August 8, 2019 |
Nothing beats the meeting of two experts. While Coach are best-known for decades of bag-making, Tabitha Simmons’ shoes are renowned for not only being comfortable, but also the dreamy, yet fashionable versions of what Dorothy (of Wizard of Oz) would wear in a 21st century remake. With a nod to Disney princesses, those classic pointy flats with a Mary Jane strap have become a wardrobe staple in every modern woman’s wardrobe. In fun-coloured velvet or floral prints, Simmons’ vision is fantastical yet rooted in realistic necessities of a city woman. Sounds familiar? Stuart Vevers’ take on Coach’s heritage offers exactly the same opportunity to their own customer – you can be a dreamer and live a real life. It doesn’t then come as a surprise that Vevers and Simmons are a pair of creative soulmates, who also get their cocktails at the same place. “I bumped into her one day at the Greenwich Hotel, and she happened to be wearing a floral print dress from the Spring 2016 collection. We knew it had to be the starting point for our collaboration,” explains Vevers. Both English people living in NYC, there’s a sense of grit and rock’n’roll in their polished visions of luxury.
When the two visions came together, the creative duo has come up with quite a flawless merging of the two aesthetics. The Coach x Tabitha Simmons capsule collection consists of a bag shape and four different shoe silhouettes, all available in a variation of colours and textiles. “I love the contrast between the feminine, whimsical, florals and a little bit of a punk and edginess with the sneakers and boots,” says Simmons. The collaborative Crossbody is the first ever bag the Simmons has released, and presents a re-imagination of the American brand’s 1973 Suspender Pouch. Taken from the archive and updated with studs and rivets, it keeps in with the flower power era it originally existed in.
And then there’s the shoes, encapsulating every situation you might find yourself in while roaming through NYC. A pair of Mary Jane flats take on a bit of Wild West with leather patchwork detailing and the cowboy-esque bejewelled buckle. For those wild nights out, the flat lace-up velvet sandals are printed with micro florals. Actually, all the flower prints incorporated throughout the collection were taken from that same dress Simmons wore when she bumped into Vevers. And then, as the notorious New York snowstorms take over, you can choose between a chunky boot or a hi-top trainer. Either way, your toes will be warm and best dressed on the streets, even if most won’t be able to see them.
The Coach x Tabitha Simmons accessories collection is available to shop online and in selected stores.
