Lil Nas X is no stranger to pushing the boundaries of style. Whether it’s walking the red carpet, performing on stage, or sitting in the front row at the Coach fashion show–to put it simply, he just always delivers. 

Continuing the long-time friendship between the American luxury house and the Grammy-winning musician, Coach invited the artist to select and customize his favorite pieces from their Winter 2023 collection. Dubbed “The Lil Nas X Drop,” the edit reimagines classic Coach styles with vibrant tones and pop graphics inspired by concert merchandise, adorned with symbols from the artist’s life–his two pet cats and his zodiac sign, Aries–while working alongside Coach’s Creative Director Stuart Vevers to bring the capsule to life. “To create the collection, we twisted the Coach archives and were also inspired by Lil Nas X’s connection to music and nightlife,” says Vevers. “We evolved heritage styles introduced on the runway last season by amplifying color, texture, and graphics to create pieces that celebrate our love for individuality and authentic self-expression that we share.” What better way to learn about the collection than from the creator himself?

To reveal more about the creative process, Lil Nas X caught up with V to provide an inside look into the inspiration and vision behind the new drop.

V MAGAZINE: Tell us a little about your relationship with Coach–how was your experience designing your collection? 

LIL NAS X: Coach and I have been super collaborative on everything from the very beginning. This collection truly has the classic Coach touch but with my personal spin on everything. We have a lot of great pieces that I’m excited for everyone to see and get their hands on it. 

V: Did you have any references that inspired you? 

LNX: Coach spearheaded the designs, and then I came in and curated the collection. They really designed with me and what I like in mind, so we were able to put together a really cool line of pieces that feel natural for both of us. A lot of the graphics are inspired by concert posters and merch which look very cool. 

V: How would you describe the theme or story told through this collection? 

LNX: I think this collection is encouraging people to wear whatever they want and what feels right to them. Wear these bright ass colors and don’t be afraid to shine. 

V: The collection’s color story features many bright and vibrant tones. What led your decision to go in this direction? 

LNX: I love seeing how far I can take things creatively, and that definitely applies to my choices in fashion as well. It’s fun to take risks and maybe choose certain colors or pieces that you normally wouldn’t put together. If you didn’t question the look, you aren’t taking enough risks.

V: Do you have a favorite of all the items in the collection? 

LNX: I really do love the whole collection, but especially some of the pieces in the bright colors we have. My favorite is probably the oversized pink moto leather coat. 

V: Some of the handbags and sweaters feature motifs of cats and suns. Do these designs hold any special meaning for you?

LNX: In case you didn’t know, I am a proud owner of two cats. The best cats ever actually, Dasani and Zephyr, so I love that they are represented in some of the pieces. It’s just fun to be able to wear or have some pieces that are personal to you like that. 

V: What era of fashion do you think the collection represents? 

LNX: It definitely emphasizes the bright colors and fun designs of Y2K. A little nostalgia meets the Coach x Lil Nas X modern twist. 

“The Lil Nas X Drop” will be available to purchase on December 26 in select Coach stores and on Coach.com.