Apparently
I wasn't the only one a little put out by Hoorenbeek cashing in on finally releasing their mesh tux by charging twice for the whole outfit for the option of having the jacket open or closed. Additionally, in a notecard issued today, Hoorenbeek admits to unspecified 'problems' with the formal closed jacket version -
this marketplace review is probably what they are talking about.
So this weekend they released a complete version in one. Jacket open, jacket closed, loose tie tied tie, with or without jacket at all, vest options - this is quite frankly the Hoorenbeek tux they should have released in the first place. Did L&B's feature heavy and spectacularly beautiful formal wear tux release panic them into releasing this tux too early? And why are the flawed open and closed almost featureless versions still available on Marketplace to trap the unwary into paying the same price for a crippled version that they could for this final version with all its options?
And what about the people who bought the stunted, in some cases broken versions? Will they be given refunds or free upgrades to this ultimate version? I've experienced Hoorenbeek's unwillingness to consider refunding or replacing items that don't work for customers - one of their mesh sweater combos made my eyeballs bulge out of their sockets - their response was 'oh that's interesting.' no refund or replacement was forthcoming.
In comparison with the eager and friendly service of an outlet like L&B who respond with alacrity to customer issues and seem to really care about how their outfits look on you - its a stark difference. When I once had a delivery problem with an L&B single jacket they immediately shipped me the fat-pack.
Its a good combo, now, but here's a head to head comparison with the L&B classic tux for 261 L less:
First
Hoorenbeek's mesh tuxedo for 960 L, you get more shape options, jacket open or closed, tie tied or hanging loose, with or without vest or jacket. In order to not look too big on me I have to wear small and it makes me a little thin but the lines are great, elegant and classy.
It's a definite improvement over the first version but even this fix seems rushed; the no
tecards that come with the outfit mention color change HUDs for shirt tie and handkerchief that the outfit doesn't contain!
But it comes with a texture HUD like all of their many men's formal wear outfits and you can do multiple variations of colour and texture on shirt, tie and jacket. It comes with a nifty cummerbund unlike Hoorenbeek too.
The biggest difference to my mind is that L&Bs tux like all their outfits lovingly sculpts their outfits with the underlying musculature in mind. There are curves and bulges and a sense of the 3d shape underneath the clothes that Hoorenbeek subsumes to the shape of the clothes. I could almost wear L&B stuff without an alpha. With Hoorenbeek that would make me look like I was wearing some scattered rags.
These are both good outfits now but I still have a clear preference for the L&B version.
