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Comparison Women’s blazers and tailoring

Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket vs The Row Essentials Blazer: which one should you buy?

Quick answer

Buy the Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket if you want the original women’s tuxedo. Buy the The Row Essentials Blazer instead if you want quiet tailoring.

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Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket
Buy

Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket

Best for The original tux

Typically $3,800–$4,400

Check Price on Amazon Paid link
The Row Essentials Blazer
Buy

The Row Essentials Blazer

Best for Quiet tailoring

Typically $3,000–$3,800

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Quick comparison

FeatureSaint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo JacketThe Row Essentials Blazer
VerdictBuyBuy
Typical price$3,800–$4,400$3,000–$3,800
Best forThe original tuxQuiet tailoring
Key featureGrain de poudre tuxedo jacketRelaxed wool blazer
FabricGrain de poudre woolWool
ConstructionCanvassedCanvassed
FitSlimRelaxed
Made inItalyItaly
Where to buyCheck Price Paid linkCheck Price Paid link

Main differences

Fabric

Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket: Grain de poudre wool; The Row Essentials Blazer: Wool.

Construction

Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket: Canvassed; The Row Essentials Blazer: Canvassed.

Fit

Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket: Slim; The Row Essentials Blazer: Relaxed.

Made in

Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket: Italy; The Row Essentials Blazer: Italy.

Why buy it

Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket: grain de poudre tuxedo jacket; The Row Essentials Blazer: relaxed wool blazer.

Made for

Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket: the original tux; The Row Essentials Blazer: quiet tailoring.

Usual price

Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket: $3,800–$4,400; The Row Essentials Blazer: $3,000–$3,800.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket if you

  • you want the original women’s tuxedo
  • value iconic
Check Price Paid link

Choose the The Row Essentials Blazer if you

  • you want quiet tailoring
  • value logo-free
Check Price Paid link

If neither feels right

Neither is the only answer. See every piece we would buy (and the ones we would skip) in our list of the best women’s blazers and tailoring.

Not sure about either? Consider these

Max Mara Wool Blazer

Max Mara · Women’s blazers and tailoring

Max Mara Wool Blazer

Buy it if you want a quality office blazer.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Workhorse blazer
Typical price
$1,400–$2,000

Pros

  • Quality
  • Versatile

Cons

  • Plain
Giorgio Armani Unstructured Jacket

Giorgio Armani · Women’s blazers and tailoring

Giorgio Armani Unstructured Jacket

Buy it if you want fluid, comfortable tailoring.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Fluid tailoring
Typical price
$2,500–$3,500

Pros

  • Comfortable
  • Fine fabrics

Cons

  • Soft shoulders

Frequently asked questions

Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket or The Row Essentials Blazer: which should I buy?

Buy the Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket if you want the original women’s tuxedo. Buy the The Row Essentials Blazer instead if you want quiet tailoring.

Is the price difference worth it?

The Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket usually costs $3,800–$4,400 and the The Row Essentials Blazer $3,000–$3,800. Pay more only if the differences above matter to you.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket or The Row Essentials Blazer: the full reasoning

Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket or The Row Essentials Blazer? Both are strong women’s blazers and tailoring, which is exactly why the choice is hard. The short version first: buy the Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket if you want the original women’s tuxedo, and buy the The Row Essentials Blazer if you want quiet tailoring. The rest of this page explains why, with usual US prices.

Where they differ

The Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket wins on grain de poudre tuxedo jacket. The The Row Essentials Blazer answers with relaxed wool blazer. Fabric: Grain de poudre wool on the Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket, Wool on the The Row Essentials Blazer. Construction: Canvassed on the Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket, Canvassed on the The Row Essentials Blazer. Fit: Slim on the Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket, Relaxed on the The Row Essentials Blazer. Made in: Italy on the Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket, Italy on the The Row Essentials Blazer.

Reasons to buy the Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket

Iconic, Sharp. What to accept: pricey, slim. Usual price: $3,800–$4,400. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Saint Laurent Le Smoking Tuxedo Jacket review.

Reasons to buy the The Row Essentials Blazer

Logo-free, Superb. What to accept: pricey. Usual price: $3,000–$3,800. Our verdict: buy. Read the full The Row Essentials Blazer review.

Neither one?

Our list of the best women’s blazers and tailoring has every other piece with its own call. Shoulder fit: the shoulder is the one part tailors cannot really alter, so fit that first.

Also consider the Max Mara Wool Blazer ($1,400–$2,000): single-breasted wool blazer. Buy it if you want a quality office blazer.

Also consider the Giorgio Armani Unstructured Jacket ($2,500–$3,500): soft unstructured jacket. Buy it if you want fluid, comfortable tailoring.

Buyer tip

Suits from great houses are among the best value in end-of-season sales, because classic navy, black and gray barely change from year to year.

Buying in Europe: Italian (IT 38, 40, 42) and French (FR 36, 38, 40) clothing sizes are not the same; IT 40 is about a US 4 and an FR 36. Check each house’s chart, and keep returns in mind when you order from another country.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.