State & Liberty vs Mizzen+Main: Which Athleisure Dress Shirt is Better?

10th grade winter formal: I’m wearing a dress shirt that cost $3. Its sleeves are huge, the body is tight, and you can see my nipples through it. 

Disaster. 

I was 15, so I don’t blame myself. But the sad fact is that I still see guys who basically dress that way as professionals. These dudes are swiping their badge to get into the office and they’re wearing the worst possible fitting shirt. 

Of course, you’re at a much higher level than that. But it still begs the question: are we presenting ourselves in the best way possible?

It doesn’t take much these days: a reasonably fit guy wearing a nice button down turns a lot more heads than you’d think. And it all has to do with finding the right fit. 

Two brands that are duking it out for the best athletic dress shirt are State & Liberty, and Mizzen+Main. 

I’ve had shirts from each of these brands for several years, so I’m going to break down my experience with each so you can decide which one is right for you. 

State & Liberty vs Mizzen+Main Overview

State & Liberty 

State & Liberty got their start as a dress shirt brand for guys with lean, athletic frames. 

If you’re a dude with death-star delts and jacked pecs, you know how difficult it can be to find a dress shirt that doesn’t pop the top buttons or just look like an oversized bag in the torso. 

The stretched out look is great if you’re about to do a Hulk impression at the part, but it doesn’t make for a clean, professional style. 

State & Liberty is all about the fit. You get more room in the chest while still maintaining a flattering taper toward the waist. Their shirts are meant to reinforce that masculine “upside down triangle” shape, with wider shoulders and a more narrow waist. 

That said, you don’t need to be muscular to pull off a State & Liberty shirt. I mean, you can just take a look at me. If you’re somewhat fit, their shirts offer a more tailored look than anything you can buy off the rack. 

Beyond the fit, State & Liberty makes their shirts with four-way stretch performance fabrics that are super flexible and comfortable. Plus, they wick sweat away, so you don’t need to worry about pit stains or just sweating all the way through your shirt. 

If you’re a commuter and spend a lot of time walking through the city, the high percentage of spandex ensures that the shirt doesn’t stretch out toward the bottom or become misshapen by the end of the day. 

Overall, I’d say that State & Liberty’s style is geared toward the guy in his late 20’s and early 30’s—someone who’s on their way up and making a name for themselves. The designs and fits are a bit more bold and adventurous than Mizzen+Main.

Mizzen+Main

Mizzen+Main is the first brand that really put performance fabric dress shirts on the map. They’re the big daddy in the space. 

Where State & Liberty has stuck more firmly in the professional space, Mizzen+Main is at the point where the kids are in high school and basically taking care of themselves, so Mizzen can finally kick back a bit and enjoy a few rounds of golf. 

Sure, Mizzen + Main still has that professional edge. But they’re more relaxed now. And I mean that in more ways than one. 

Mizzen + Main has a wider variety of relaxed styles like short sleeve shirts, polos, and shorts. Phil Mickelson is one of their big spokesmen (or at least was before this happened). So the brand has deep roots in the golf scene.

And it makes sense why. You can’t crank it back and smash a drive if your shoulders are locked in by your shirt. 

But with that 12% spandex fabric, your swing is as free as a birdie. 

Mizzen is also more relaxed with their fits. Not only do their sizes run on the larger side (especially compared to State & Liberty), but they also have less taper. 

If State & Liberty is for the young bucks in their late 20’s and early 30’s, I’d say Mizzen + Main caters more toward the distinguished gents in their 30’s to 40s—still at their professional peak, but also willing to relax a little more. 

Athletic Fit Dress Shirt Features Face to Face

I’m going to focus only on State & Liberty and Mizzen+Main’s dress shirts, since those are their most popular items.

Plus, I think understanding the differences between their dress shirts also speaks to the entirety of both brands’ lines. I’ll make specific notes on standout pieces for each brand where I think the product is exceptional. 

Style

State & Liberty shirts have a bit of edge to them. Their patterns and style are geared more toward the young sales star who’s been racking win after win. 

Compared to Mizzen+Main, I’d say that State & Liberty has more of an east coast vibe. Mizzen is a little less serious. 

Sure, they have plenty of solid powder blue dress shirts to cover the basics, but they branch out more into polka-dots, stripes, and patterns. Mizzen + Main is more partial to throwing in a little color here and there. 

Overall, State & Liberty is geared more toward the professional who’s looking for a great set of dress shirts to wear day in and day out at the office. It helps that they look fantastic at happy hour, too. 

Mizzen+Main has plenty of professional looks, but they’re less serious and more approachable. That said, “approachable and agreeable” might not be what you’re after. 

But the biggest difference between the style of the two brands really comes down to the fit. 

Fit

Mizzen + Main is a bigger brand with stores all around the country. So when they make a new shirt, it has to appeal to a much wider customer base. 

Because of that, Mizzen+Main shirts run a bit large. I wouldn’t say they’re a full size larger than normal, they’re on the far end of the spectrum. 

For example, I’m solid size L at 6’1, 200lbs. Here’s what the Mizzen + Main Versa Polo looks like on me:

You can see that it fits well in the shoulders and has a relaxed fit in the sleeves. There’s plenty of room in the torso, and the shirt has enough length that it’d be no problem to tuck in. 

For an “athletic fit” shirt, I’d say this is pretty loose. 

Compare that to a size L from State & Liberty:

You can see there’s a lot more taper to State & Liberty’s dress shirt. It’s not exactly form fitting, but it certainly helps if you’re in shape and have done your crunches for the day. 

So the best fit is going to come down to your body type. 

If you’re a lean guy who gets in his weights and cardio, then State & Liberty has a flattering fit that you can’t really find elsewhere. 

But I didn’t wear my State & Liberty shirt to Christmas dinner because once your belly starts expanding, the fit can take a u-turn from flattering to something less desirable. 

Mizzen+Main is a better brand if you’re rocking a dad-bod, or if you’re still working your way to being in-shape. 

Comfort

Both brands are basically the same when it comes to comfort. Mizzen+Main’s more generous fits give you a bit more breathing room, which can help a lot with your confidence and comfort throughout the day. 

But comparing the fabrics against one another, they both are breathable, stretchy, and feel soft to the skin. 

Mizzen+Main’s shirts have more spandex in them (12% compared to State & Liberty’s 6%), so they can stretch out more. But practically speaking, I don’t think that added stretch capacity makes a difference in real world scenarios. 6% spandex offers enough stretch for anything you’d encounter through your day, unless you’re a contortionist. 

Customer Service

Both brands offer free 30-day returns and exchanges, and they’re both quite responsive if you try to return your shirts online.

Mizzen+Main has a bit of an edge because they actually have physical stores across the US you can shop with. But I do all my shopping online and haven’t walked into a clothing store in years. 

At the time of writing, Mizzen+Main is offering free shipping on orders over $100, and State & Liberty is offering the same on orders over $150. 

So on customer service, I have to give the edge to Mizzen + Main. 

State & Liberty vs Mizzen + Main: Which is Best for You?

If you’re a fit young go-getter, then State & Liberty is the brand for you.

If you’re a slightly older go-getter, but you’re also interested in being a go-golfer, then Mizzen+Main is the better brand. 

Both brands are similar—they both offer excellent fits and their shirts look crisp and professional. Plus, they’re some of the most comfortable dress shirts you can own. 

I’d look to State & Liberty if you’re trying to build out your professional wardrobe. Their shirts are a little less costly, and they have more professional styles available. Plus, when you find the right fit, you can easily build out your entire wardrobe with them. 

Mizzen+Main has some fantastic professional looks, but they really nail it with their golfing line and some of their more relaxed clothes like polos, shorts, and chinos.

Mizzen+Main also has a more relaxed fit to them (while still maintaining some taper), so if you’re not very toned, you’ll probably feel more comfortable in a Mizzen+Main shirt. 

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