Word on the fasionista streets is that J. Crew and Manolo Blahnik will be doing a collaboration line, date to be announced, by releasing 41 styles in the classic Manolo BB style classic pump. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?  Well, read the fine print before you call your contractor to expand your shoe closet.  This isn’t the Missoni for Target or the Alberta Ferretti for Macy’s type of collaboration, oh no, it’s a collaboration horse of a totally different color.

Manolo Blahnik USA president George Malkemus told Footwear News “It’s a way of bringing high and low together.”

Um, really?  The Manolos, the shoes are expected to sell online and in select J.Crew stores under the Blahnik name, will be selling at J.Crew for $595….around the same price as a regular pair of Manolos.

So, why is this a deal?

Well, Glamour Fashion was quoted as saying that the Manolo styles for J. Crew are “fun and playful and completely cute.”  

Which begs the question, why bother?  Why doesn’t the Manolo Blahnik brand just make them themselves without being under the umbrella of J.Crew?  I’m sorry, “fun and playful and completely cute” does not cut the mustard for me and I find it even more baffling considering Manolo Blahnik told the Wall Street Journal “I recently turned down a lot of money to create a mass-market type product. I don’t want to make that sort of money if I am polluting my brand.”

Perhaps, Manolo Blahnik feels that offering his shoe line for J. Crew at the same price point he sells his own shoes makes him feel less like he is polluting his brand…but, I’m still left wondering, why bother?  What is the point?

What do you think?