Mackintosh® coatClick here for product page
Item 98960
Regular: $800.00
I was surprised to see that in the men's section, there was a Mackintosh coat for sale. Mackintosh (click here for their website) is known for its high-quality rain wear (and the price tag certainly reflects that quality!)
I would love to see this jacket in person. However, I doubt my local J.Crew's would carry this expensive piece (let alone in multiple sizes). This jacket is available at the Tribeca Mens Shop, though. :)I like to quickly add that I would love J.Crew to offer women's rain wear from Mackintosh too! ;) I think their coats for women are just divine. (Although, I doubt I could afford the women's coats. For now, an umbrella will have to do. And I do like my umbrella, as it is from J.Crew. ;) )
What do you think of J.Crew's partnership with Mackintosh? Would you consider purchasing a Mackintosh water-resistant coat? Do you think it is worth the retail price?
The coat costs about the same at the Mackintosh Site, and I am left wondering why J.Crew is selling other retailers' merchandise on the J.Crew site and in their stores? I know that certain brands do not sell direct (such as Born), and you are required to purchase from an official Born retailer. However, Mackintosh does sell from their site and also delivers to the US, as well. The price of the coat from Mackintosh is only a few dollars more than at J.Crew, and shipping from GB to the US by them isn't alot more than J.Crew shipping charges either. So unless you were able to get it from the Tribeca Men's store...why wouldn't you just purchase from Mackintosh KNOWING the coat is made to their standards and a true original? J.Crew should stick to making J.Crew merchandise, instead of being a distributor for other companies...IMO. :)
ReplyDeleteI am thinking of ordering the Martine Cardigan in the Heather Graphite. Seems like the color will carry to fall. Anyone have any info on this sweater? I have not seen it in person and am curiou about color, fit, anything.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Jenn: Are you talking about the sale cashmere cardi? I have it.....I think it is beautiful. It does hit pretty high on the hip (and I am fairly short 5'3"). The button at the top is stunning. Just trying to decide what to wear under it!
ReplyDeleteI have the martine in graphite. The grey is a medium tone and the trim is neon green. I love it!
ReplyDeleteI can see why J Crew wants to sell other brands for men. I think men "use" brands a lot more than women to help make their purchasing decisions and are alot more likely to spend big on an old, quality brand like Brooks Brothers, Burberry, or in this case Macintosh. Men don't spend a little money all the time like women - they spend a lot of money at once infrequently.
That's my take on it anyway. I think it's interesting and now I really want that Neon Purple Macintosh coat for women.
Pink1 - I am. The ''high hip'' thing does make me a little nervous. I am taller than you, so it might float closer to my waist region. That would not be flattring with my shape. May I ask which color you bought? If it is the grey/green combo, will that green stretch to the fall or is it too bright? Thanks for any info.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Molly. Men do like brands.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think J Crew does this to align with certain brands psychologically. This seems to be more about portraying an equality with a Mackintosh product than selling the Macs. Not that they don't want to sell them, but the partnership can do a lot for their male branding.
jenn brak: I agree with you about the crew trying to align themselves with these higher-end brands to improve consumer's perception of them. For example, they're doing this with Rolex as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that don't expect to make many sales on the watch through their website. I believe anyone wanting to purchase a Rolex and drop that kind of many is going to want to do it through a reputable jeweler, most like one they already have a relationship with.
I believe this is more for perception's sake than for actual sales/profit. It's just another attempt to move into the more high-end/exclusive market.
many = money
ReplyDeleteThe Mac for sale looks great, too bad I don't need one.
ReplyDeleteI think J.Crew is doing this to help set a tone and give direction to where they are going. Most likely they will only sell a few of these, but it shows us the feeling they are after. Just like the very expensive luggage being shown and the watches. J.Crew is trying to give a full look at the ideal man in terms of J.Crew and what he has.
J.Crew is doing their homework and seeing how setting an atmosphere/feeling can spin greater sales. They are being honest and not saying we make the best period, but we are sourcing the best and getting it all under one roof.
Hi there. Just placed an order and want you to know that SHIP and SHOP are no longer valid discount codes. Thanks for keeping me up to date on all J Crew goings on!
ReplyDeleteWow! Great responses! I completely agree about men preferring established brands, and I also see that J.Crew is trying to sell a *lifestyle*, as opposed to alot of this type of merchandise. This does go right in line with their attempts to move into the higher end market, as well. Mickey has talked frequently about J.Crew *partnering* with higher end established brands, and he obviously intends to continue in this direction.
ReplyDeleteJcrew Guy In Canada said it so well:
"J.Crew is doing their homework and seeing how setting an atmosphere/feeling can spin greater sales. They are being honest and not saying we make the best period, but we are sourcing the best and getting it all under one roof."
I have to say while I realize what they are doing and why...I wish they could decide to focus on J.Crew merchandise and keep our costs down. I think all this extra advertising and *partnering* has the potential to cost us in the end, as we will be the one's to ultimately pay in higher priced *non-collection* clothing. :(
Thanks FFM. I just did another order. See me post under the website thread and let me know what you ladies think.
ReplyDeleteJenn....I got the grey/green too. Totally think the green will carry into fall. I bought it just for fall. I'm a stay at home mom so mine will be paired w/ jeans and a cami (not sure which color/style yet). It really is beautiful and a great price. I just tried it on again...it definitely hits right at my hip bone. I am fairly short waisted though.
ReplyDeleteThe coat is beautiful, but I showed my DH and he said, Wait a second...he comes back downstairs with something like looks *exactly* like this Mackintosh (but in black) from Kenneth Cole (http://www.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=282455&PartnerID=FROOGLE&BannerID=PD563)..which he got at Sierra Trading Post for $150! Man, my DH is such a killjoy LOL!
ReplyDeleteBut Mickey is smart - he is putting that lifestyle thing right out there for men and women. I noticed too that the watches on line and in catalog are vintage Rolex, which has a different air about it than standard Rolexes from jewelers.
So I have a question about the higher end merchandise...what happens when the season ends and they are moving out inventory?
ReplyDeleteFor instance, I was waiting for the 2007 borge garveri bags (anya) to show up on the sale pages and when they did, they were not *that* inexpensive..so I passed. But then I never saw them at the outlets, ebay, etc. Do they just not make a lot of/import their higher end items?
My husband dresses extremely well. He could care less about brand names....he just wants a nicely made garment...almost everything is made in China so we look at the garment and decide from there whether it is Target, JCrew, or Whatever store!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a very finicky shopper. He checks labels for material content, where it is made etc. He does not care to wear logos but he buys quality, expensive garments. When he buys a Brioni suit, he does it because he enjoys wearing it..but to the casual eye there is nothing that says that it is 3K suit.
ReplyDeleteBut I am not sure that he will go to purchase expensive items from JCrew. He sees JCrew as a quality casual wear store. Just his mindset.
FFM- your point about some brands only selling direct, and not through other partners is a good one. There's more control over quality and the product itself, IMHO, and some retailers probably don't want to water down their brands.
ReplyDeleteToo much partnering by JCrew could wind up hurting them because they'd lose the core image and the uniqueness of the brand. One of the things I like most about JCrew is the style, so if the focus turns away from design, and more toward lifestyle where they are leveraging other brands, it would seem to me like their brand/style is being diluted.
I wouldn't buy a Rolex or a Mackintosh from JCrew because it's conveniently located in the same shop. I'd rather go to a jeweler or Mackintosh store where I can have the full line to choose from and know that there's someone there to take care of it if I have any issues with the product down the line (watches, in particular can require a certain amount of maintenance).
Consumers are savy and can put together and shop for items from different brands elsewhere, so JCrew needs to be able to keep them coming back for JCrew items first and foremost, IMO.
savy = savvy
ReplyDeleteOf course! Brand alignment makes the most sense.
ReplyDeleteI too would not buy a Rolex from J Crew, but I would buy a Macintosh if they offered them for women.
I can't afford a Rolex at all, but since J Crew started selling them, I've been casing used ones on Ebay. Still can't afford them even when they are used - maybe I'll reward myself when I pay off my J Crew card, Haha
Molly - Thanks for the info on the Martine. Think I will go for it. I actually did buy my Rolex used from Ebay. I got an amazing price and it all checked out as legit when I had it looked over by a reputable jeweler. GeneralWar was the seller. Remember him when you get that charge paid off!
ReplyDeletePink1 - Didn't mean to leave you out. Thanks for your take on the Martine too.
ReplyDeleteJenn, thanks so much for the tip! Appears that seller doesn't have any used at the moment, but I will keep my eyes peeled. Thank you thank you thank you!
ReplyDeleteMolly - Actually, I think most of his watches are pre-owned and reconditioned to new. It just might not be in title. If you read the entire description, you will see.
ReplyDeleteI saw the Mackintosh coat and I have to say... it looked sloppy. Not impressed!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a nice coat, but I would not pay anywhere near $800 for one.
ReplyDeleteJ Crew actually comes up with the pattern and design of the coat and sends it to Mackintosh to produce it based on Crew's design. Mackintosh has done the same with Hermes and Louis Vuitton so the coat is actually a genuine Crew item.
ReplyDeleteIn general, the best practice when adjusting spacing between words is to visualize the width of a lowercase "L" in the font that's being used, and then make the space between each word that wide. Branded t shirts
ReplyDelete