Exclusive: How Coach Turned a Runway Hit Into Storm Reid's Met Gala Gown

Sitting in the front row as Coach debuted its Fall 2024 collection at New York Fashion Week nearly three months ago, I distinctly remember two pieces from the downtown-goes-uptown collection that earned shout-outs in my editor group chat: a taffeta party skirt set with a giant bow and a Coach C-logo tote dripping with New York City-themed charms. Cut to the first Monday in May: Those pieces were the very foundation of Euphoria star Storm Reid's custom look for the 2024 Met Gala, styled by Jason Bolden.

Reid arrived at the Met steps arm-in-arm with Coach creative director Stuart Vevers, wearing an amplified version of the brand's runway standouts. Her skirt was pistachio instead of the baby pink dress he designed for Fall 2024. It was studded with tiny flowers and extended into a voluminous train. On top, she had toughened-up elements for contrast: a black bustier-like top and a leather jacket (a signature of Coach's extensive archives) slung over her shoulders.

According to Vevers, the runway was just the "starting point" for their twist on the "Garden of Time" dress code. Reid's personality brought the vision to life. "We added youthful twists whilst preserving the feeling of romance—a bit of sweet and a bit of tough," he exclusively tells Marie Claire.

Turning the runway's punk princess look into a dress that embodied Reid's personal style started with the palette. "This year, we wanted to make a statement with color, and so we worked with our fabric mills to create the perfect green silk taffeta," Vevers says. The creative director worked closely with Reid to choose the shade she'd wear on the red carpet. "We did lots of trials to find the pale pistachio green that felt fresh and bright but soft at the same time."

Nailing the evening's "Garden of Time" dress code would naturally involve some blossoms. Vevers went the subdued route, adding hand-cut floral appliqué details onto the skirt's oversized bow.

When Reid walked onto the Met Gala carpet, she looked more like she was floating. Despite its volume, which took many hours to perfect in the studio, the dress appeared light and airy.

"We wanted to find the right balance of lightness and volume for Storm’s skirt, which took a lot of engineering," Vevers explains. "The 50+ yards of silk taffeta are supported by inner petticoats comprised of hundreds of yards of tulle. The petticoats alone took over three days to cut and another week to construct."

Meanwhile, Reid's accessories were uncomplicated classics. She clutched the viral Coach Tabby bag in one hand—decked out with oversized New York City charms—and slung a patchwork leather jacket over her shoulders. The total effect was like she'd started getting dressed with one prim-and-proper vision in mind but picked up two well-loved pieces before heading out—in service of bringing her personal style to the Met with her.

Vevers says both of Reid's accessories came from end-of-life vintage and secondhand leather garments. Bringing re-loved materials into the look also pushed Vevers to think in a new way: "As a designer, working with repurposed materials, there’s a mindset shift. The materials often inform the design and not the other way around." Hence, the nonchalantly downtown vibe of both patchwork pieces.

Not every aspect of Storm Reid's ensemble came from previously used materials, but Vevers says it's important to look for moments to experiment with sustainable practices (especially when you're leading one of New York fashion's biggest brands). "It’s this process of learning and prototyping—and learning from what we design—that allows us to make continuous progress, layering onto previous innovations," he says.

The final result is a look that takes fashion fans back to the original inspiration from the runway, making us appreciate it even more.