Someone please tell me what's wrong with Hugo Boss Tux.. Serious question..

Hello all,

I'm in the market for a tux for a black tie wedding for my son this summer. I just tried on a 38R Hugo Boss Cary Grant and pretty much walked right into it. I could almost literally hem the pants and go. It has a nice tailored fit, without the appearance that I'm trying to look like I've got a 24" waist.. The shoulders do not have the "zoot suit" appearance I've seen with some other brands I've tried on.

I've seen a number of negative comments about Hugo Boss and want to be educated as to what to look for in this tux as to why there is a bad reputation.  Also, given that style (and relative price point), is there a comparable single button tux that is an athletic or modern fit, but still has some of that classic tux appeal.

I appreciate any recommendations folks have.

Thanks.

JS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewey 

I think the objection to Hugo Boss suits (or any cheaply made, fused suit of cheap fabric) makes more sense if you are buying something to wear two or three times a month for many years. In this case the inferior quality will show pretty quickly.
For a tuxedo, or any suit that is only being worn rarely, the style and the fit are more important. Construction will always influence how something looks or fit, of course, but if the Hugo Boss tux is the style you want and the fit is spot on, then I would go for it. If you save some money buying Hugo Boss vs. something else, you can put that into the other accessories. I like the Ben Silver waistcoats for example.
http://www.bensilver.com/Jacquard-Woven-Black-Silk-Waistcoat,8953.html
This website is / used to be (haven't looked at it in years) very helpful for going over the tux basics:
http://www.blacktieguide.com/

That is an excellent waistcoat.  The jury is still out on them though for the wedding party, etc. I suppose the father of the groom can do his own thing as long as he doesn't upstage the groom.  :-)  Thanks for the blacktie link, I'll certainly look at it in depth.  I won't be wearing a tux (at least not this one) 2 or 3 three times a month.  As a photographer, I have one of those that is more a "utility" tux that looks certainly good enough to be at the event and yet something I don't mind getting down on my knees to get a shot in.  I am looking for something good that will last though (2 more to go after this one) and the occasional formal dinner.

From what I've read in yours and the other posts, it seems the major objection would apply to pretty much any mass marketed brands carried by many stores, in this price range, or are there tailored tux's out there where the construction is the more traditional needle and thread vs. mass production fusion approach. I realize there is a certain "get what you pay for" (same applies to photographers)  :-)  so I'm just trying to maximize the investment but not buy a piece of junk.

Thanks again and thanks to the others who have replied..

JS
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenixrecon 

id be willing to be the fit is not perfect. post a pic and well be sure to tell ya

Well, I didn't say perfect, but I am lucky and this wouldn't be the first time I could wear something right off the rack without alterations.. and no, I don't need a second opinion from a forum member to make that judgment but I do appreciate the offer (I think)  :-)

JS

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewey 


There are a bunch of "suit hierarchy" threads. Off the top of my head, Southwick, Samuelsohn, and Hickey Freeman are North American makers where you get better construction and superior value, but they can be pricy and finding a tux is difficult. The problem is that pricy is not the best indicator of quality as there are pricy brands that are not well made. Brooks Brothers is reliable, but much of what they sell is no better made (I would guess) than Hugo Boss. Good tuxedos don't go on sale as they have a long shelf life. That said, tuxedos can be hard to find. You might also look at Joseph A Bank (shudder) as when I was shopping for a tux a few years ago, they were a reliable source of tuxes that were conservatively styled.

Dewey,

Thanks again.  I've got a couple of Hickey Freeman's, similar in style, that went on sale with Rue La La, so I'll be able to compare with the Hugo Boss...  Been to Bank's.. The Signature line isn't bad, but think I can do better, and all had the kind of fit that require a bit too much nip and tuck.. Interestingly enough, that Signature line has a VERY close resemblance to some other "name brands" I saw in finer stores in the area.. which leads one to believe there is a big Tuxedo manufacturer west of the international date line sending a lot of these our way.

JS

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff13007 


There are brands where the construction is more "traditional needle and thread" a couple that come to mind are Brioni, Oxxford, Kiton(?), and Attolini especially has some of the most handwork i have seen in a OTR garment. Also brands with a top tier such as Ralph Lauren Purple label, Zegna Couture, and Armani Fatto a Mano (not the made to measure the regular line). But these brands are very expensive and at retail most will run over 5k. Like the above poster said HIckey Freeman, Samuelshon(sp?) offer good value but i have never been a fan of their fits. IMO if you are looking at paying full retail for an OTR garment and appreciate the more traditional way of construction then i would go with Isaia. They are almost half the price when compared with Kiton, Attolini, and Brioni, and have almost as much handwork (attolini excluded). You can usually find them at discounted prices too. Too bad you missed the Brioni Sample sale though, i picked up a Brioni Tuxedo (38R) for around $800 which im assuming is the price of a Hugo Boss suit at full retail.

Jeff,

Which Brioni style, if I can ask? I found (in a local clothier via mail order) two style of Brioni one button tux's for under $600, but carries a 10% restocking fee for a return.. I'm trying to see if someone else at least carries the same style so I can try one on. It's also a 38R.

JS