Coach has announced that basketball champion and brand ambassador Paige Bueckers attended the 2026 Met Gala wearing a custom-designed look by Creative Director Stuart Vevers, created in honor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s latest exhibition, Costume Art.

For the occasion, Bueckers wore a tailored ensemble inspired by 1940s suiting, reimagined through a 1970s lens. The custom look featured a three-piece black wool and satin tuxedo, complete with broad peak lapels, a low-cut vest, and elongated flared trousers designed with a fluid, relaxed silhouette.

Adding a distinctive artistic element, the tuxedo was hand-painted with carefully placed dabs, smudges, and splatters to evoke the marks found on an artist’s drop cloth or paint-stained smock. Using multiple brushes and techniques, the painted details were strategically positioned to mimic natural gestures—where an artist might wipe their hands or brush against fabric while working.

The design was further elevated with embroidered beads, paillettes, and Swarovski crystals, enhancing the painted effects and creating the illusion of fresh, wet paint. As a personal touch, the number five was embroidered in purple thread on Bueckers’ right sleeve, a tribute to her longtime jersey number, which she now wears for the Dallas Wings.

Completing the look, Bueckers wore 1970s-inspired block heel loafers crafted from Italian cow leather and accented with Coach’s signature sculpted C hardware. She also carried a black satin Tabby 20 bag, customized with the same painted and embroidered treatment as her tuxedo.

In celebration of this year’s Met Gala theme, the ensemble was designed to highlight the creative process itself rather than a finished work of art. Through expressive paint strokes, intricate embellishments, and handcrafted details, the look reflected the beauty of artistic experimentation and individuality.

“I thought about the theme through the idea of making—especially making in New York, which feels very true to Coach,” said Stuart Vevers, Creative Director of Coach. “Fashion and art share that same instinct. It’s about the work behind the work: the craft, the process, and the people who shape it. With Paige, it felt collaborative from the beginning, which allowed us to create something honest, personal, and completely her.”

For Bueckers, the event marked a significant personal milestone.

“This is my first time at the Met Gala, and it’s such an honor to be invited, especially to be here with Stuart and the incredible team at Coach, who dressed me tonight,” she said. “They’ve been amazing collaborators, and I’ve loved the opportunity to celebrate the creative process—from the artists to the team and the courage it takes to bring a vision to life.”

The collaboration underscores Coach’s continued commitment to craftsmanship, storytelling, and self-expression—values that have defined the New York fashion house since its founding in 1941.

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