J. Crew Manolo Blahnik Collaboration Debuts At Fashion Week (PHOTOS)

They say money talks -- at least it talks to fashion designers.

After stating definitely that he would not be doing any sort of mass-market collaborations, Manolo Blahnik has joined with J. Crew for a line of their Bebe heels.

Fashionista got the scoop at today's J. Crew presentation, reporting that the retailer will sell a line of heels in a "J.Crew-exclusive prints" and color on JCrew.com.

The news comes as a surprise, given that just last month 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."

But Jenna Lyons, who's expressed interest in a luxury shoe collaboration in the past, has apparently turned Manolo's anti-collab frown upside down. We could cynically surmise that it was money that changed Manolo's mind, but we're guessing he's got enough of that.

What's more likely is that this collaboration meets Blahnik's standards of not "polluting the brand." Word is that the shoes won't be that much cheaper than your average Manolos -- J. Crew's Bebe heels retail for about $550 to begin with and the collab is more of a "Manolo heels sold at J. Crew" situation than "J. Crew shoes designed by Manolo."

In other words, don't crack open your wallet just yet.

Head to Fashionista.com to read more and see a few pairs of Manolo-J. Crew footwear gorgeousness below.

Comments

[SkreetGil1]

07:57 PM on 02/15/2012

Are we really getting rid of the stripper shoes?

[sf girl]

11:57 PM on 02/14/2012

Those shoes look painful.

[carolinespears]

10:08 PM on 02/14/2012

Money always talks to a fashion designer
http://www.wearingsales.com

[logic-a-go-go]

08:25 PM on 02/14/2012

Does the model in photo #10 have on the ol' fake nose and glasses? Where is the fake mustache?

[Cynth]

10:59 PM on 02/14/2012

It's Jenna Lyons's look, which pretty much looks like a fake nose & glasses...

[syds180turn]

05:27 PM on 02/14/2012

Well, that's why Isaac Mizrahi, Vera Wang and some other prominent designers are making tons of money, they know that mass marketing their product is the only way to survive in today's economy. Yes they still have their Haute Couture lines, but they're well aware of the fact that couture lines don't necessarily keep a company in the black. Valentino learned that the hard way. Let's face it, celebrities and other high profile people get their Manolo's for free and it's the publicity they bring to the designer. Us regulars, have to buy what we want and we're really not his market. Though I do have some of his shoes, but I bought and collected them over the years...I certainly didn't have them handed to me. In the end, J. Crew offered a significant amount of money for the "honor" to sell his shoes in their retail outlets...and doesn't money usually win out in the end.