Ralph Lauren Purple Label: What to Buy & Avoid (Review)

The Purple Label line of Ralph Lauren, which is their highest-end clothing line, has remained popular over the years. But what makes it really special, and what should you buy (and not buy!) from them?

A few American brands carry such a cachet as Ralph Lauren. Many celebrities like Jay-Z or Tom Hiddleston have frequently worn their clothing, which is famed for this unique style and hailed as the pinnacle of quality and craftsmanship. That being said, the line is also no stranger to exorbitantly high price tags. So, when the price tag is high, you probably want to know if your money is well spent.

Over the years, we’ve had the chance to try many different items from the Ralph Lauren Purple Label line, so we can give you a good insight into what we’ve learned. So, the question is if Ralph Lauren Purple Label is truly the epitome of style, quality, and craftsmanship or if all that glitters is not gold.

A Brief History of the Ralph Lauren Purple Label

The Purple Label line was created in 1994, with a goal to create items that were reminiscent of the Old World European glamor world paired with the look of the 1974 Great Gatsby movie, which Ralph Lauren helped design all the costumes for. The idea was to create a larger-than-life yet still elegant but also opulent line that stood at the top of the Ralph Lauren brand.

So, why call it Purple Label? If we go back in history, the color purple is often associated with royalty and wealth. It all dates back to Cyrus the Great, the founder and king of the first Persian Empire, who wore a purple tunic as his royal uniform.

Today, goods from the Ralph Lauren Purple Label line seem to be almost exclusively made in Italy. Compare this to the majority of all other Ralph Lauren line items, which were predominantly made in lower-cost Asian countries. Ironically, the Purple Label line is heavily inspired by the English Savile Row style. In line with that, in the early days, a lot more items, including their tailored clothing, accessories, and shoes, used to be made in England.

Purple Label also prides itself on using only the most luxurious materials, and on our journey to source products for Fort Belvedere, we often encountered that certain makers or providers of materials, weavers and so forth, also were providing goods to Ralph Lauren Purple Label. So, we can vouch for the quality ingredients they use.

Personally, I also really appreciate that they have a certain vision for their clothes, so in 2022 I was in Yorkshire, England, and I was talking to a fabric finisher, and yes, the finishing makes all the difference in the world. An unfinished cashmere fabric is rough, whereas a finished one can be luxuriously soft.

So, while I was there, and I was looking at certain things, I liked something, and the person said, “That’s the Ralph Lauren finish. If someone asks for that, we can make it immediately,” and I’m like, “I know exactly what you’re talking about because I have a suit at home with exactly that finish,” and that’s the one I’m wearing here today.

Ralph Lauren Purple Label seems to be produced in partnership with high-end manufacturers in Italy these days. So, they’re all exclusive products. You can’t find them otherwise, but they’re good at sourcing, and it allows them to switch things around. For example, their shoes used to be all made in England with different vendors or manufacturers, and now, they just switched to Italy, but all the shoes are marketed and labeled as Ralph Lauren Purple Label.

The suit I’m wearing was made in England, where specifically in Crewe, at the old Chester Barrie factory. Ralph Lauren moved on to Saint Andrews in Italy, and eventually, Chester Barrie became defunct. Because Ralph Lauren is a strong brand, they cannot just command higher prices for their more middle-of-the-road Polo brand but also for their higher-end Purple Label line.

If you ask yourself why, I think it pays to take a look at the ethos of Ralph Lauren and the Purple Label line.

The Ethos of the Purple Label Line

When looking at the brand, it seems very obvious to me that Ralph Lauren is never trying to sell clothing, but in fact, an all-encompassing lifestyle. So, when they design things for a collection or a season, it’s not just the clothes. It’s also the environment, and the accessories, the look, the cars, and everything that comes together. Of course, the marketing is aligned with that vision, and so typically, Ralph Lauren ads feature just a brand name and a beautiful picture–nothing else.

Ralph Lauren Purple Label is also heavily inspired by English tailoring that is soft and not structured, similarly to what you’d get for maybe Anderson and Shepard. At the same time, it’s an American take on Savile Row, so it’s a bit more flamboyant, a bit louder, a bit more opulent. 

Often, it’s marketed in a somewhat whimsical or exaggerated way of preppy style. It definitely always carries elements of old money aesthetics; that means using beautiful vintage cars, maybe from Ralph Lauren’s personal car collection, tennis sweaters, Winchester shirts, boutonnieres, three-piece suits, pocket watches, but also more contemporary items, such as leather jackets or bold prints.

While originally, Purple Label was conceptualized as this higher-end traditional formal clothing, in recent years, we’ve definitely seen a shift towards more innovative, new takes on classic clothing. For example, you’ve seen the famous Polo Bear appear in many more things, whether it’s a watch, a hoodie, or other elements that, again, are more whimsical and a bit tongue-in-cheek.

Sometimes, they also pair trendier things with more classic things, such as a hoodie with a double-breasted jacket, or maybe a quilted puffer vest with an otherwise more classic outfit. Of course, Ralph Lauren often likes to be bold and colorful, so that’s also represented in some items of the Purple Label line. I remember a few years back that I had this really bold dinner jacket with a fabric that not many people would be comfortable wearing, but I thought it was awesome.

What Should You Buy From Ralph Lauren Purple Label?

Suits & Jackets

Let’s start with the suit and jackets and the more formal end of things. Looking at their silhouette, you can definitely see the inspiration from the 1930s. Often, their jackets have a somewhat lower buttoning point and wider lapels. That was definitely the case when they made their stuff in England.

I also really appreciate their soft approach to tailoring, because it makes it more comfortable to wear, but it still looks stellar. Looking at the Italian garments, I can see the lapels have gotten a little slimmer and the buttoning point has sometimes come up a little bit, but they still have interesting details, such as a pleated back, for example.

The jackets are fully canvassed with a light malleable canvas that provides supreme comfort, while still looking well-dressed. We don’t get all the wrinkles from unlined jackets, but you don’t feel constricted, like in a proper English military uniform. Their pants often also come with pleats, which give you a bit more room and have that classic 1930s aesthetic. 

The rise of the pants is somewhat higher than what you would get from most brands these days, although they’re not super high. In terms of retail cost, you’re looking at four to five thousand dollars for a suit, sometimes more, depending on the fabric.

Obviously, the advantage is what you see is what you get. You can try it on, and see how it fits, and if you go to, for example, the Ralph Lauren Rhinelander Mansion, they’ll take care of the alterations, and you get to soak in the entire experience. Honestly, it’s a beautiful store, and if you’re a menswear enthusiast, I’d put it on my bucket list.

By the way, you can check out our post on the Gentleman’s Bucketlist, which you may find worthwhile.

I think, generally, they’re offering shines in a sense that they offer unusual fabric designs and nice finishes that you can’t find off the rack elsewhere. If you go bespoke, I’m sure you could find something comparable; you’d probably get a better fit and you get more handwork. After all, Purple Label line suits are not made by an individual tailor; they’re still factory products.

So, would I personally shell out the retail price for Purple Label suits and jackets? No, I wouldn’t. That being said, if you can find them marked down during their sales, and Ralph Lauren often has heavy markdowns, or maybe you find them at an outlet or on eBay or secondhand, they can be a great buy because you know you get excellent styling the quality and workmanship is good and now the price is more affordable.

Outerwear

In terms of outerwear, 20 years ago, Purple Label was pretty much the only ready-to-wear line that had proper classically-inspired men’s overcoats. These days, you have other options but still, Purple Label overcoats are excellent, and if you can get their hand on them at a reasonable price, I think they’re fantastic.

They have things like a polo coat, but also an overcoat in a classic Prince of Wales check. Again, it’s all inspired by the 1930s and the Golden Age of Menswear, when men had overcoats with character and not just black, charcoal, navy, and gray solids. Even though one could describe the cuts as classic, I can definitely see the Italian influence, where it always provides a more tailored, sleek look. It’s not boxy by any means.

They also offer trendier jackets that are shorter and more casual, or puffer vests–I would always stay clear of those because they’re way overpriced. Would I buy a new overcoat off the rack from them? No, I wouldn’t because I know I could make it made to measure for much less, but again, if you can find it at a good deal, it’s definitely worth it. Love the styling.

Formal Evening Wear

In my opinion, the thing the Purple Label line does best for a ready-to-wear brand is their formal evening wear. A few years back, I was able to score a peak lapel double-breasted six two dinner jacket from Ralph Lauren Purple Label that has a cream cuff, with white silk-satin face lapels. That slight contrast makes it different and pop from other off-white dinner jackets, and I really like it.

If you go to their website, they also have brown velvet dinner jackets and lots of other offerings. And every season, they come up with different things. Oftentimes, you can find the old ones on eBay still, or in outlets. Most other creative Black Tie stuff off the rack usually comes in a cheaper, inferior material, whereas Ralph Lauren Purple Label maintains their high standards even for these items that you don’t wear every day. Sometimes, they also have really nice tartan and plaid thinner jackets, which are personally, quite dear to my heart.

Ralph Lauren Purple Label even offers White Tie ensembles that cost well north of ten thousand dollars. If you go to the links of wearing a White Tie, you probably want to have it tailor-made, or at least made to measure. So, it’s not ideal to get it off the rack, but I’m sure some people need a tail coat last minute, and Ralph Lauren is definitely a great option for that. Of course, you also pay for that.

Would I personally spend 10K on a White Tie ensemble from Ralph Lauren? Absolutely not. Frankly, it speaks for them, though, that they offer it as a ready-to-wear option.

Sweaters and Cardigans

If you’re looking for sweaters and cardigans, Purple Label has quite a large range. Crew necks, quarter sleeves, turtlenecks, cardigans–you name it–they have it. I once bought a very finely knit sweater from them because I thought it was an interesting concept to wear something, maybe in a transitional season, turns out, if you wear a shirt underneath of it, the pattern would show through. So, I hardly ever wore it.

They also sometimes offer cashmere sweaters, and I’ve even seen hand-knit sweaters, but typically, they set you back between 700 and fifteen hundred dollars. That may be less expensive than Loro Piana, and you can see if that brand is worth it in this video, it is still pricey. So, at the end of the day, I love the sweater design; I think they’re a bit too pricey, so if you find them on sale, great buy. 

Shoes

I think shoes used to be an area of particular strength for Ralph Lauren. Today, I find I’m not as compelling anymore. In the past, Ralph Lauren Purple Label partnered with reputable English makers, including Crockett and Jones, Edward Green, and Gaziano Girling. No, they didn’t just take a style off the rack, but they designed something that was in line with their vision for that season.

For example, they offered a great range of spectator shoes, which is not something you typically find ready to wear..Of course, if you compared the prices of the other brands to Ralph Lauren Purple Label directly, Ralph Lauren Purple Label is more expensive, because they have stores and they have a stronger brand, so they can just command more money.

If you find Ralph Lauren Purple Label made in England pair of shoes, today it is a good buy because you can no longer buy them new because the new ones are all made in Italy, which means the old are dead stock items are all at a reduced price, and if you find them, you can safely buy them. The more modern Italian shoes are not so much to my liking. I think the lasts are less refined; the leather may be nice; the construction is softer, but I’d much prefer the English shoes over the Italian ones.

What Should You NOT Buy From Ralph Lauren Purple Label?

Swimwear

So, what should be things that you should be more cautious about Raph Lauren Purple Label and one of the things I think is swimwear. In general, Ralph Lauren does a great job on swimwear Their Polo lines also accommodate different cuts, and people with bigger thighs. The Purple Label swimwear just comes in one style and it’s a bit slimmer, so if you have bigger thighs it’s not for you. I mean, we all know how quickly swimwear fashion can go wrong, but Ralph Lauren Purple Label is typically not that extreme. Personally, I don’t see the purpose of spending 500 on a Purple Label pair of swim trunks if I can get the same material and construction at the lower Polo line. So, I’d rather go with that.

Denim

If we look at pants, Germany and Italy styles are definitely trimmer, so if that’s something that works for you, it might be something that you like. They also offer denim, pretty much all of which are in a slim cut. So, frankly, I was never able to try them on myself. I’d guess that if you’re willing to spend 500 on a pair of jeans, you’re probably better off with some Japanese heritage brands. I mean, Purple Label doesn’t even have a selvage option, which most denim connoisseurs at least appreciate. Why? Well, the high-end selvage denim fades better and ages more gracefully, versus the non-selvage denim just doesn’t.

Neckwear

When it comes to traditional neckwear, it pays to keep in mind that Ralph Lauren originally started as a tie company. Today, their ties retail for $230 and more, and they come in two camps. The one style is the more classic style with colors and patterns that you can wear with a traditional gentleman’s outfit. Then, they have really bold ties that really stand out from the crowd in a way that makes them really hard to combine. I’ve been to weavers and seen fabrics woven for Ralph Lauren Purple Label, and they’re all good quality materials.

That being said, you can get a comparable tie for a much lower cost, so I’d personally go with that. There’s nothing inherently unique about their construction or their materials that you couldn’t find elsewhere. That being said if you find a markdown and you like the style, go for it. It’s not a bad quality.

When it comes to knit ties, Ralph Lauren Purple Label ones are made in Italy that are round knit, versus the ones at Fort Belvedere are flat knit, more crunchy, and, in my mind, superior. And you can get 2 Fort Belvedere ties for the price of one Ralph Lauren Purple Label tie.

Polo Shirts

Obviously, the Polo Ralph Lauren polo shirt is probably the most famous clothing item the brand has today, so what did they change for the Purple Label line polo shirts? Again, they’re made in Italy; they use nicer materials; they have things like mother-of-pearl buttons. The other thing that distinguishes them is their oversized logos. Yes, you can find a polo bear on there, and you can also find a polo player horse, but it’s a bit more elaborately embroidered than on the Polo line.

 The fabrics are still all cotton pique, and while of high quality, I’d say overall, it doesn’t warrant double the price. If you’re interested in what polo shirts are worth their money, we got you covered.

Dress Shirts

When it comes to shirts, the Purple Label line definitely has a unique edge. I remember, in the early days, I was in love with their Keaton collar, which was this extremely widespread cutaway collar. Today, lots of other brands offer it, but at the time, it was something that you could only find from Ralph Lauren Purple Label off the rack.

Also, they have a range of bold dress shirts that are not just plain white or simple stripes, but they have unusual color combinations, which I really appreciate. For a ready-to-wear brand, they also have a really nice selection of evening shirts, which is unrivaled except maybe by the brand Eton.

In recent years, they also offered more casual shirts to the lineup, and they also have more plain business shirts. The big issue with their shirts is that they don’t come in different sleeve lengths. So, I have long arms, and their shirts do not work for me. For example, on a size 16-inch neck, you only get about 34 and a half to 35 inches in the sleeve–not enough for me.

So, unless you find a fabric from them that you’re really in love with and you can’t find elsewhere, I would say don’t go with Ralph Lauren dress shirts, unless, of course, we find them on sale. Keep in mind, it’s not bad quality; it’s just marked up a lot. So, when you find them on sale, you can buy them with confidence. Also, keep in mind, that for $500, you can find a fantastic bespoke shirt or made-to-measure shirt that will likely make you just as happy, or happier.

Leather Goods

Ralph Lauren Purple Label also offers a range of leather goods, and they’re typically quite high-end. I visited the factory where all their hardware is made, and it is a top-notch manufacturer for that. Also, you can see things like alligator leathers, which of course, come with astronomical retail price tags. They also have less expensive items, but, typically, they come with big, bold monograms.

Many of their small leather goods also come with large RL logos all over the leather goods, which I’m personally not a huge fan of. All leathers used are good. I think the combination of a large logo and a high price tag makes them not worth it in my mind.

Ancillary Accessories

When it comes to ancillary accessories, such as pocket squares, Ralph Lauren Purple Label does offer them, but they typically come in very solid, inspiring designs, and just carry a much higher price tag. So, I think you’re better off looking at other brands for silk or silk blends because there’s not so much workmanship in a pocket square, except the hand-rolled edges, and at Fort Belvedere, for example, we add the double hand-rolled edges with an X-stitch. So, you get a lot more craftsmanship; you get better materials that are sized exactly in the proper size for your pocket.

I think the Ralph Lauren pocket squared are typically all more “one size fits it all” and it’s not something they pay particular attention to. It’s just something they add to round out the look, but at the retail price, I think it’s not worth it. The extra you pay there doesn’t get you a better fabric or anything better. In fact, you get less craftsmanship and less thought-through design for more money.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, if I look at Ralph Lauren Purple Label as a whole, I have to tip my hat. What they’ve accomplished is really remarkable. Ralph Lauren is a billion-dollar company, and they’re still putting out something that is inspired by classic style, that is innovative in its design and has a clear vision, and for that, I’m really grateful. Yes, the retail pricing is high, but so is the retail pricing of other luxury brands, and I feel with Ralph Lauren, you get a really, really cool style. Plus, you can often find them on sale and even more markdown than other luxury brands, so I think it is a good buy.

Yes, personally, I wouldn’t buy pretty much anything at full price, but we as a team believe that this brand really shines if you can get it from an outlet or marked down, or secondhand. For example, I have a suit that I bought probably in 2005 for a few hundred pounds, which was probably a few hundred dollars at the time; less than 500 probably, and I can still wear it today. Though I gained some weight now, it’s still good for something about that long ago. 

What’s your opinion about Ralph Lauren Purple Label? What would you buy from them? What would you rather not buy? 

Outfit Rundown

Today’s outfit is, of course, based on Ralph Lauren Purple Label. I have this beautiful suit that, again, was made in England. It is made of 98% wool, 2& cashmere in the Ralph Lauren finish. Very 1930s inspired, and I can wear it as a 6-2, which makes the lapel a little slimmer, but today, I’m wearing it as a 6-1 with those wide lapels and more shirt fronts showing through.

As I mentioned, I can’t wear their shirts because the sleeves are too short, but this is made to measure shirt that has, likewise, slim mother-of-pearl buttons, like their shirts, and a spread collar inspired by their Keaton collar.

The tie is a wide rip grosgrain brown silk tie that is also Ralph Lauren Purple Label. It complements the brown in my boutonniere, which is from Fort Belvedere, just like my white linen pocket square. You can find that in the shop, just like my two-tone solid navy socks that harmonize really well with my suit and transition neatly over into a pair of Ralph Lauren Purple Label made-in-England shoes which were made by Edward Green. They’re a pair of brown penny loafers with white suede. They’re not easy to keep clean, but they’re super stylish, and I love wearing them.

Of course, with this kind of outfit, I could also wear a nice fedora hat, even a brown one, for example, or a navy blue one. My cufflinks are these silver monkey fist knots from Fort Belvedere, and I’m pairing them with a white gold ring with an opal that has a doublet, which is black and makes it look different.

Ralph Lauren Purple Label also does have cologne, which I’ve never tried, but just looking at their scent, the packaging would have worked perfectly well with it with my suit today. Well, if you look really closely, my fabric is a rope stripe; that packaging is a pinstripe, and if you don’t know the difference, we got a separate guide for you. So, instead, I chose the fragrance Polo Green, so we stay in a Ralph Lauren family.