Hugo Boss Selection vs. Ralph Lauren Black Label (RLBL)

[vtgravity]

Hey Guys,

I'm in the market for buying a suit and doing some research. I spent some time today at some of the stores and found a nice RLBL at Barneys for 1595 (i'm hoping it's not gaberdine, but I could be wrong), and a Boss Selection (not the tailored fit) for 1295. Both are charcoal black, and look good.

I'm wondering based on your prior experience, what's a better suit to get? In terms of fabric, stitching, fit, etc.

Thanks!
J

 

[Liquidus]

RLBL is way better. I say this not out of personal experience with the two labels, but out of knowledge of the consensus of this forum. What's wrong with gabardine?

 

[emmanuel]

Originally Posted by Liquidus

RLBL is way better. What's wrong with gabardine?

!!

 

[mktitsworth]

I was talking with the local Saks specialist who handles their MTM/club room stuff who mentioned that all of Hugo Boss is fused, where as if I remember, RLBL (By which I think you mean black) is canvased. Generally speaking, from what I've learned, I'll choose canvased over fused because it's likely to live longer.

 

[vtgravity]

You guys are awesome! Thank you, I'm going to go try them out again, just to see how they fit. I believe the Hugh Boss Selection was a half canvas, and the RLBL is a full canvas. And nothing really wrong with Gaberdine, I just think that 100% wool might be better (and I could be totally wrong in what I'm saying!!), on RLBL's website, the wool suit is 300 dollars more than the gaberdine suit, do you know why that would be?

Thanks, you guys rock!

 

[GoldenTribe]

Originally Posted by vtgravity

And nothing really wrong with Gaberdine, I just think that 100% wool might be better
Gabardine is a type of weave. Most/many gabardines are pure wool. I don't think you understand the words you are using.

Last I heard Hugo Boss was completely fused, not half-canvassed, but this may have changed or been misinformed to begin with.

RL Black Label is I would say invariably superior to Hugo Boss regardless of what you're looking for.

 

[phoenixrecon]

Originally Posted by vtgravity

Gaberdine

do you have any idea what this word means?

 

[infinitus]

Hugo Boss Selection is not bad quality. Much better then the regular Hugo Boss stuff. Selection is still way over priced but from what I tried on it is just a notch under the quality of RLBL, not that far off though. The Hugo Boss Selection I tried on was half-canvassed.

 

[heli0x]

the suit in question is wool, but can anyone comment on why the prices seem to have gone down? I remember wool RLBL as 1900 and above, and the other 3 RLBL suits are 1800 and 2000

 

[Viral]

Originally Posted by vtgravity

Hey Guys, I'm in the market for buying a suit and doing some research. I spent some time today at some of the stores and found a nice RLBL at Barneys for 1595 (i'm hoping it's not gaberdine, but I could be wrong), and a Boss Selection (not the tailored fit) for 1295. Both are charcoal black, and look good. I'm wondering based on your prior experience, what's a better suit to get? In terms of fabric, stitching, fit, etc. Thanks! J
Unfortunately, as already evident in this thread, you're not going to get useful advice on this topic. Many have already echoed the SF groupthink, but opinions are like.......... Probably none of them own either RLBL or Selection, let alone both. I own both, and can honestly say that I like them both. They are similar in quality (both are canvassed, etc.) but do vary in cut. Go with the one you feel best fits you. Unless you can wait 2 months for a sale, the price is what it is. FYI, both needed slight alterations to get it to fit to my preference. However, both were a pretty darn good fit OTR. Hope this helps.

 

[Kslim]

Go with what fits you better.

 

[Saturdays]

I know I am the typical RL fan telling you this but RLBL is one of the best suits you can buy if you need that slim cut.

If the Boss Selection fits better for you then go for it, whether its canvased or fused will not matter too much, how many suits do you have that are ruined because they were fused? It takes a great deal of wear and time to really ruin a suit to that point. In the end it sort of, but not completely, comes down to bragging rights towards us and other sartorial folk, "My suit is fully canvassed, and yours?"...y'know that sort of thing.

That being said the RLBL is much more of an active suit, much lighter. Caruso has really nailed it with the fabrication and implementation of lighter wool blends, yet keeps the shape and strength of a heavier wool blend. His suits are like liquid wool poured over your body and forming into a jacket that shapes your shoulders and surrounds your chest delicately. (Considering you purchase your size of course)

 

[Klobber]

RLBL >> Hugo Boss, period. There is actually no basis for comparison of quality.

Boss suits today are all fused, although I have seen ones canvassed on the chest - although those were union made in USA long long ago. Boss suits at least in their favour are usually cut fairly trim and most are wool blends.

RLBL you are guaranteed a suit that is at least canvassed on the chest, although most if not all the suits are actually fully canvassed.

 

[Drudged]

Originally Posted by Klobber

RLBL >> Hugo Boss, period. There is actually no basis for comparison of quality.

Boss suits today are all fused, although I have seen ones canvassed on the chest - although those were union made in USA long long ago. Boss suits at least in their favour are usually cut fairly trim and most are wool blends.

RLBL you are guaranteed a suit that is at least canvassed on the chest, although most if not all the suits are actually fully canvassed.


Not talking about the regular Boss here, but rather it's selection line. Hugo (red label) are cheap and slim cut. The black label stuff is cheap, usually coming in the Pasolini, Pasini, or Crowley cuts - all of which tend to be much more generous through the waist. The selection line has a normal cut and a tailored cut. It will sometimes be fused, but is normally half canvassed and generally a large step beyond the other two labels. For what it's worth, all of the lines are normally 100% wool.

I'd go for what fits best, but the RLBL will inevitably be of higher quality.

 

[sportin_life]

I would definitely go with RLBL, speaking from personal experience of owning both RLBL and Hugo Boss Selection suits.

Hugo Boss Selection is actually either half-canvassed or full-canvassed, depending on country of origin. Most of the suits sold in the US from the line are half-canvassed. Hugo Boss Selection "tailoring" is full-canvassed. I can't remember what country each is made in, but they are different. Here is an older thread on this:

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=159559