"Too poor to afford cheap things." Have you heard that one? It's attributed to working fishermen around the Mediterranean, regarding their tools and clothing, and is known as the "boots theory" of socioeconomics: if you buy good boots instead of cheapies, you'll actually spend less money over time. Plus your feet will stay warm and dry. Bonus: you'll look sharp, too. I'm still wearing flannels, hoodies, jackets, and jeans that I bought from this shop since it opened in 2012. They don't look as good as when I bought them... THEY LOOK BETTER. Worried it's pretentious? I've found it to be the friendliest, realest, most helpful, most easygoing brick-and-mortar shopping experience I've had in the Bay Area. I usually come in on my way home from the gym, wearing ratty athleisure, from brands they don't carry, and I've never caught an ounce of vibe. Most of the staff have been here for years; that says something too. Old-world ethos, old-school service. We're lucky that businesses like this one -- and the craftspeople whose goods they stock -- still exist. Wishing this fine enterprise many more years. read more

Jake was really helpful & we had an excellent shopping experience. We came for jeans for my partner and we left with the perfect pair -- as well as getting all my questions about denim answered. Overall, the trip was one of the better shopping experiences I have had. They know their stuff and pack a lot of selection in a relatively small store. The one comment I have that doesn't have to do at all with the customer service (which was top-notch) is that the website makes it look like there are fewer options in the store than you actually have (because of what it says is "unavailable for pick up"). So, I'm extra happy we live nearby and made our way in to look. read more

Clothes are kinda cool and extremely overpriced. What stood out the most were the snooty, snobby employees LOL. just dirty looks and no greetings. My partner and I who have both worked in fashion and felt very unwelcomed. Do better. Especially when people are spending a pretty penny, might be worth offering friendly service. read more

Standard & Strange is easily one of the most unique and inspiring clothing stores in the Bay Area. The selection is carefully curated, from Japanese denim to premium boots, everything here feels special and built to last. I recently picked up a pair of Rolling Dub Trio shoes, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. Eden-Marcel went above and beyond. Super friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the products. If you appreciate quality craftsmanship and great service, this is the place to shop. I'll absolutely be back. Great job! read more

Have purchased several times from S&S over past year and i've been very impressed with their customer service - staff really wants to do right by the customer and ensure you love what you get. Will definitely continue to shop here. read more

Traveled from LA to Berkeley to visit this store and I must say it was not only a warm welcome by Manager Jen and Eden -Marcel but some of the most authentic un rote service I've experienced in a long time. Eden-Marcel assisted me with some amazing Donkey Puncher boots whilst Jen unbeknownst to us took the initiative to look up and print 20-30 dinning spots for us during our Bay Area visit. Living in a climate of political turmoil, of social disconnect, it was so encouraging to feel appreciated and sense the goodness that can still be prevalent. Oh and by the way the store's inventory was amazing! thank you Standard and Strange! Thank you Jen and Eden-Marcel! read more

Standard & Strange - Men's Clothing Near Me - Berkeley, California

The best men's clothing store in the Bay Area. The staff are knowledgeable and very friendly. They care about the products they sell, and working with you to find the perfect fit for your body and style. It's the kind of place that allows you to see yourself in a new light. Go get your next grail piece. It's worth it. read more

Best customer service I've ever experienced at a retail store, especially considering their price point. Usually when I go into even a semi-expensive store in the Bay, I'm either met with the quick "let me know if you have any questions" and that's it, or there's extreme pressure to buy. This store is the complete opposite. Every single time I've gone in, whether I buy something or not, I get the best service. I never feel pressured or stupid for asking questions, and believe me, I have a LOT of questions! Their selection is nothing short of epic with clothes from everywhere imaginable, most own and run by POC and women. They build one-on-one relationships with their clients almost effortlessly- there's not one rude or off putting employee there and their turn over is slim to none. So glad there's small businesses like them on 4th Street now! read more

An outstanding group of gentlemen run this shop, with some of the friendliest smiles and chats that can be had. Standard & Strange stocks high quality and stylish apparel that's a sure way to upgrade a wardrobe and one's fashion sense. I highly recommend shopping here for an experience that can only be had a handful of places in the world. Thanks S&S! read more

Best men's clothing store in the greater Bay Area. The staff are super knowledgeable and nice. I try to buy one nice piece a month. It's changed my life. read more

Awesome store, awesome clothing and shoes, awesome service! Great find, just wish they were closer.

Awesome selection of men's clothes and boots. Could have spent a few hours at the store. Service was wonderful as well.

If you're a sub/masochist whose kink is to be ignored by those whose predicate is to assist, then the two passive-aggressive elitist hipster doms that were present at the Berkeley store on 2/1/2025 will fulfill your most twisted desires. As I walked in, after waiting for five minutes in the rain outside because they opened late, a boy was leaned over the desk at the computer. He arduously lifted an eyebrow to acknowledge my existence. To his left the short haired waif with oversized circular, dark rimmed glasses was seated on a stool with her profile facing me. She refused to allow my presence to disturb her static perch let alone feign a verbal greeting. Which is understandable. With so little muscle mass she only has so much energy and it simply cannot be wasted on the first customer. Pace yourself, sweetie, 17 oz's of denim is an excruciating lift. The vibe had an overwhelming and immediate stench of disdain upon entering and I was about to turn around and exit but for fun I set a timer on my phone for five minutes to see if anyone came to my assistance. Between being completely disregarded and the eerie silence in the tiny box I had to flee after 3:29. It felt like an eternity. While making my hasty retreat, I glanced over my shoulder to notice the alabaster statues representing the help staff hadn't moved a muscle. Nor were they for my farewell. read more

Initially. I was surprised by the sticker price $$$. It's not like it's Nordstrom with a superior return policy. Hubby tried on a few items and everything seemed like it was tailor made for him. What sold me was when I finally read the label - textile from Japan but made in USA. That explains it - good quality, limited quantity, and well-made. He walked out with a hidden gem. He'll be back. read more

Standard & Strange - Men's Clothing Near Me - Berkeley, California

The finest threads and boots operated by the most stylish people this side of the Mississippi. Ladies and gentlemen, this store simply exists in it's own weight class. read more

Exchange process took way too long and they couldn't figure out how to return $1.50 without putting it on a gift card which required an email addresss.... Ugh not a good vibe read more

Short Review - If you have an appreciation for items made with the upmost quality sold by a team of folks who are passionate about what they stock, then you have to stop by and visit. Longer Review - I first found out about this store when I was looking into purchasing some boots. I went down the rabbit hole of looking up brands, and landed on Viberg. This being the only store that really offered it, I had to stop in and try on shoes. I went in, but decided not to purchase the shoes as I just wasn't ready at that moment. COVID hit, and I lost my opportunity to buy for awhile, as I wanted to be able to try the shoes on in person when that right moment came. Fast forward to a few months ago, I saw a viberg release that really interested me. If you've read about Viberg (or other boots in general) the sizing can be a bit funny, especially for me as my foot is strange and not really standard (maybe 1/2 - ¼ size difference for each foot). Neil offered to facetime me and learn about my sizing. Seeing that my foot sizing truly was a bit off, we made a private appointment and he helped situate me in the boots that felt best after letting me try on various sizes while walking/sitting around the store. While there, we talked about Denim, boots and leather jackets and unfortunately or fortunately, Neil started talking about one of his favorite brands (Ooe Yofukuten), which ended up being another rabbit hole of high quality made goods. While I was there for one pair of boots, I left with a finer appreciation. I always felt at odds with the world for being willing to spend a bit more. I'd much rather have one high quality item versus ten lower quality goods. Leaving the store, you gain a greater appreciation for their motto, "Own fewer, better things." Without a doubt, every item you touch exudes their motto as you can't help but feel that every item they carry has been not only carefully curated in terms of the item that they stock, but the people who are making the goods. Yes it's madness to spend money on some of the goods they carry, you'll shake your head and question if you really should be doing something like this. However, if you ever feel on the edge of whether you really should spend the money, go visit the store, meet their team, ask for the story behind the brand or the products and you'll understand that their team stands behind their motto. Long story short, I absolutely recommend this store, the people they employee and the products they carry. They are passionate about the goods they sale and the community as a whole. For as long as I've been tracking this store, I've been immensely impressed with their community activism and their dedication to making a difference. To Neil and his team, thank you for the kindness whenever we shop there, and for anyone hoping to one day become a customer I hope you have an awesome time visiting (or purchasing) from Standard and Strange. As a side note, do be careful, purchasing here can be addictive. They may one day have to change their motto to: "Own more, better things" given all the awesome gear they have here! read more

Perhaps the best selection of honest, small house clothing I have ever seen. And in such a magic city (Santa Fe). I was treated with genuine care. My shopping for the last few years has been to buy the real thing, spend a little more, and be happier with it longer. I got a great sweater that feels like an old friend. Thank you. Can't say enough. read more

This is one of finest businesses I've ever encountered with an almost fanatical focus on customer satisfaction. Genuinely nice, smart, stylish, knowledgeable people eager to make you look and feel great with absolutely beautifully crafted clothing. I'm more than happy to give them my very strongest recommendation. read more

I was lost until I found these people in Oakland. What a great tribe. Standard and Strange is a strong first choice for me. I've become a loyal customer through many online purchases. My enthusiasm for their wares and extra friendly customer service is only dampened by the inevitable cycle of the MasterCard clan hounding me for money around the 21st of every month. I've been engaged in many detailed phone conversations and email volleys about the finer points of boot fit, shirt and jacket sizing, Japanese boutique manufacturing, etc. It's to the point now that my wife will catch a glimpse of my phone with an image of anything menswear on there and she'll kid me about being "on Standard and Strange again". Well......yes. There's no end in sight. Highly recommended. read more

I love their products have made a few purchases there .. however I placed an order and I will say it was significantly priced, which I didn't mind paying for since I had been looking for this particular jacket and as happy to see it was available at which time I immediately purchased it. I called after nearly a week of not receiving any notifications through my provided email address that the product was shipped, to follow up on the status and was surprised by a very rude associate. They seemed offended that I would ask for the status and instead of advising of the ship status they were rude pretty much eluding to the obvious that I am not the only customer and according to "queue" my order was set to ship within another day or so and stated if you wish to upgrade shipping I can with an additional charge exceeding $40 which would make no sense since because as mentioned I had placed the order nearly a week earlier. If management reads this you should advise your employees that they are dealing with customers that don't mind paying for quality and shouldn't be smart asses when speaking to a customer. So in closing I would lean more towards I wouldn't recommend this company for that reason specifically.. but would certainly go directly to the supplier for the product you are seeking and if you can find at another retailer like Self Edge etc I would go with that option as they are always happy to assist with any questions and shipping is very fast . read more

I came in to drop off a couple pairs of my raw selvage denim to have hemmed before I move in a couple weeks. Upon entering the shop I was welcomed very well and even though there was a slight misunderstanding/miscommunication about their hemming policies, Gen treated me with respect and excellent customer service and made sure I was going to be able to have the service done! Overall, I'm super stoked to support this small business and to come back for more hemming and even to get a new pair of denim when the need surfaces. 10/10 would recommend! read more

I bought my first engineer boots here. A really expensive purchase for me and Eden (guy working here) and the other dude working were super helpful in helping me figure out sizing. I probably spent over an hour here trying on boots for the proper size. They made me feel welcomed at the shop and never rushed me. I even forgot my ID and they ran out and chased me down to give it to me. Great shop and customer service read more

I'm a big fan of Machus in Portland Oregon on SE Burnside. This and Justin's former store on SE Hawthorne (Local 35) feature a hip selection of modern clothing and accessories. Standard & Strange has that same feel and style, albeit in a smaller Temescal Alley Space. I've visited the shop several times and like how the stores selections have evolved. The latest addition of waxed canvas bag were particularly handsome. read more

Preface: If you find yourself bargain shopping and rarely find justification behind a so-called "splurge" (for whatever reason, no judgment) stop reading my review now. However, if you're ready to make that step in a world of more premium goods - enter Nick's review. I've never really shopped anywhere like SS before, but I'm glad I finally got pulled in by Ross (one of their finest employees). See, this place is quintessentially me in a lot of respects; you gaze at the surface and don't think much of it, but I would strongly urge you to look closer. Upon detailed inspection, the nuances and attention to detail pop up in all the items they carry., from the fine stitching and fully leather lined interior of their rugged Alden boots to the sturdiness of the collars in the T-shirts they carry, SS clearly knows and exudes quality. While the look and design of the clothing might not suit everyone, it actually doesn't suit me entirely, but you'd be hard pressed to find this level of quality at the isles of your local mall. Pros: the service here is top-notch. I was somewhat interested in the idea of owning a really nice pair of all-leather red wings but quickly became engulfed in the world of Alden custom boots. Ross would help pull out a model in my size without hesitation at the mere mention of it. Roughly after trying on 10 pairs, I finally settled.During this visit I wasn't quite ready for new denim yet, but again, there was no hesitation to help me out in terms of what type of denim I wanted even knowing I wasn't going to buy. Cons: The space is a bit small, so if there's more than a few customers it may feel crowded for all the claustrophobic people. Also, god help you if I go in there trying on shoes again. read more

Wanted a sweater from Real McCoy's and Neil actually got it for me while he was in Japan. He charged me what he paid for it and got it back to me in double-quick time; moreover, he kept the line of communication flowing. This has been one of my most pleasurable experiences shopping online. I cannot wait to visit their store in person. Arigato, Neil-san! read more

Heard your interview with Dean Delray. Awesome looking shop. Gonna check ya out when I'm in the bay next. Keep up the great work gentlemen. read more

Are you effing kidding me I haven't written a post about S&S?!? It's the best men's clothing store in the Bay, no doubt. The store in packed with amazing denim, clothes and accessories from Japan, England, Italy and the US. It's curated so freaking well, there's stuff for folks with money to blow and people on a budget. It's part of my community and the people who own it and the people who work there are some of the nicest folks. Support local businesses, especially because you're gonna look great when you walk out. read more

Went in to look at jeans and an hour later walked out with a pair of engineer boots for myself and a few things for my kids. The two guys running the place were extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Nice work guys!!!! read more

Probably the best denim (and related) store in the world! The people who work there goes through fire and ice to help you get exactly what you're looking for, and then they add more to it. The first time I got a few items from them they hand delivered it to me here in Sweden as a family member of one the owners was going here anyway! What other shop would even consider doing something like that??? I've now had an email conversation with Mari for close to 6 months to get a new pair of boots with weekly emails to make sure that everything will be the way I want it to be, and to get the sizing correct to my odd looking feet! For me it's at least a 12 h flight to get to any of their shops, but damn if it ain't wort read more

Want your generic hipster man-goods served with a heaping helping of self-righteous diatribe? Why, that comes standard! Look, Temescal, we get it. You think you're saving Oakland with all your shop-small-Saturday-presented-by-American-Express playbook values, but to use your shop as a loud soapbox about the plight of garment workers as the rationale for why your merch is so pricey seems a little misplaced. And a claim to support local producers seems a little off for a place selling Williamsburg-aping style by obvious Oakland carpetbaggers. Can the working class who used to be the face of the neighborhood still themselves afford to live there? Are your "artisan" bags and belts made by people so well paid that they could themselves shop in your store after your markup? Not sure you can answer those questions because not only are you not those people, you don't have anyone like that in your shop. Wearing flannel checked shirts doesn't count. So don't try to convince your customers that you deserve any credit for representing fair garment-work labor by loudly declaring your disdain for anyone who would dare question your pricing. If people wanna buy it, fine; not buy it, fine. Don't try to call out the values driving their decision to walk out your door when they do. And don't claim a position of supporting locals when you're carpetbagging. read more

Came in with the boyfriend who insists that $150 pants are the way to go. I must admit, I was a little intimidated to enter the shop in my cheap sundress, eating a grilled cheese sandwich. Definitely expected to be told to either put my food away, or eat outside. Not only was the single guy working there (Jonathan) super friendly and patient, he let me eat in the store (I promise I was tidy!) AND was really helpful with finding different sizes and fits. He overheard our conversation about needing a different size and offered to order it for us. He even introduced himself and shook our hands! What a cool dude. Five stars for you, Jonathan! read more

I had the pleasure of photographing a styled wedding and we selected the groom's clothes from Standard & Strange. S&S carries such handsome, classic clothing and they were a delight to work with as we co-created the groom's look. I couldn't have been more pleased, and I love that everything they carry is California or US made! I highly recommend their shop--classic pieces and great style. read more

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Definitely one of the top boutique menswear stores in Oakland. The buyers have a good eye, everything is high quality, and they will do tailoring if something's not quite right. Moreover, there's usually a little whiskey available for customers to sip while browsing, and the surrounding businesses are incredibly interesting as well. Well worth a visit even if you're window shopping. read more

I got a nice simple, durable, good looking black leather belt today. I have not seen one of these for years. Literally. I'm going to go back to look at some shirts and jackets. The shop is small so the selection is on the small side, BUT I could see half the shirts in my closet no problem! Small is good if it's the right stuff. I'd say if you are looking for high quality, current, styles that will still be good looking as long as the clothes last, this is the place to go. read more

Tucked on a cool alley off Telegraph, Standard and Strange has a killer collection of apparel (mostly for men, some for women) and accessories. They have a lot of Taylor Stitch, Tellason denim, and odds and ends from people just starting out. The guys who run it are totally hilarious and know they're running a shop for savvy shoppers, so they might even show you images of things they're thinking of selling in the store. They also gave me delicious Dandelion chocolate and part of a Tartine pastry. Your mileage may vary in the food sample department, but not in the awesome apparel department. read more

We drove to Alley 49 specifically to try our first Dolly's doughnuts. 4 pm, sold out. Disappointed, we made the rounds in the alley. I never knew this little alley of cool existed! We stopped in at Standard and Strange. Stepping in here, I had this "strange" overwhelming urge to revamp my husband's attire. Very nicely made wool shirts, fitted pants and shoes for men. We had a little "Aggie" banter with the Davis Alum that works there. He had an extra Dolly's doughnut that he was willing to part with and like freaking kids we were ecstatic and giggly that we got our doughnut in the STRANGEST way. Thanks Fellow Aggie for making our day! read more

Rating based on customer service. The store has some cool stuff. Perhaps my demographic is not their target audience. Went in looking for jeans. I wanted a light shade of blue. In a nutshell, I was told a pair that was way too tight "looked good on me". When I asked about a larger size, he suggested that I buy the bigger size (from the Santa Fe store) and return it if I didn't like it. I asked if the larger size could be shipped to the Oakland store to try it on, and he said sure, and that he would call me when it came in (about a week and a half). Then crickets. And this was two months ago now. And I supported them during the pandemic with purchasing sight unseen. Very disappointed. read more

Qualitity American based clothing (with a suggestion of third party articles). But, any store can offer authenticity marked up a few decimals. No, what makes this store unique is their efforts in making you feel welcome. I almost walk in their now as if they've been my friends for decades. Strut in, say my hello's, and proceed to lean up against a wall or set up to talk about their new shoes, or new brands they'll be bringing in. Highly recommend if you're in the area. read more

I got two shirts here the other night. Their selection of clothing is all top notch. The prices were more affordable than I was anticipating and the quality of the good is higher than I would have thought. These guys has found the spot where quality meets value and style. Also, when I was checking out they "found" a bottle of nice bourbon and offered me some. I think it was their about-to-get-off-work drink and they included me. Nice guys running the joint too. read more