State & Liberty
State & Liberty is a menswear store for suits and dress shirts made from athletic fabrics.
It's the first Canadian store of the popular Michigan-based brand, which caters largely to athletes who want to take the stuffiness out of formal wear.
The brainchild of two former athletes from Ann Arbour, everything at State & Liberty is perfect if you're the kind of guy with massive, hockey-playing quads that need some space to breathe.
That being said (and despite their Instagram account, which features the likes of NFL player Mike Martin or NHL'er Mitch Marner wearing their stuff) you don't need to have ridiculous biceps or abs of steel to shop here. Shirts and suits are all ridiculously stretchy and moisture-wicking, and are meant to fit perfectly right off the rack. They're for anyone who wants to skip the arduous tailoring process before a wedding or big event.
Everything from their polos ($90), which are named after athletes, to their short-sleeve shirts ($95) are made from four-way stretch material that's a mix of polyster and spandex.
It looks like regular formal wear at first glance, but it feels like a workout shirt to the touch.
Long sleeve shirts ($120) come in over 30 different styles, colours, and patterns. They're machine-washable, and have darting in the back for a roomier upper body and a tighter waist fit.
If you're here shopping with a group of guys, there's even a refreshment section at the back of the store equipped with a big screen TV, likely playing some game or another and some shopping fuel, a.k.a. booze.
Coming in one style and four different colours are suits that are shockingly lightweight. It's $725 for both the pant and the jacket, or $775 if you want one that's fully tailored.
The pants have a silky, pyjama-like feel to them, and are obviously the perfect fashion decision for a July wedding, if you're someone who has to stand outside in the sweltering heat all day.
Since State & Liberty is a brand that caters mostly to Philly, Boston, and Michigan (their weather is pretty similar to ours) shoppers in Toronto will also be getting pea coats and V-neck sweaters come winter.
Hector Vasquez