Style Edit: Coach’s spring 2026 collection mixes NYC ‘polish and shine’ with grittiness
Found objects were a source of inspiration for Stuart Vevers – ‘a playing card or sequin in a gutter, a random sticker on a lamp post’
“I thought about a delicate balance of polish and shine with grit – a pairing I think of as very New York,” the designer explained in the show notes. “By grit, I mean resilience, and the beauty of how the city comes back to life every morning. The glamour of the steel and glass made more beautiful by the bleaching sunlight, the patina of time, and the buff and burnish of life.”
It was a sentiment echoed throughout a collection subtly influenced by “found objects New York is so good at providing – a playing card or sequin in a gutter, a random sticker on a lamp post – strange mementos of the stories set here in the city”.
The palette is light-leaning – think whites, honey browns, tans and faded blacks – with contrast coming from pastel blues, yellows and greens, punctuated by shimmering metallics. Materials range from supple leathers – some with waxy finishes, others displaying worn-in effects – to repurposed denim and workwear fabrics. Tailored trousers and skirts bring a sharpness that reinforces Vevers’ concept of “editing” each piece “back to its purest form”.
Elegantly constructed outerwear includes jackets in moto and cropped styles, and blousons and vests embodying minimal hardware and pared-back forms. Moleskin peacoats add texture, while washed, sun-faded T-shirts layered underneath enhance the lived-in vibe. Graphic souvenir tees featuring iconic American sites speak to Coach’s enduring sense of place.
