Camila Mendes Is Ready for the Return of Indie-Sleaze

A Coach show during New York Fashion Week always draws a crowd, and this season was no different. On Friday night, the brand’s spring 2024 collection—which marked designer Stuart Vevers’s 10-year anniversary at the brand—was attended by Jennifer Lopez, Lil Nas X, and Camila Mendes, to name a few. “It feels good to be back,” Mendes told Vogue of attending NYFW. “I was so obsessed with the last [Coach] collection, and I’ve been very excited to see what’s next.”

Mendes is no stranger to hitting up fashion week, of course. The actor says she always looks forward to getting new style ideas from the catwalks. “I love attending NYFW because it reminds me that fashion is such a powerful component of self expression,” she says. “What you wear has the power to transform how others perceive you, and as an actor, that is an incredibly useful power to harness. I like walking away from a show feeling inspired and empowered to try new things and accentuate different facets of my personality.”

After taking in designer Vevers’s new assortment of leather dresses and outerwear, Mendes says her favorite element from the collection was its edgy, rock and roll spirit. “I loved that it was an effortless, almost whimsical take on grunge,” says Mendes. “Indie sleaze has definitely been making a comeback in fashion, and Coach added an element of playfulness to that aesthetic that really resonated with me.” Of course, her own look for the show—a leather two-piece suit—matched the vibe. “Something about the leather jacket and skirt combo with a pointed heel made me think of Elaine from Seinfeld. I thought it would be fun to channel her essence a bit,” jokes Mendes. “I love the low rise cut on the leather skirt. It s slouchy and sleek at the same time.”

Photo: Courtesy of Coach

As Mendes steps into fall, experimenting with indie-sleaze style isn’t the only thing on her mind, however. The actor says she’s also excited to test out a new shoe. “[I’m] really glad ballet flats are making a comeback,” she says. “I was big on flats in high school, and they were a wardrobe staple during my adolescence, so wearing them comes naturally to me.” Maybe she’ll even wear a wrong shoe, too.

Below, a closer look inside Mendes’s Coach show.