An Unexpected Fashion Pairing Yields Exquisite Results

In the Venn diagram of fashion, it’s surprising to find L.A.-based ready-to-wear label Rodarte and American heritage brand Coach overlapping. Yet designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy of the former and Stuart Vevers of the latter have found an unexpected synergy in their latest collaboration. For the limited-edition collection, Rodarte brings its romantic femininity to Coach’s leather goods. Affixed to this courier bag via appliqué—a staple technique used by the Mulleavy sisters—pieces of painted metallic leather imitating sequins are framed by Coach’s signature glove-tanned leather. The result is ethereal flowerlike clusters that dance on a pragmatic silhouette. Though Rodarte’s fearless maximalism and Coach’s utility-driven luxury may seem at odds, the approaches are bound together by dedication to American craftsmanship—and prove that unlikely combinations often make heavenly matches.

Coach x Rodarte courier bag, $895; coach.com