I think this goes beyond simple price inflation.

To put the Ralph prices in context I've put together a little comparison.

To make this realistic I've used other reputable brands so it a genuine apples for apples comparison.

Ralph cord trousers are £269. Cordings £125

Water Repellant quilted Jacket £269. Barbour Chelsea sports quilt £129

Ralph wool cashmere 10% brushed sweater £269. Bosie albeit without the elbow patches £145

I could go on but I think you get the picture. Ralph is nearly double for similar and possibly inferior merchandise.

Makes Chiltern Street look cheap.

I agree they wouldn't compare Cordings or Barbour as competitors but it proves a useful barometer on how their prices stack up.

I appreciate price is subjective but Ralph was always a great source for classics at reasonable price point. Higher priced items were always justified by the craftsmanship or materials.

Cashmere sweaters from decent Scottish makers, Northampton bench made footwear, half canvassed suits from Italy and lots of discreet details that only the wearer would notice.

The pricing now doesn't justify a lot of the products. I'm not on about the tat manufactured for discounters but the flagship store products.

You're right about the outlet stores. Most of the merchandise is made exclusively for them. The clue is in the POS material used. I spend a lot of time in the States and the only way to regularly get decent Polo is through Maceys who always seem to have a deal or two.

^FSC. Yes, you're right.

I have followed the Ralph corporation for many years.

As a marketing professional they make for a really interesting case study.

Historically they had loads of brands as well as partnerships with retailers. In menswear alone, at one time, they had nine different brands - Purple label, Black label, Polo, RRL, RLX, Polo Golf, Polo Jeans, Lauren, Rugby – together with merchandise made specifically for outlet stores.

From a design perspective there was a lot of crossover - especially between Polo and Rugby. The Rugby brand was very good quality, great designs at reasonable prices.

They shuttered Rugby and stopped Black Label. Polo Jeans was merged into Polo. RLX still exists but is now a simplified sportswear brand.

With fewer brands they have stretched and stretched the Polo brand. It's a shadow of what it was. I don't know of any other menswear brand that covers as many products or price points.

Many consumers will always like to feel they have bought into the lifestyle or have simply grabbed a designer bargain. That gives the brand volume. The mid market will always like the reassurance of branded merchandise bought at House of Fraser/John Lewis. It's going to be interesting to see if the merchandise on offer and their pricing at the flagship stores remains the same.

Really interested that you have the RL67 jackets.

Originally they had quite wide lapels that replicated something that Ralph owned in the 70's.

They tried a range of suits with a larger lapel too.

If they are Italian made they are typically half canvassed and made by Cornealani. Quality is superb.

The formal wear with trainers thing is a popular fashion trend right now, popularised by sports stars and commentators who are increasingly influential in this space.  I think the dressers for those commentators when they are on TV are often fashion led and quite influential in trends.

I'm not saying a three piece suit with trainers - those merchanising displays of RL have always been deliberately garish.  But suits with trainers, definitely (even though I grind my teeth when I see it). I've even seen mention now of the trousers being made to sit on trainers rather than formal shoes in some instances.

RL is seen in that space as it's perceived as 'aspirational' along with Gant, Tommy Hilfigger, Paul Smith, Lacoste etc - there is a new prep trend around, even if the younger people adopting it don't call it that or understand it in those terms.  My son is doing a masters at Uni of Nottingham and observes this - he has taken some of my worn in on-brand polos and even took a couple of shawl collar cardigans too.  All of a sudden he appreciates button down shirts now too, it's fascinating to observe. The harringtons he wanted as street wear a few years ago that I bought him, now he sees as part of the unstated preppy type thing.

I have never pushed style to our lads - they pick some of it up naturally in their own way.  But there definitely is a kind of smart-casual brand led fashion going on, which plays into those students banned from weaing chinos and blue shirts.   Darned Hooray Henrys.

Last edited by An Unseen Scene (2023-10-27 04:48:08)