Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat review: worth it or skip?

Buy9.2/10 research score

Quick answer

Buy it, if you want one coat for decades. Why: double-breasted wrap coat in wool and cashmere, unchanged since 1981. The catch: oversized fit.

By Opulique Editorial Team Updated November 6, 2026 1 min read

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Our verdict on the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat

Buy it if: you want one coat for decades.
Skip it if: you want a slim, fitted cut.

Best for: The coat icon
Key feature: Double-breasted wrap coat in wool and cashmere, unchanged since 1981
Typical price: $3,990–$4,590

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

Fabric	Wool and cashmere
Length	Below the knee
Fit	Relaxed
Made in	Italy

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

you want one coat for decades
value timeless
can spend around $3,990–$4,590

Skip it if you

you want a slim, fitted cut
mind this: oversized fit
mind this: pricey

Pros and cons

Pros

Timeless
Warm
Superb fabric
Holds value

Cons

Oversized fit
Pricey

The verdict in one breath

The Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat is a women’s luxury coat we would point most people to. What earns it the buy: double-breasted wrap coat in wool and cashmere, unchanged since 1981. In our list it is the pick for: the coat icon.

Reasons to buy

Timeless
Warm
Superb fabric
Holds value

Reasons to skip

Oversized fit
Pricey

The details that matter

Fabric: Wool and cashmere
Length: Below the knee
Fit: Relaxed
Made in: Italy

Worth knowing

Choose camel for the classic.

Buy it or skip it?

Buy it if you want one coat for decades. Skip it if you want a slim, fitted cut; the Oscar de la Renta Wool Coat is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best women’s luxury coats.

Alternatives worth considering

Oscar de la Renta · Women’s luxury coats

Oscar de la Renta Wool Coat

Buy it if you want ladylike.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Ladylike coat
Typical price: $4,000–$5,500

Pros

Elegant

Cons

Pricey

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Khaite · Women’s luxury coats

Khaite Hannah Coat

Buy it if you want a modern coat.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Modern sculpted
Typical price: $3,600–$4,200

Pros

Striking
Warm

Cons

Pricey

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat?

Buy it, if you want one coat for decades. Why: double-breasted wrap coat in wool and cashmere, unchanged since 1981. The catch: oversized fit.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want a slim, fitted cut. The Oscar de la Renta Wool Coat is the better buy then.

What does the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat cost?

Usually $3,990–$4,590 in the US. Luxury houses raise prices often, so check the current price before you buy.

Opulique Editorial Team

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

How we research products Editorial policy

Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat worth the money? Short answer: buy it, if you want one coat for decades. This review explains what this Max Mara piece gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs and which women’s luxury coat to buy instead if it is not right for you.

What the Max Mara 101801 Icon Coat does well

The headline: double-breasted wrap coat in wool and cashmere, unchanged since 1981. The details: Fabric: Wool and cashmere; Length: Below the knee; Fit: Relaxed; Made in: Italy. In our list it is the pick for: the coat icon. It usually sells for $3,990–$4,590 in the US.

Choose camel for the classic.

The trade-offs

Good: timeless, warm, superb fabric, holds value. Not so good: oversized fit, pricey. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want a slim, fitted cut.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Oscar de la Renta Wool Coat ($4,000–$5,500): wool coat. Better if you want ladylike.

Instead, consider the Khaite Hannah Coat ($3,600–$4,200): wool coat with sculpted shoulders. Better if you want a modern coat.

Instead, consider the Agnona Cashmere Coat ($4,500–$6,000): cashmere coat from the mill. Better if you want mill quality.

Before you buy

Fabric: a high share of wool or cashmere (80%+) keeps you warmer than blends with polyester; double-faced wool is warm and light. Fit: try it over a sweater; shoulders should sit right and sleeves cover your wrist. Length: knee to mid-calf coats are warmest and most versatile; cropped coats are fashion pieces.

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.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.