Nine West Does Denim

youll always be known as the intern who didnt go to paris.jpg
Strategies Nine West used to break out of their mall brand ID:

Pairing with Vivienne Westwood, Thakoon, and Sophia Kokosalaki.
Problem: the shoes were too expensive for most Nine West girls, but too cheaply made for $250 shoes.

Creating a premium Nine West line of more expensive, fashion forward shoes.
Problem: girls didn’t want to pay $200 for Nine West shoes when they could pay $200 for Manolos on sale.

Ripping off runway styles from other designers.
Problem: It was so obvious, and judging from your reactions, so unappealing.

So now they’re trying something that has nothing to do with shoes:

This fall, Nine West is doing a huge push to introduce a new denim line, as seen in Macy’s. There are new advertisements, new cuts, new washes, and - we suspect - a new hope that jeans can broaden the brand, and make them more relevant in a market where girls will spend $300 on heels at Bergdorf, or $20 on wedges at Aldo, but not much in between.

The jeans cost about $60, but would you ever buy them?

posted by Phoebe

Jul 09, 2007 10:28AM

I personally wouldn't buy them unless they fit magically well. Judging from that photo, I'll stick with my no!

posted by Cail

Jul 09, 2007 10:36AM

If they can make a model's rear view look pancake-y, I would hate to see what they would do to me. No thanks!

posted by sadie

Jul 09, 2007 11:06AM

Well judging by the reviews left on the Macy's site these jeans appear to be best for ladies with a steeper waist/hip ratio which is actually kind of a hard fit to find. True hourglass figures are rarely the templates designers use. Jeans are all about fit. If this fit works for you it will look more expensive anyways. I am not a big brand person, I tend to only buy based on fit and sometimes I am surprised.

posted by Laia

Jul 09, 2007 11:33AM

Im pretty un-snobby when it comes to jeans, so if they looked cool i might try them on and if they fit well then id definitely buy them. its all about fit, really, and the cheaper the better!

posted by Chels

Jul 09, 2007 11:42AM

It doesn't bother me that they're Nine West, but I wouldn't buy them because they look like my mom's jeans. Which is a good thing for people like my mom, but I don't think that's exactly the market they're trying to tap into. Although my mom loves Nine West shoes, too, as do I.

posted by leia

Jul 09, 2007 12:11PM

No! I wouldn't try them (they look like mom jeans)
But you bring up a really interesting point about how people are only buying either really cheap or really expensive. It seems that every brand in the middle is suffering.

posted by I don't just like you. I like you, like you.

Jul 09, 2007 12:15PM

i agree with all the comments. its about fit not really brand for jeans. These nine west jeans look terrible but who knows right?

posted by Cassette Love

Jul 09, 2007 12:52PM

The crosshatch wash alone gets a no.

posted by jean genie

Jul 09, 2007 1:54PM

as everyone else said, i wouldn't have a problem buying jeans from nine west if the fit was right etc but i would never buy those particular jeans

also, it says they are slim-fit? weird. i thought they were those wide-leg trouser jean things. idk

posted by astrid

Jul 09, 2007 2:25PM

those pockets alone would keep (i think) most of the demographic they're missing from buying these jeans. i associate flap pockets on pants with clothes for small children and older women.

posted by Bonnie Lass

Jul 09, 2007 3:15PM

Sweet! Vintage Jordache!

Oooh, never mind ...

posted by Faran

Jul 09, 2007 3:17PM

ha! very funny.

posted by sicksix

Jul 10, 2007 3:11PM

the pocket placement is awful and if that is the BEST representation of those jeans they could make i dont think they will do well at all. also there are a lot of other jeans(with more flattering photos) in that price bracket that they will be competing with (50-120) which will hurt them