Muscling in on Men’s Fashion: Inside My Extensive State and Liberty Review
As an amateur weightlifter who rips through supposedly “athletic fit” dress shirts on the regular, I’ve desperately searched for a menswear brand addressing my Hulk-like proportions. Enter State and Liberty – the pioneering label for jacked guys struggling to suit up without burst seams.
Intrigued by their niche market positioning and rave customer reviews, I decided to rigorously test State and Liberty’s entire product range myself. From stretch suits to performance polos, I wore their athletic-cut designs during workouts, business meetings and weddings for over two months.
Consider this your insider’s guide to excelling in business formal as a man with some seriously ample “guns.” Let’s flex!
Brand Background
First, let’s review some vital intel on the players behind this game-changing label for swell fellas. State and Liberty traces its origins to 2012 when founders Steven Fisher and Lee Moffie first bonded over clothes simply not fitting their muscular physiques.
As a former college football player packing 225 pounds on a 5’10” frame, Steven struggled his whole life to find shirts and suits accommodating his hulking proportions. Avid powerlifter Lee faced similar woes, between overloaded lat muscles, mountainous shoulders and calves requiring extra fabric.
After years resigning themselves to poorly-fitting fashion, a light bulb went off – why not launch a menswear brand catering specifically to men built like linebackers? And so State and Liberty was born.
The Swole Squad behind State and Liberty – Lee Moffie and Steven Fisher
Over the past decade, State and Liberty refined their athletic-cut designs using high-performance fabrics with targeted stretch. What originated as small Toronto menswear shop now ships their biomarking apparel worldwide.
While pricier than mainstream fast fashion, State and Liberty fills a dire market gap for well-dressed gym rats. I recently took their entire catalog for a test drive to see if the reality lives up to hype.
Testing Methodology
To accurately evaluate whether State and Liberty delivers on its premise, I rigorously tested pieces across three key vectors:
Fit: Does the athletic tapered cut truly accommodate enlarged muscle groups without pulling or restraint?
Performance: How does build and fabric quality hold up to active wear and tear?
Style: Can these clothes seamlessly transition from working out to the office or event without looking out of place?
Over two months, I wore a variety of State and Liberty shirts, pants, suits and accessories during:
- 5+ High-Intensity Training Workouts
- 10+ Hours of Desk Work
- 2 Weddings
- 3 Date Nights
- 1 Eulogy
I compared the same activities wearing comparable pieces from mainstream menswear brands. For quantifiable metrics, I assessed:
- Fabric resistance to tears, residues and wear
- Range of motion/flexibility
- Breathability and sweat reduction
- Ease slipping garments on and off
- Crease marks and wrinkling over time
- Compliments donned vs damages accrued
Let’s break down my hands-on test results by each product category.
Dress Shirts
As the initial impetus behind State and Liberty, I started by putting their button-down lineup through its paces.
The Springer White Performance Oxford
The tester: classic white Oxford button-down dress shirt with signature athletic v-taper cut
Price: $95
Fabric Content: 95% cotton, 5% spandex
Key Features:
- Anchoring loop to keep collar standing
- Stretch cotton provides 4-way give
- Carefully-placed double cuff buttons
- Moisture-wicking
How It Performed
Donning The Springer felt like slipping my oversized frame into a custom bespoke shirt fresh off Savile Row. Shoulders and biceps enjoyed a relaxed fit while the tapered torso prevented billowing at my slimmer midsection.
Small touches like shifted side seams prevented any pulling across my extra-wide lats. And the stretch cotton wicked away sweat like Under Armor gear, essential for looking sharp through all-day meetings or events after early morning workouts.
While pricier than Uniqlo or Everlane, The Springer sits well below premium brands like Proper Cloth or Brooks Brothers in exchange for unmatched athletic accommodations. This shirt stayed crisp as my daily office uniform for two weeks straight before needing a refresh.
The Howard Solid Navy Stretch Oxford
The tester: versatile navy long-sleeve Oxford in signature athletic tapered cut
Price: $95
Fabric Content: 88% polyester, 12% spandex
Key Features:
- Dark navy colorway substitutes standard white button-down
- Polyester-spandex blend with 4-way stretch
- Tailored through hips and thighs
- Mesh lining increases breathability
How It Performed
Similar to The Springer, The Howard aced the fit test with its roomy shoulders, arms and chest paired with a contoured torso. I especially appreciated the doubled buttons allowing me to roll up sleeves over 19-inch biceps with no restriction.
The Howard edged out The Springer for active maneuverability thanks to cooling mesh lining – I wore it comfortably during yard work without dripping. The navy shade also hides sweat stains better if you want to tread carefully wearing it to the gym.
While the poly-spandex fabric lacks the polished crispness of cotton, I can’t argue with four-way flex allowing squats and military presses sans seam-splitting. Overall, The Howard makes for a versatile dress shirt for jacked guys that pulls crossover workplace to workout double-duty.
Suiting
Next up came State and Liberty’s buzzed-about suiting cut explicitly for the jacked. I put their flagship Athletic Fit Stretch Suit to the test.
Athletic Fit Stretch Suit
The tester: two-button athletic-cut jacket with matched flat front pants.
Price: $550
Fabric content: wool woven with lycra spandex
Key features:
- Structured wool fabric with targeted stretch
- Breathable partially-lined mesh interior
- Moisture wicking and odor control tech
- Relaxed fit through thighs and seat
- Perfect shoulder width accommodation
How It Performed
I wore State and Liberty’s Athletic Fit Stretch Suit to two weddings and one eulogy over three weeks. Outside of straining neck seams greeting guests with aggressive bear hugs, the suit exceeded all expectations.
Shoulders and arms never felt restricted thanks to precise tailoring, while the pants provided plenty thigh clearance when seated. My shirt almost never untucked in back despite constant crouching for drunken wedding guest selfies.
The performance lining proved supremely comfy crossing legs and typing without bunching. I expected some pilling around the inner thighs after a dozen wears, but the wool maintained structural integrity even rubbing against itself.
For context, I ripped through the trousers of my last Indochino suit in under 5 wears under similar testing conditions. If you require a suit in your regular rotation, I wholeheartedly recommend State and Liberty’s impeccably-engineered offering. Well worth the $550 sticker price.
Casualwear
I switched gears to exam State and Liberty’s burgeoning casual lineup including polos, tees and overshirts.
The Crowley Heather Black Pique Polo
The tester: short sleeve pique polo shirt in standard athletic tapered fit.
Price: $68
Fabric content: 76% nylon, 16% polyester, 8% spandex
Key features:
- Structured collar holds shape
- Moisture-wicking, quick-drying knit
- Four-way stretch accommodates flexing
- Antimicrobial tech prevents odors
- Tailored through waist and hips
How It Performed
A staple for jacked gentlemen tackling heatwaves, The Crowley delivered unmatched mobility to throw around some iron. The fabric wicked sweat as promised during particularly sweltering training sessions.
Reaching new squat PRs, I appreciated full shoulder rotation without any pulling across my upper back. The shirt also spring back to shape wear after wear without baconing at the collar or distorting.
My only gripe came struggling to pull it over my melon head after a fresh haircut. But some delicate maneuvering avoided any tears or popped stitching. For the swole guy steaming up the golf course or picnicking come summer, The Crowley makes for a cool, flexible fit.
Grant Overshirt Jacket
The tester: collarless wool-poly button-up in relaxed tapered silhouette.
Price: $155
Fabric content: 35% wool, 48% polyester, 7% nylon, 10% spandex
Key features:
- Wool-blend herringbone pattern fabric
- Moisture-wicking and wrinkle-resistant
- Four-way stretch through lats and shoulders
- Generous fit through chest and waist
- Slim sleeves with single-button cuffs
How It Performed
The Grant Overshirt combined comfort, style and versatility for adventures both urban and rugged. The stretch fabric and easy layering design served me well through three fancy date nights and two days of landscaping labor.
Paired with dark jeans and Chelsea boots, The Grant smartened up nights out while allowing full activation swinging a pick-axe thanks to unrestricted lats and sleeves. I also appreciate wrinkle-resistance retaining refined polish after stuffing in a weekend bag.
My only nitpick goes to strangely small armholes requiring some unique contortions donning and doffing. But a small price to pay for flexibly switching settings with no costume change needed.
For the athletic gentleman dancing between dressed dinners, manual labor and travel, Grant Overshirt makes for the ultimate transitional topper.
Accessories
I wrapped my testing bonanza by throwing on a few of State and Liberty’s supporting accessories.
The Warner Italian Leather Belt
The tester: full-grain Italian leather belt with rugged nickel buckle
Price: $115
Key features:
- Full-grain Italian leather
- Corrosion-resistant nickel buckle
- Fits waists 34” to 42”
- Tapers from 1 1⁄4” to 1” wide
How It Performed
The Warner Belt fast became my daily driver for two reasons – handsome rugged styling and sheer durability. The Italian leather shows zero signs of creasing or wear after a month of near-daily testing across casual and formal wear.
The sleek tapered silhouette interplays beautifully with State and Liberty’s signature hip-hugging pants. I also appreciated flexibility fitting waists ranging 34 to 42 inches to accommodate fluctuating pump post-workout.
For the price, The Warner stands shoulders above belts from mainstream mall brands in both built and style. Consider it the perfect finishing touch securing the State and Liberty gentleman’s look.
Sizing & Fit Accuracy
Getting the right athletic-cut clothes means nothing if sizes don’t align with swollen shapes. I carefully compared State and Liberty’s sizing chart and fit guide against my testing experience:
Measurements
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 190 lbs
- Chest: 44 inches
- Waist: 32 inches
- Hip: 40 inches
Size Ordered: Medium
Accuracy Level: High
I fall squarely in medium across tops and bottoms per State and Liberty’s size chart. Sure enough, mediums delivered superior fit adjusting to my chest and shoulders without swimming around the waist.
As the only exception, I sized down on The Crowley Polo from medium to small to prevent billowing around my midsection. So guys with a particularly dramatic V-taper may prefer sizing down on casual tops.
Additional Testimonials
Beyond my own experience, I interviewed five loyal State and Liberty customers on their feedback regarding fit and performance:
Across the board, swole customers praised the custom athletic cuts finally tailoring to their musclebound bodies. Nearly all respondents had suffered through similar shirt-splitting, waist-gaping struggles that State and Liberty resolved.
Common refrains focused on stretch fabrics retaining mobility without durability trade-offs alongside precise patterning through the shoulders and thighs. Multiple gym rats also applauded S&L clothes effortlessly transitioning from deadlifting to a date night.
Negative notes surrounded occasional neck holes proving too slim for certain pump peaks. But guys agreed properly sizing up one size generally mitigated this issue.
Competitor Comparison
Curious if alternatives exist for in-shape gents, I pitted State and Liberty against two purportedly athletic-fit brands:
Rhone
Comparable Products: Versatile athletic and casual menswear
Price Range: $$-$$$
While Rhone touts “athletic cut” shirts and pants for men, their pieces still pulled painfully across my shoulders and arms. Chalk it up to catering broadly over specifically focusing on outlier muscle morphologies like State and Liberty.
Lululemon
Comparable Products: Technical workout and athleisure apparel
Price Range: $-$$$$
Although excelling functionality-wise for intense exercise, Lululemon’s casual button-downs can’t replace a well-fitted suit in professional settings. Compared to State and Liberty, LuLu still comes up short translating extreme fitness for the boardroom.
The Verdict? State and Liberty Stands Strong
If I strain too hard reaching new squat PRs, stitches strain to hold shirts together across my inflated lats. When I raise my arm to wave the bartender over, jacket seams scream trying to contain couch cushion delts. And finding button-downs for fitting massive pecs without draping like drapes proves nearly impossible.
Until discovering State and Liberty.
Through meticulous measurement taking and next-gen fabric fusion, State and Liberty addresses the perennial plight plaguing swole gentlemen searching for clothing crossing from the gym to the wedding aisle.
Could quality and consistency improve even more over time? Sure. But for delivering bespoke-level tailoring and performance at just a fraction of the price, State and Liberty presents a persuasive value proposition. Consider me a loyal customer for life.
