With every passing season, Coach continues to strengthen its position as one of New York Fashion Week’s most anticipated shows. For fall/winter 2026, Creative Director Stuart Vevers cited a smattering of seemingly discordant inspirations that somehow worked perfectly together as a mosaic of American style. Attendees included Elle Fanning, Emily Bader (who filmed a GRWM vlog just for Who What Wear), Storm Reid, Quenlin Blackwell, Caleb McLaughlin, Odessa A’zion, and many more.

“This collection 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 counterculture to the dreamscape of old Hollywood films,” Vevers said in a statement. “It exists in iconography, and memory, and certain experiences we all share.” Armed with this background information, continue reading to delve further into Coach’s central themes for fall/winter 2026.

1. ’70s Sportswear

High school varsity uniforms were a central motif this season. Repurposed vintage jerseys, varsity-striped socks, and ‘70s-inspired shrunken jackets gave the collection a cool, retro-tinged feel.

2. Youth Countercultures

Per the show notes, “the grit and playfulness of suburban skate culture” inspired the collection’s ’90s shorts and beat-up skater shoes. “Using crafts with a sense of history, we continue a conversation that connects youth countercultures across decades and geographies,” the brand explained.

3. ’30s and ’40s Hollywood

“Coach returns to the joy of dressing up with a selection of evening gowns inspired by Hollywood styles of the ‘30s and ‘40s, which feature fitted waists and padded shoulders and are embellished with cut-outs and sparkling applique,” per the press release.

4. Sustainability and Repurposing

This season, Vevers aimed to highlight the benefits of circular fashion with cleverly repurposed items such as an old baseball glove turned into a handbag. “Recycling means sharing,” he said in a statement. “Shared clothing unites us. It’s shaped by the lives of others, which we take and adapt into our own lives every day.” Upcycled denim and patchwork jackets also fit this theme.

5. Workwear

I usually associate pinstripes with stuffy corporate attire, but Coach just made me realize the pattern shouldn’t be relegated to the office. This season, pinstripes were reimagined on easy, draped dresses with tattered hems that wouldn’t exactly cut it in the boardroom. Another workwear staple, the messenger bag, also got a cooler, more relaxed update via a slouchy silhouette.