Coach Fall 2026 is Stuart Vevers’ most personal collection yet
Just nine days ago, Stuart Vevers and his husband Benjamin Seidler welcomed their third child, Violet Fawn. Less than two weeks later, siblings River and Vivienne were spotted sitting and smiling proudly on dad Benjamin’s knee, watching the Coach Fall ’26 runway presentation, curated by Stuart himself. Family has long been the catalyst for Vevers’ vision of Coach — drawing out a sense of playfulness and childlike wonder from a heritage house once defined by a more traditional guard of creative directors. And, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Finding the balance between artistic direction and commercial viability is no easy feat — a tension that often nudges designers toward conservative, commercially safe choices rather than creations led by instinct. But not Stuart. The Coach he continues to present is one guided by genuine joy and curiosity about the ever-changing world around him, spiked with a reverence for nostalgia — for the references that paved the way and continue to inspire him daily.
These snippets of inspiration can spark from the smallest moments, as seen with Fall ’26. Taking to Instagram, Vevers credited a family viewing of The Wizard of Oz as his muse — that iconic transition from haunting Film Noir to vivid technicolour. A metaphor, perhaps, for a new generation stepping into its next adventure: a journey grounded in belonging, ready to treasure yet re-imagine the world — and the well-loved pieces that came before. Much like setting aside his eldest daughter’s clothes for Violet to wear one day.
This idea of re-loving and reworking garments from seasons past weaves consistently through Coach showcases, and Fall ’26 only fuels the flame. The opening look — a blazer-cum-overshirt — spliced together varying prints and patterns to create something entirely new: think rebellious teen let loose in mum’s sewing box. Intentional distressing reared its head once more, tearing through denim midi skirts and skater-cut jeans alike, many featuring patchwork elements — another tick in the crafting column.
This season also leaned more heavily into varsity codes than we’ve seen in recent memory, with Vevers continually crediting America’s diverse youth culture as his muse — a spirit that refuses to sit still when class is in session. Before the show began, ambassadors and creatives, including Omar Apollo, Elle Fanning and ODESZA, could be seen giggling and playing together, draped in preppy Coach looks, Tabbys tucked neatly into their laps. On the runway, this preppiness translated into number-flecked sports jerseys styled with checked pencil skirts, open blazers paired with skater-length shorts, and modest satin dresses grounded by those scuffed leather sneakers we’ve come to adore season after season.
The most notable shift for Fall ’26, however, lay in the colour palette — undoubtedly influenced by that Wizard of Oz reference. The moodier, grunge-tinted hues remain as the foundation, but now vivid flashes of red and purple punctuate the collection. Impossible to ignore.
Fall ’26 also served as a reminder of Coach’s roots — that despite its evolution, it has always been, and will remain, a house of leather. Models scrunched bags in their hands, reshaping East-West silhouettes on the move. Elsewhere, oversized messenger styles swung over shoulders and were secured with the iconic turn-lock clasp that has adorned heritage designs for decades. A glance at the front row revealed leather blazers, trenches and shearling-trimmed suede jackets forming something of a uniform for the class of Coach ’26.
As the applause swelled and Stuart emerged in his signature off-duty uniform, son River ran into his arms without hesitation. In a collection about reworking what came before, it felt fitting — legacy, quite literally, held close.
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