Testimonials

LinkedIn Testimonials

“Sincerely, Ben is a thought leader, consistent, positive, and committed. My personal and professional life is better because of him.“

Heather Ewald

MLS student at Washington University Law School

“Ben is a top notch guy to work w/ @Tom James Co. Ben took great care of me.“

Bill Blankenship

Director of Acquisition Security (M&A) & Adjunct Professor

“Ben does great work. I would highly recommend him to anyone interested in bespoke clothing! A+++.“

Michael Dalton

Partner at O'Leary, Shelton, Corrigan, Peterson, Dalton & Quillin, LLC (Serious Injury & Death Cases)

“Look good, feel good, play good’, is a phrase often associated with sports, but in working with Ben Lawler and the Tom James Company, I’ve been able to take this to the professional and social event world. I used to dread having to get dressed up, whether it be for an interview, a wedding, etc. because I never had anything that fit right. Luckily, I was introduced to Ben a little more than a year ago and all of that changed. I not only enjoy the custom fit, very well made suits, shirts, and pants, but also working with Ben. He is extremely knowledgeable and will share advice, if/when needed, which has been incredibly helpful. Every conversation we have starts with what we have going on in our personal and professional lives, and that level of customer service is much appreciated. If you’ve every been interested in perfectly fitting and well made clothing, I would absolutely recommend connecting with Ben. I’m glad I did.“
Tony Gaebler

Accomplished Alliance and Sales Professional

“Ben is my brother so I am partially biased. But I believe there are few people on this planet as passionate, energetic, motivated, and focused as Ben Lawler. I highly recommend Ben for your haberdasher needs or life coaching. Ben is 1/1,000,000 and 10/10 in my book.“
David W. Lawler

Trial Attorney at Lawler Brown Law Firm

“WHERE TO BEGIN? Ben ROCKS! He is extremely dedicated to the happiness and joy of his customers. I love his service mindset and ability to go above and beyond. To know Ben Lawler, is to love Ben Lawler! His level of integrity, ethics and joyful energy make him phenomenal at what he does. And, he is such a stand up guy. Not only is he THE BEST CLOTHIER IN THE WORLD, but one of the best humans I know!“
Jess Vogelpohl

Strategic + Organizational Leadership Consultant・Human-Centered Sales Leader ・Learning + Development Guru

“I had purchased top line jacket from my good friend Ben. The work got done on time as promised I enjoy my jackets and will recommend Ben to everyone I know. Keep up a great work Ben. All best.“
Jasmin Trifunovic

Senior Audi Brand Specialist at Audi Kirkwood

“Ben spearheads an amazing charitable endeavor (the St. Louis Suit Project), of which we are strong supporters. He is a notable asset to our community here in the St. Louis metro.“
Chris Dreyer

CEO of Rankings.io | I Help Personal Injury Law Firms Dominate First Page Rankings | Personal Injury Lawyer SEO

“I’ve only known Ben for a short time but it feels like I’ve known him for much longer. He goes beyond the basic service approach of most providers. He takes the time to provide much more than quality clothing – he gets to know who you are. He wants to understand your needs and passions. Before I discovered Tom James’ suits, I owned suits. Now, I experience a suit. There is nothing like the feeling you get when you first put on a suit tailored for you. It feels great and looks great. It feels natural. Ben takes that feeling seriously. I don’t regret getting my suits from Tom James; I only regret not getting one sooner.“
Bert Purdy

Financial Institution Consultant | Strategic Planning Facilitator | Conference Speaker | Writer | CPA | CTFA | Auditor

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ben on a number of marketing initiatives and he always comes to the table with new ideas that advance the Tom James brand. He’s a thought leader and works to help more people experience the world class service of Tom James.“
Michele Stephens

RETIRED - Director of Marketing at Tom James Company

“Ben, thank you again for the service you have given me over the years. I have had no regrets with any of my purchases and you always make sure I am 100% satisfied with my clothing. From shoes that last for years to the suits worthy of TV interviews, I have slowly realized that custom clothing is the only way to go. You’ve turned a skeptic into an advocate.“
Travis Freeman, CFP®

Helping business executives plan to reduce taxes and enhance wealth

“Ben, is one of the best up and coming leaders in Tom James! He embodies success principals. Ben is loved by his co-workers, his clients and friends! His enthusiasm for his career is amazing. We are fortunate to have him as a partner!“
Robert Stueve

Custom Clothier Tom James Company 26 Years

“Ben has impeccable taste. Ben is the kind of guy you want to work with, friendly and knowledgable. His clothes are designed to last years in terms of durability and style. 1st Class!“
Justin S. Fowler, CFP®

Principal at CliftonLarsonAllen

“Ben has consistently provided me with a top of line product. He brings to the table great knowledge and a love of what he does. This equates to his great results.“
Adam Lawler

Attorney at Lawler Brown Law Firm

“Ben does an excellent job of understanding my needs and offering appropriate solutions. I would recommend Ben to anyone who cares about how they look.“
Aaron Zigler

Founder and Managing Partner at Zigler Law Group, LLC and Mediator at Neutral Corner Mediation Services

“There’s never been a more professional, consistent, pace setting example than that of Ben. His unwavering dedication to his company and his clients is what makes Ben the most sought after clothier at the Tom James Company in St. Louis. I’d buy clothes from that guy ANYTIME!“
Michael Barkin

Positivity wins

“Ben really works hard to excel at providing exceptional clothing for his clients. Additionally I have know Ben for over 20 years and he is an extremely trustworthy and dependable individual. If you are too busy to shop, like I am, then Ben would be an invaluable asset for your business attire needs.“
Jon Meneese

Vice President, Global Commercial Lead at Syneos Health

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Other Testimonials

“Tom James has been a godsend to me in my professional life. Buying formal clothing has always been difficult for me. As with many, my body type doesn’t fit into a common mold that allows me to buy suits off the rack; at least, not if I want them to fit properly and look great. My hobby is weightlifting, which keeps me healthy but makes formalwear a nightmare. Further, with my busy schedule running a law office and raising two children, I have little time to buy things for myself. Tom James blessed me with in office convenience and a perfect fit, custom business formal wardrobe. Further, and most importantly, I look awesome and that translates to increased confidence and better performance in a courtroom and in life in general.“

Aaron Hopkins

“Ben has provided amazing customer service from day one! He treats me like I have been a client for years. The service and clothing are first class!“

Andrew Hoy

Fit

One of the biggest reasons I chose to go with custom tailoring, is the fit. There is nothing in the general market that fits my structure. I could almost never find a blouse that would fit my waist and my chest, let alone that combination with arm length. For dresses and pants, I’ve always had to size up to fit my hips, yet shrink the waist and shorten the length in order to attempt a decent fit.  Read More

Jennifer Keegan PhD

“I’d like to thank Ben Lawler of Tom James St. Louis for his absolutely incredible work in meeting my needs for a new suit. Ben came directly to my house with a great smile, lots of materials to choose from and a competitive price. He assisted me in selecting a pattern, and a complete look. He took my measurements and promised delivery within a certain window.

As Promised, Ben delivered my new suit a few weeks later, and let me say that this suit is the nicest, best fit suit I’ve ever owned. As a lawyer, I have to wear suits constantly, and I feel like I finally have the right fit. I most definitely will be seeing Ben again for an excellent suit!“

Ryan Hall

Attorney at Law

Fit

One of the biggest reasons I chose to go with custom tailoring, is the fit. There is nothing in the general market that fits my structure. I could almost never find a blouse that would fit my waist and my chest, let alone that combination with arm length. For dresses and pants, I’ve always had to size up to fit my hips, yet shrink the waist and shorten the length in order to attempt a decent fit. It just was never right. I’d spend money on top of money, with okay tailoring. Going with Tom James, well that was more than simple tailoring, it was going with a new way of dressing; a new way of never having to feel like no matter what, my clothes just didn’t fit me quite right. The reality is that fit not feeling quite right, leads to an erosion in one’s confidence and undermines the security needed to effectively execute. While men might be used to having options when it comes to suits, as women, there is usually very little. You might have a couple of basic brands that if you are lucky you get a size that “fits” in the style you want. I love suits - I love ALL suits. I love dress suits. I love pants suits. I absolutely love cufflink shirts. How many cufflink shirts do you think exist for women? Very few. I have over 50 pairs of cufflinks and had a couple of shirts that I could wear…and by wear, I mean pinned the top together at the bust with a safety pins. All the ladies get me. You either safety pin or you flash the world. There is no in between. Then, if you have a shirt that is a stiff material, if it fits the bust, it is guaranteed not to fit the waste. If it fits the waste, it is guaranteed to not fit the bust. You end up looking like a stuffed toy either way. Psychologically, we are back to the lack of “fit” telling us what we’ve been told for years…we don’t fit. Now add to that zero choices and what do you get? Not being able to wear the clothes that make the (wo)man. This is where Tom James made a huge difference for me.As an executive, you need every possible advantage. The value of a well-tailored suit should not be underestimated. I will tell you that I had no idea how much better I could look in clothing that was truly designed for my body. I remember looking in the mirror and looking slimmer, and there was nothing different except that suit.

Selection

I intentionally selected Tom James and Ben because of who I knew he had as clientele. I said to myself, if you want to feel equal, you get equal, and that meant the best. That meant the tailor to the highest level of executives. That meant Tom James. I think one of the biggest surprises was the selections of styles and materials. Everything from the plummest of plums to the brightest greens. From casual wear to formal wear, from Spring to Winter. Being able to add just a little extra “something” is the way I roll and I can do that beyond what I had ever thought possible. I completely changed out my wardrobe this year. I almost exclusively wear Tom James clothing. And my cufflinks, they certainly get a lot of play. The first time I ever saw a pair of cufflinks on a man, I thought why are women not embracing this too? I love the elegance a cuffed shirt adds, and if you think about it, just about every image of a high powered executive is of a man in a great suit, with a great shirt and a pair of cufflinks. Did I mention I’ve worn a bow-tie too? I have a killer velvet bowtie and knockout suit to match. There is nothing better than knowing you look the very best you can look in more than just a basic black suit. One of my favorite things about Tom James is the suit liners. I know it probably sounds silly, but there is something about those liners that makes me feel like I have an inside secret to success.

Confidence

I can tell you that when I wear my suits, I get noticed. I get noticed not just by the men, but by the women as well. For the men, I wasn’t sure how they would react, whether it would be considered problematic that I too could wear these clothes. I was pleasantly surprised with nods of approval; nods that said to me, you get it. I can pull off just as powerful a look, with all the feminism I want and command the same respect. With women, here is a truth we all know: If another woman compliments you, then you really (and I mean REALLY) look great. Women will most often complement another woman when they see someone that is standing out from the crowd and elicits a positive reaction by others. They complement and then ask where you got the outfit, because they want to feel that way too. As a woman, I know that many of us suffer from imposter syndrome; we doubt ourselves even when we are more than qualified. I use my suits like a shield of armor. No matter what, that suit commands respect, even on the days I’m feeling my least confident. So when sometimes I feel like I can’t, it helps me just enough to get me over the hump and feel like I can. There is a lot more to clothes than most of us think. The subtle differences the clothes we wear make in others’ perception of us and the differences our clothing makes in how we think of ourselves can truly make or break our successes. I’m grateful to have found Tom James and Ben. I think of them as partners in my own personal success and I look forward to years to the years to come. It’s a great brand, with great threads!

Jennifer Keegan PhD