely worth checking out.
No, they‘re not going to feel exactly like your rattiest loungewear. Yes, they‘re a bit of an investment compared to fast fashion denim. But in my experience, they deliver on the promise of jeans that fit and feel fantastic from sunup to sundown.
The 30% stretch denim, thoughtful cut and hidden comfort details make a noticeable difference, especially if you have an athletic or husky build. Basically, if you‘ve ever uttered the phrase "I can‘t wait to get home and take off these tight jeans," you‘re the ideal Mugsy customer.
I personally love that I can now wear polished, modern-fitting jeans in any setting – from presenting at work to hanging at the pub to hiking on the weekend – without constantly wishing I was in sweatpants instead. Mugsy jeans have earned their place as my go-to daily drivers.
Intrigued? The only way to know for sure if Mugsy jeans are right for you is to try them yourself. With their risk-free return policy and helpful fit guide, you‘ve got nothing to lose (except maybe your other jeans to the donation bin). Here‘s hoping your denim drawer will be a little comfier, stretchier and stylish from here on out.
