Critics Blast Nordstrom's $425 ‘Muddy Jeans’

For only $425 plus tax, anyone can look like they're "not afraid to get down and dirty," reads Nordstrom's product description for its new "muddy jeans." From the creators of the $85 pet rock in a leather pouch and high-waisted mom jeans with clear plastic knee “windows” comes blue jeans coated with fake mud for when you want to look like you were actually working outside, without actually having to work outside. The 100 percent cotton straight leg pants — which are made in Portugal by Prps and sold under the brand name Barracuda — are described on Nordstrom's website as “heavily distressed” and embody “rugged, Americana workwear that’s seen some hard-working action.”

Total Retail's Take: I can't tell if Nordstrom actually thought this was a good idea or it's simply just looking for some buzz (it could use some based on its latest financials). My inclination is that it's the latter. There are too many smart people working at the Seattle-based retailer to think that consumers would be willing spend $425 for jeans that look like they need to be immediately thrown in the washing machine. And if Nordstrom was looking for buzz from the unique product offering, it succeeded. The internet exploded with feedback, with the vast majority of it critical and mocking of Nordstrom. You know what they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity. Whether that's true is a whole other story …