COACH is to the US like Burberry to Britain, so the abundance of American references in Stuart Vevers’ SS18 collection was no surprise. From prairie shirts paired with silk and lace slip dresses and cowboy boots to and ode to New York City and its iconic figures of music, literature and art.
The legendary Studio 54 nightclub was referenced in the shiny and glittery disco looks walking down the glitter-covered runway reminiscing of 1977 New Year’s Eve party when the floor of the club was covered in four tons of glitter. The guys wore leather jackets and trousers with riding boots inspired by Studio 54 regular, singer Lou Reed, while striped slim trousers and probably anything pink, red or leopard referenced the New York Dolls, the glam-punk band, contemporaries of the Sex Pistols.
The overall mood of the show was dark and slightly rough as it took inspiration from the Beat Generation and its figures like writer William S Burroughs and singer-songwriter and poet Patti Smith.
This collection Coach referenced the late Keith Haring, a New York artist, whose pop and street art have become another icon of ’80s New York. His shining hearts, figure outlines and even a print of the artist’s face could be seen on T-shirts, jackets and glitter dresses.
Patchwork denim, varsity jackets and college cardigans which appeared throughout the show were other nods to the Americana influences. Hawaiian shirts often spotted on men walking around Florida were also spotted on the male models walking around the glitter-covered Basketball City where the show took place.
By Sara Hesikova
Images courtesy of Coach