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I’m not typically one to be bowled over by fashion collaborations. Adidas for Prada? I’ll keep the racing stripes away from my designer bags, thank you very much. The North Face x Gucci? Do you want me to barf now, or later? Yes, Balmain x Barbie was kind of amazing (and ahead of its time, given the current absolute, total domination of #Barbiecore), but for the most part, I find most of them to be subpar, at best. But that was before I laid my eyes on Coach x Tom Wesselmann.
If you’re not familiar with Wesselman’s work, it’s rather avant-garde, to say the least—you might even call it pornographic, with an entire series dedicated to “sensual” (read: nude) depictions of the female form between 1961 and 1973. While Coach kept things on the tamer side, choosing prints of ladies’ lips and cigarette smoke, over, say, a zoomed-in chest, or penis (both of which exist), it’s still far more bold than I’d expect from the brand—which is precisely why I love it so much.
On the the surface, the images by the American artist, who ranked among the likes of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtehnstein as a pioneer of the’’60s pop art movement, are hyper-provocative for a company synonymous with structured leather, ’90s logos and sweet florals. And yet, Stuart Vevers, who took the reigns as Coach’s creative director in 2013, easily draws a parallel between the two. “Like my collections for Coach, Tom Wesselmann’s work is inspired by the extraordinary found in the everyday and the universal references that bring us together,” he said in a press release. He added: “Sensory and joyful, our collaboration is a tribute to the sense of pleasure Tom found in the process of creating. I’m very honored to have worked with his family to bring it to life, and proud to share his work with a new generation.”
Though the 54-piece collection launched at the end of June, there’s still plenty of unique finds up for grabs, including this notebook that I literally haven’t stopped tracing with my fingers since it landed on my doorstep. There’s also this darling charm bracelet (make that an ankle bracelet for me, as it runs a bit large) that’s giving some serious Chanel vibes. As one might expect, the quality Coach has brought to each one is exceptional, right down to the glitter at the end of the rolled-up cigarette on the notebook’s cover (I suspect they’ll join the brand’s Legacy crossbody, which I’ve been carrying since 2012). More than that, however, the pieces are so cool and unique, I truly feel like I’ve invested in pieces of art—which, of course, I actually have.
Check out a few of my other favorites from the collection below!
Coach x Tom Wesselmann Accessories
Coach x Tom Wesselmann Clothing
Coach x Tom Wesselmann Bags
What do you think of the collection? Let me know in the comments below!
