Design of the Times

Rising fashion stars descend on Dallas for exclusive show at W hotel

The prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America's board of directors comprises fashion notables Diane von Furstenberg, Michael Kors, Marcus Wainwright, Selima Salaun and Vera Wang. When they support an emerging designer, we pay attention.

Last year, W Hotels partnered with the CFDA Fashion Incubator program, which fosters promising fashion talent by helping them grow their businesses. Select designers are currently touring W cities across the country to gain exposure to new retailers, media and fashion elite.

Dallas made the list of stops, and we were there, along with a few fashionable folks who braved inclement weather to catch a glimpse of the designers and their collections.

Hosts Roopal Patel, Joyann King and Nasiba Adilova mingled with guests such as Sue Gragg, Maxine Trowbridge, Pamela Martin-Duarte, Chuck Steelman, Krystal Schlegel, Anais Assoun, Lauren Preston, Christen Wilson, Kristie Ramirez Hoistma and Jackie Bolin before all were ultimately evacuated to the basement due to tornado threats.

These are the highlights before the weather stole the show:

Ari Dein, from lingerie designer Arielle Shapiro, caught our eye immediately. Shapiro's luxurious handmade silk sleepwear can be worn outside of the bedroom — if you dare. The designer's attention to detail (i.e., hand-pressed gold leaf and handmade ribbon) had us coveting a new trousseau.

Kristen Stewart is a fan of Jonathan Simkhai. He designs for the girl on the go who wants a no-fuss, high-fashion look. Simkhai's silk track shorts and easy dresses were crowd pleasers. Find it locally at V.O.D.

Reece Solomon's collection of exotic bags and clutches has attracted the attention of stars like Beyonce (she carried one at the Grammys) and luxury retailers like Barneys. Solomon's uniquely detailed Reece Hudson treasures include the day-to-night "Bowery" oversized clutch and the "Bondage" minaudiere with removable cuff.

Timo Weiland and Alan Eckstein are the design duo behind the Timo Weiland collection for men and women. Their chic and simple pieces are easy to wear, while the innovative prints speak to fashion risk-takers. Shop the line at Piermarini in Dallas.

Jonathan Simkhai fall 2013 look.

Photo by Cooper Neill Getty Images for W Hotels

Jonathan Simkhai fall 2013 look.

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Coffee News

Unique new coffee shop to open inside Coach handbag store in Allen

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Chocolate bag at Coach Coffee Shop

There's a new coffee shop coming to DFW that's riding a hot trend: It's called The Coach Coffee Shop, and it's opening inside the Coach store at Allen Outlet Malls at 820 W. Stacy Rd., where it will debut in summer 2026.

Coach is famous for its collector handbags, but the shop is a new venture for the company, in its efforts to court younger customers and entice them to stick around. There are currently six locations across the U.S., including one in Austin, which opened at The Domain in 2025. But the company has plans to add many more locations around the world, an expansion into tactile experiences to enhance retail sales.

The menu features coffee, espresso drinks like cappuccinos and lattes, cold brew, matcha lattes with rotating seasonal flavors, and iced beverages. The chain has partnered with Stumptown Coffee Roasters, the highly regarded bean purveyor based in Portland, Oregon, to craft an exclusive Coach Coffee blend that's served in the store, described thusly:

"Featuring notes of rich milk chocolate, sweet toffee, and finishes with sparkling blood orange, the blend is a beautiful balance of flavors from Latin America and Indonesia. Bold and versatile, the blend brews both a classic, everyday drip coffee and an elegant espresso."

Coach Coffee Shop will sell Stumptown coffee beansCourtesy

They also serve pastries, the selection of which varies by store, but might include salted chocolate chip cookies, blueberry muffins, vegan carrot cake muffins, cinnamon rolls, savory scones, ham & cheese croissant, and soft-serve in waffle cones.

There are two signature items:

Tabby Cake — an adorable chocolate treat shaped like Coach’s trademark Tabby bag
Lil Miss Jo Cookie — an edible version of the chain's coffee-cup animated mascot used in their ad campaigns

The coffee shop will be located inside the store, and construction is already underway.

With the opening, Coach joins a big trend of cafes located inside high-fashion retailers such as Prada, Chanel, and Dior, which debuted a rare location of Cafe Dior By Dominique Crenn — featuring a menu designed by the acclaimed chef — at their store in Highland Park Village in 2025.

According to a release, in addition to the Coach Coffee Shop, two other new stores are opening at Allen Outlet Malls: Timberland Outlet, known for creating rugged outdoor gear for men, women and children, opening next to Bath & Body Works; and Psycho Bunny, cult menswear brand that debuted in New York in 2005, opening next to Karl Lagerfeld.

coffee openings