Stuart Vevers crafted a collection that celebrates the simple joy of dressing up without leaning too ornate or too restrained.
In the world of accessible luxury, Coach is the cool kid. Since ditching its “mom bag” rep and becoming Gen Z’s favorite “it” bag maker in 2022, Coach has been all about expressive luxury—putting self-expression, sustainability, and culture front and center instead of just classic styles and price tags.
The American fashion house’s Gen Z-centric narrative continues in its Fall/Winter 2026 collection, which captures how New York’s youth culture transcends borders. Creative director Stuart Vevers designed this new drop as one that “looks to American fashion as a mindset beyond the bounds of geography—one that extends from Seventh Avenue sportswear to utilitarian workwear, and from youth.”
He took iconic elements of classic Americana and modernized them for a new wave of bold, forward-thinking, and creative style enthusiasts. The show was staged at the Neo-Renaissance Cunard Building, which, with its sharp, dramatic light, provided a great contrast to a collection that gradually transitioned from nostalgic sepia to radiant technicolor splendor.
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The opening looks featured grungy, grayscale layers that referenced skate culture, prep-school styling, and a reinterpretation of classic American sportswear. They set the tone for the rest of the collection that celebrates the simple joy of dressing up without leaning too ornate or too restrained.
It moved confidently between tailored sportswear and evening wear. Vintage-inspired jerseys mingled with reinvented denim pieces. Flared trousers, wool A-line skirts, sharply cut blazers—some turned inside out to reveal their linings—balance the tailored precision of the 1940s with the laid-back ease of the 1970s.
Jackets ranging from denim to pattered cotton were the standout pieces of the collection. Patchwork blazers worn wide open emphasized the house’s commitment to sustainability and circular fashion. Others were reconstructed in slim-fitting silhouettes, completing a range of outerwear that seamlessly combined retro charm and contemporary edge.
What’s also surprising in this collection is that Vevers’ inspiration struck while he was watching the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz with his children. It was infused into the lineup not as a design theme but a guide, through how the dark checks and varsity-inspired looks transitioned to bold and vibrant evening gowns, as if Dorothy was being welcomed to the Land of the Oz.
It was also evident in how Vevers revamped the classic silhouette with clinched waists, strong shoulders, cut-outs and shimmering appliqués. These gowns conversed with high-necked dresses that channel classic contours, sharpened by a hint of grunge.
And like The Wizard of Oz, the Coach Fall/Winter 2026 collection tells a uniquely American story that connects with audiences worldwide. The varsity jacket, a Coach staple and a symbol of American masculinity, was reimagined in leather and wool, as well as full shearling. Faded vintage jerseys were tucked into checked skirts, while leather baseball catchers’ mitts were transformed into bags.
As Vevers puts it, “With its transition from haunting Film Noir sepia to brilliant, Oz-ian Technicolor, this season channels a shared sense of optimism as we follow a new generation into their next adventure. Using crafts with a sense of history, we continue a conversation that connects youth countercultures across decades and geographies. We embrace the continuous reinvention of what it means to be young and forward-looking, resourceful and creative.”
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Other than the collection’s standout looks, this season’s accessories are sure to get you a seat on the cool kids’ table. The range focuses on “exploration of horizontal, east-west shapes, as well as further experimentation with the houses’s Turlock and kiss lock hardware.”
Highlights include the narrowly proportioned Kisslock Frame bag in Coach’s signature tones of almond and maple, plus new plaid wool versions. There’s also the Turnlock Haversack and Kisslock Backpack with deeper silhouettes and turnlock pockets, as well as the slouchy Turnlock Messenger bag in two sizes.
Watch the entire Coach Fall 2026 runway show below:
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