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Comparison Women’s luxury coats

Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat vs Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat: which one should you buy?

Quick answer

Buy the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat if you want one coat for decades. Buy the Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat instead if you want the ultimate Max Mara coat.

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Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat
Buy

Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat

Best for The coat icon

Typically $3,990–$4,590

Check Price on Amazon Paid link
Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat
Buy

Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat

Best for Cashmere icon

Typically $6,900–$7,900

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Quick comparison

FeatureMax Mara 101801 Icon CoatMax Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat
VerdictBuyBuy
Typical price$3,990–$4,590$6,900–$7,900
Best forThe coat iconCashmere icon
Key featureDouble-breasted wrap coat in wool and cashmere, unchanged since 1981Pure cashmere wrap coat
FabricWool and cashmereCashmere
LengthBelow the kneeBelow the knee
FitRelaxedRelaxed
Made inItalyItaly
Where to buyCheck Price Paid linkCheck Price Paid link

Main differences

Fabric

Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat: Wool and cashmere; Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat: Cashmere.

Length

Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat: Below the knee; Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat: Below the knee.

Fit

Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat: Relaxed; Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat: Relaxed.

Made in

Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat: Italy; Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat: Italy.

Why buy it

Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat: double-breasted wrap coat in wool and cashmere, unchanged since 1981; Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat: pure cashmere wrap coat.

Made for

Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat: the coat icon; Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat: cashmere icon.

Usual price

Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat: $3,990–$4,590; Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat: $6,900–$7,900.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat if you

  • you want one coat for decades
  • value timeless
Check Price Paid link

Choose the Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat if you

  • you want the ultimate Max Mara coat
  • value exceptional cashmere
Check Price Paid link

If neither feels right

Neither is the only answer. See every piece we would buy (and the ones we would skip) in our list of the best women’s luxury coats.

Not sure about either? Consider these

Burberry Kensington Heritage Trench

Burberry · Women’s luxury coats

Burberry Kensington Heritage Trench

Buy it if you want the original trench.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Trench reference
Typical price
$2,390–$2,790

Pros

  • Iconic
  • Durable gabardine

Cons

  • Not warm alone
Max Mara Manuela Coat

Max Mara · Women’s luxury coats

Max Mara Manuela Coat

Buy it if you want a soft, belted camel coat.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Belted classic
Typical price
$3,290–$3,790

Pros

  • Soft camel hair
  • Flattering belt

Cons

  • Pills over time

Frequently asked questions

Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat or Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat: which should I buy?

Buy the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat if you want one coat for decades. Buy the Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat instead if you want the ultimate Max Mara coat.

Is the price difference worth it?

The Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat usually costs $3,990–$4,590 and the Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat $6,900–$7,900. Pay more only if the differences above matter to you.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat or Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat: the full reasoning

Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat or Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat? Both are strong women’s luxury coats, which is exactly why the choice is hard. The short version first: buy the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat if you want one coat for decades, and buy the Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat if you want the ultimate Max Mara coat. The rest of this page explains why, with usual US prices.

Where they differ

The Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat wins on double-breasted wrap coat in wool and cashmere, unchanged since 1981. The Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat answers with pure cashmere wrap coat. Fabric: Wool and cashmere on the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat, Cashmere on the Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat. Length: Below the knee on the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat, Below the knee on the Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat. Fit: Relaxed on the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat, Relaxed on the Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat. Made in: Italy on the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat, Italy on the Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat.

Reasons to buy the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat

Timeless, Warm, Superb fabric. What to accept: oversized fit, pricey. Usual price: $3,990–$4,590. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat review.

Reasons to buy the Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat

Exceptional cashmere, Timeless. What to accept: pricey, delicate. Usual price: $6,900–$7,900. Our verdict: buy. Read the full Max Mara Ludmilla Cashmere Icon Coat review.

Neither one?

Our list of the best women’s luxury coats has every other piece with its own call. Fabric: a high share of wool or cashmere (80%+) keeps you warmer than blends with polyester; double-faced wool is warm and light.

Also consider the Burberry Kensington Heritage Trench ($2,390–$2,790): cotton gabardine trench made in England. Buy it if you want the original trench.

Also consider the Max Mara Manuela Coat ($3,290–$3,790): camel hair wrap coat with a belt. Buy it if you want a soft, belted camel coat.

Buyer tip

Classic coats (the Max Mara 101801, a Burberry trench) are rarely discounted; seasonal colors and cuts drop 30–50% in January.

Buying in Europe: Italian (IT 38, 40, 42) and French (FR 36, 38, 40) clothing sizes are not the same; IT 40 is about a US 4 and an FR 36. Check each house’s chart, and keep returns in mind when you order from another country.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.