Well, Coach did warn us on Twitter to “Expect the unexpected.” Dazed cover girl Binx Walton was joined by the likes of Lexi Boling and Julia Bergshoeff to stage an all-girl coup at today’s Coach SS16 show. All three models have previously featured in Coach campaigns and walked the runway for the label's womenswear shows. 

Inspired by notions of the American dream, creative director Stuart Vevers presented a collection dripping with nostalgia. On a runway dotted with skate ramps, a sea of surf punks walked in leather outerwear with patched pockets, and accessorised with slides to show that slip on trainers are well and truly back. Fluorescent, psychedelic prints à la Hendrix crossed with an acid house rave featured on shirts and bombers, whilst animal prints lined short hems, blazer lapels and multicoloured tote bags. Soundtracked by Tame Impala’s “Half Full Glass of Wine” and Moon Duo’s “Sleepwalker”, Vevers’ show was a triumphant nod to a West Coast Americana. We got the details from the man himself backstage.

What were your references?

Stuart Vevers: A lot of it was movies that I grew up with as a kid. I liked things that really celebrated America; I’m not a native American so it’s about the American dream mixed with the irreverence of New York.

What things sum up the idea of America that you had when you were younger?

Stuart Vevers: The Beastie Boys, the Kennedy boys; here there was lots of The Beach Boys.

Why did you choose to bring girls over for the show, and those girls in particular?

Stuart Vevers: Those are girls that I’ve worked with a lot. They’ve all been in Coach campaigns and the shows, so knowing that they’d turn up for fittings and the shoots. Those are the girls that are always wearing cool guy stuff and skater stuff, so I just thought it would be fun. In our women’s shows we use a lot of men’s references and I like the idea of turning that on it’s table. I thought it would be fun to look at for the audience and it’s nice to see girls of that level in London. 

What about the animal print?

Stuart Vevers: I want the Coach guy to feel inherently cool so it’s like a bit of a thrifty vibe, that young Hollywood actor vibe. It’s Matt Dillon in The Flamingo Kid and a lot of the references I just loved growing up.

And the soundtrack?

Stuart Vevers: I wanted a slightly psychedelic surf feeling but with a lot of pace and a lot of energy. We really thought about the music that we played when the audience were coming in, it was Malcom McClaren and New York City references and then we closed with N.E.R.D – "Rock Star".