Hugo Boss Vs BOSS: What’s The Difference?

We only feature products that we hope you will love. We may earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you.  

You may have seen Hugo Boss or just BOSS when online shopping or as adverts but have you wondered if there is a difference? Well, we’ve got the details you need to know to distinguish Hugo Boss vs BOSS.

The German fashion house, Hugo Boss, has a long history of creating expertly tailored men’s suits and beautiful women’s clothing as well as accessories, footwear, and fragrances for men and women. This luxury brand has grown greatly since its origins in the 1920s and is now one of the largest German clothing companies.

Hugo Boss has recently rebranded with a new logo and a new layout, and we’ve got all the details you need to know to work out the differences between Hugo Boss, BOSS, and any other labels within this brand.

Hugo Boss vs BOSS

The History of Hugo Boss

Hugo Boss founded his eponymous brand in 1924, in Metzingen, Germany, and began by creating general-purpose utilitarian clothing, including jackets, raincoats, shirts, and sportswear for men and women. The fashion house steadily grew and became successful until the Second World War.

After World War II, the Hugo Boss brand was run by Eugen Holy, Hugo Boss’s son-in-law, and created top-quality men’s suits by 1950, the brand has 150 employees. Hugo Boss adapted to the change in how people were shopping and began selling ready-made suits by 1960, instead of the usual custom-tailored options.


Eugen Holy’s sons took over the label and expanded Hugo Boss to become a global brand. Growth continued with Boss brand suits and their sponsorship of McLaren Racing Team and successful Formula One driver Niki Lauda.

Hugo Boss is innovative with its designs, investing in contemporary technology for the tailoring made-to-measure program and, in 2020, creating a vegan men’s suit using materials and dyes that are all vegan.

The fashion house added more sub-brands under the umbrella of Hugo Boss, including Hugo Boss Orange, Hugo Boss Green, Hugo Boss Black, and BOSS Hugo Boss. However, recently the brand has become more streamlined and has received a new look to fit in line with contemporary consumers – all of which we will explore shortly.

The clothing brand’s new campaigns feature Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Joan Smalls, rappers Future and SAINt JHN, and actor Lee Min-Ho to attract youthful Gen Z consumers.

The Differences between Hugo Boss Vs BOSS

Hugo Boss has changed greatly over the years so you may be wondering what all the different Hugo Boss labels offer, which ones have recently been discontinued, and what are the differences – we’ve got everything you need to know.

Hugo Boss is no longer a separate brand of its own with its own clothing collection. Hugo Boss is instead a leading trademark, under which a couple of sub-brands sit. This system is not uncommon, with Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren both including sub-brands under their main label.

The BOSS Label

BOSS Hugo Boss creates sophisticated, high-quality designs for men and women, with a focus on smart design and exquisite tailoring. BOSS Menswear includes smartly tailored suits, as well as casual and sportswear so that men can create an entire wardrobe just from the BOSS menswear brand.

While the BOSS womenswear collection includes business wear, evening wear, and casual clothing, again with an emphasis on tailoring and modern design for a complete wardrobe for women.

The athleisure pieces that you would have found under the BOSS Green brand, and the casual style that were sold under Boss Orange are now all included under the BOSS brand, with the separate Green and Orange labels discontinued.

The HUGO Label

HUGO Hugo Boss is the brand’s sub-label with more of a focus on fashion trends and a strong casual influence, more targeted toward younger customers.

To attract Gen Z consumers, Hugo Boss started the #howdoyouhugo campaign, proving very popular on social media and generating more interest and awareness of this new addition to the Hugo Boss brand.


The HUGO collections for men and women are all about bold looks and streetwear-inspired designs to create clothing for customers who want to go their own way.

It is also worth noting that the HUGO label is around 30% cheaper than the BOSS label, indicating the strategies that Hugo Boss was going for when creating these two different collections. Another difference is that there are more BOSS stores, while the HUGO collection is often exclusively sold online.

Our Favorite Hugo Vs Boss Products For Women

Here are a few different products from each label do display the difference between BOSS and HUGO to help you decide which sub-label is better suited to you, or perhaps it’s a combination of both!

1. crossbody bags
Black BOSS Hugo Boss Olivia Crossbody Bag
Get this on Nordstrom
Black HUGO Vinyl-Effect Quilted Shoulder Bag With Logo-Chain Strap
Get this on Hugo Boss

The BOSS Olivia Crossbody bag has an ultra sleek and minimalist design if you are looking for the perfect handy little crossbody bag to throw on to run errands.

The black durable polyester has been embossed with the BOSS logo to add a subtle logo design to the textured bag. The adjustable black strap and the pocketed interior are so practical, ensuring this bag has it all. The Olivia Crossbody is also available for just $150.

HUGO has a similarly sleek and minimalist handbag, the Vinyl-Effect Quilted Shoulder Bag! Made from polyurethane with a glossy black finish, this bag has been quilted in a grid pattern and then decorated with the HUGO logo in black for a tonal look.

The front flap opens to a roomy interior, fitted with a handy little pocket, the ideal size to fit all your daily essentials. This bag is finished with a polished silver chain strap, featuring the HUGO brand name, and retails for $160.

2. sneakers
Beige BOSS Mixed-Material Lace-Up Trainers With Leather Facings
Get these on Hugo Boss
White, pink, orange, and grey HUGO Hybrid Trainers With Logo Details
Get these on Hugo Boss

These neutral-toned sneakers are an essential part of your wardrobe since they will suit so many different outfits.

The BOSS Mixed-Material Lace-Up Sneakers are crafted from a range of different materials, including leather, cotton canvas, and faux suede for a stunning textural look, then finished with a thick rubber sole for a comfortable feel. The BOSS name is printed on the heel of the shoe in white for a subtle branded finish. These sneakers are also available in pink and retail for just $199.

If you are looking for a pair of sneakers that are a little more fashion-forward and striking, then the HUGO Hybrid Sneakers are just what you need in your life.

These shoes have a thick, sculpted rubber sole and a bold design for that uber-cool statement sneaker look that has reached fashion icon status this year. Available in light orange or white and grey colorway, these sneakers are bound to make an eye-catching statement to any outfit.

3. T-Shirts
White and pink BOSS X Alica Schmidt Stretch-Cotton T-Shirt With Logo
Get this on Hugo Boss
White HUGO Cotton-Jersey Slim-Fit T-Shirt With Graffiti-Style Logo
Get this on Hugo Boss

Logomania is a big trend this year, and both BOSS and HUGO offer the perfect t-shirts you need in your wardrobe.

The BOSS t-shirt is made from super soft sustainably sourced white cotton and then is printed with BOSS in pink, block capital letters for a bold design.

This t-shirt is actually made in collaboration with the German athlete Alica Schmidt, so the BOSS name features reflective details meaning this top is ideal for any outdoor exercise. The boxy fit and short sleeves mean you can style this t-shirt in so many different ways.

The HUGO brand t-shirt is also made from a responsibly-sourced cotton blend, with a little extra stretch for a flatting slim fit silhouette. The HUGO logo decorates the front in a graffiti-style font.

The minimalist style of this t-shirt gives it a relaxed vibe, while the longer length makes it perfect to tuck into a pair of jeans or a skirt – super versatile. This t-shirt is also available in black, so there are options to suit any style, and it is available for just $88.

4. Dresses
Navy BOSS Slim-Fit Stretch-Cotton Shirt Dress With Belted Closure
Get this on Hugo Boss
Black and white HUGO Slim-Fit Dress In Printed Mesh With Drawstring Sides
Get this on Hugo Boss

Both labels offer really stunning womenswear collections, as these two dresses show – it really just depends on your style as to which one to opt for! The BOSS design is more of a smart, work dress that is so chic and sophisticated.

The navy shirt dress features wide short sleeves, a button front, and a wide-belted waist – just change your shoes and add some jewelry to transform this dress into a dinner look. The shirt-tail hem finishes just above the knee to ensure the perfect polished look – available for $495 and comes in a pale green shade too.

This HUGO Slim-Fit Dress perfectly represents the fun, playful, and youthful style of the HUGO brand. This dress is made from a zebra-print mesh, which is super stylish at the moment, and finished with drawstrings at the sides so you can adapt the length and style the ruching detail to suit you.

The mesh ensures a body-con type fit, making this dress perfect for a night out – just add strappy black heels for a stunning evening look. This fashionable dress is available for just $248.

Conclusion

The new look of Hugo Boss makes it even easier to find the exact right look for you, whatever your style is.

Although Hugo Boss itself is no longer a separate brand offering its own clothing collection, its sub-brands BOSS and HUGO off beautiful collections for men and women, whether you are looking for something for work or some casual attire. It just depends on the look you are going for as to which is better for you.

Head to BOSS if you are after a polished, chic look – plus, it is particularly great if you are looking for tailored workwear, there are loads of incredible options you will love. However, if you for a more fashion-forward, trend-led label, then HUGO is the one for you.

Their collections bring the best trends together with contemporary, sophisticated designs that Hugo Boss has been known for, for nearly 100 years.

Both brands offer incredible clothes, shoes, and accessories – it just depends on whether you are off to work or a night out as to which one you should go for!

We hope you found this analysis of Hugo Boss vs BOSS interesting. For more luxury fashion content, check out the links below.

Get more luxury fashion ideas

25 Best First Designer Bags That Are Completely Gorgeous

30 Best Designer Camera Bags Ideal For Any Style

Is DKNY A Luxury Brand? Here’s All You Need To Know

Browse All Luxury Fashion Posts

Similar Posts