State & Liberty Clothing — Local services in Washington

Although the clothes are pretty amazing and they've certainly got a lock on a niche market, the real reason I am giving this store (really company) FIVE STARS is because of their excellent customer service.

I've been a State and Liberty customer for almost two years. I bought my first S&L shirt back in 2017 and it has been my favorite shirt (not just dress shirt) since I purchased it. Following that, I've bought two pairs of their dress pants (one blue and one black), and one of their jackets.

The pants are so comfortable that you might think you've changed into pajamas when you get home and relax on the couch with them. They literally feel more comfortable than the sweat pants I am wearing right now as I couch commando this review.

The look of the shirts and the pants is excellent! The jacket pants combo I purchased looks like it is fit for the red carpet at the Oscars.

But back to the customer service portion of this review. I have had two issues with the clothes in my time as a customer and the company has been so wonderful in taking care of me! The first issue I had was with washing the pants with my shirt. It wasn't the first time that I had washed the pants, but for some reason, the dye from the pants came off onto my favorite shirt. I was devastated when it came out of the wash!

I wrote S&L and they replaced the shirt (no questions asked) and replicated the custom stitching that I had gotten on the shirt (it was a part of a set for a groomsmen gift). I was so ecstatic to receive my new shirt in the mail just shortly after the other one had been stained in the wash (which was really my fault).

The second issue I had was with the pants and jacket. I purchased the pants and the jacket seperately. As much as I would have liked to, I would have totally worn the one without the other, but I didn't in an effort to make sure that I washed them together and they wore together the same. The first time I wore the combo it was awesome. I looked like a million bucks at a friend's wedding and felt like I was wearing house pajamas. Unfortunately, in accordance with S&L's direction, I took the jacket and the pants to the dry cleaners for cleaning after their one and only wear. Since I saved both articles only for special occasions, I didn't realize until months later that after that single wear and trip to the dry cleaners, the jacket and the pants were both now too small for me! I had fallen in love with the combo after just one wear and now I wasn't gonna be able to wear either of them anymore!

As soon as I got a chance, I took the jacket and pants into S&L and explained the issue. Understandably, they had some concerns because I had purchased the articles over 1.5 years before returning them (even though I truly only wore them once and cleaned them once). But after just a short round of questioning, they agreed to replace the jacket and the pants for me. Note to y'all: don't take the pants to the dry cleaners and make sure the dry cleaners understand the unique nature of the fabrics and specific care they require. Again, this company knocked my socks off by making sure that my concerns were alleviated and replacing both articles of clothing.

I cannot say enough for the customer service philosophy they have at S&L. What a wonderful company offering beautiful &...

A Mixed Experience

UPDATE: 8/9/24 So I've had this suit for a few months. I've worn it at least twice, and unfortunately, I'm not impressed. There are some design flaws in the suit that make it uncomfortable to wear. I won't go through everything, but the primary issue is the lining in the sleeves.

The lining, especially in the sleeves is very "grippy". I noticed that any amount of reaching results in the suit sleeve retreating up my arm and staying there. Whereas with other suits, the lining is "slippery" enough to allow the sleeve to slide back down. It's very annoying. As an experiment, I wore it with a short sleeve shirt thinking it may be able to slide down my skin easier - not the case. Makes the suit very uncomfortable and annoying. Because if that, I will not buy another State & Liberty suit, and this, coupled with the initial experience gives me a sense of buyers remorse.

Introduction: If you are reading reviews for this company, I'll make the assumption that you know the difference between alterations, tailored, and bespoke. I recently purchased an off-the-rack suit with alterations from State & Liberty on May 5th, and I'd like to share my experience with you.

The Store and Process: I made an appointment and arrived 15 minutes early. To my delight, they got me started right away. My attendant was very gracious and engaging. Her knowledge of men's suits was midrange - if you're new to the process, she would definitely be knowledgeable enough to guide you. For those who know their way around the process, she would serve as a helpful second opinion.

The Waiting Game: I'm accustomed to buying suits all over the world. In most places, I can get a bespoke suit, complete from scratch, in less than a week. Having to wait over 3 weeks for minor alterations (pants hemmed, jacket hemmed, waist taken in) is slightly ridiculous to me, especially considering that I paid close to $1,000 for the suit. I understand that they are not generally competing with international clothiers, but c'mon.

The Suit Itself: As to be expected, the suit fits very nicely and is very comfortable. I bought it specifically because I was looking for a lightweight travel suit, and it fits that bill.

Packaging and Presentation: One area where State & Liberty fell short was in their packaging. The jacket wasn't even folded properly (see images), meaning there is a way to fold a jacket to prevent creasing in very noticeable areas. Of course, I will be taking it to be cleaned and pressed, but again, I'm accustomed to that being done by the clothier as a courtesy.

Conclusion: For someone who has access to clothiers from around the world, I would not recommend this company, particularly if you value quick turnaround times and attention to detail in packaging. However, if you're new to the suit-buying process or prioritize comfort and fit, State & Liberty could be a good option, provided you're willing to wait for simple alterations and handle the cleaning and...

Avoid for Custom Suits – Total Waste of Time and Money!

The first fitting experience was good. When I received the suit for the second fitting, everything was wrong—the pants and jacket were a mess. But they took my measurements again and expedited the jacket, and also worked on the pants.

This is the third time I am at the store, and I uploaded pictures to help you make an informed decision: -The pants were provided "bunched up" inside a bag, wrinkled. You can see in the picture how they looked when I had to hang them up. -When I had the pants measured for a slim fit, they only took measurements around the calves. I pointed out why they didn’t take more from the back behind the knee, but I was told it wasn’t needed and they would make it look good. The result? Look at the picture. Weird look behind the knee from the side. -The jacket had a snag, and its overall look was just bad. Check the pictures. When the jacket is buttoned up, it creates an "X" shape. Also, you can clearly see the snag...

I was told the jacket looked great, and that they didn't see any issues with the suit. Well, I complained about the jacket and was told they can't do anything else about it. I got a story about how the tailor recently dealt with a similar case and nothing could be done, so they wouldn’t send it back to the tailor for me. The issue, they claim, is due to "posture." I was even told this is common, as many employees have the same problem from time to time.

I insisted, and got the same excuse, this is how it looks on me, that's it, and looks good on their end.

This is a wedding suit, by the way. I’m getting married in two weeks.

The customer service today was terrible. I was gaslighted. For the record, I have bought custom suits from two different countries and four different stores, and none of my jackets or pants look like this.

I know they won’t refund me—during the previous fitting, they told me all purchases are final—and it’s clear they want to get rid of me without sending the suit back to a tailor. So I left. $800 down the drain.

Conclusion: if you want a custom suit and to look like I do after three fittings, go ahead. For anything basic, based on other reviews, they do well. If you are muscular, stay away.

This was a very...