Dean & DeLuca & BEAMS Master the Art of Pretending

Dean & DeLuca and BEAMS Couture just can’t get stay away from each other too long, as the two brands have joined forces yet again for a new collaboration (well, sort of).

As a quick refresher: BEAMS Couture is BEAMS’ sub-label that prides itself on upcycled and handmade designs. Whereas Dean & DeLuca is an upscale American grocery store chain known for its gift baskets and tote bags (remember the Versace print shoppers for the KITH X Versace collab?).

BEAMS Couture and Dean & DeLuca revisit last year’s apron and basket bag collab, beefing up the latest offering to include five new aprons and two basket bags.

‘Tis a play on “food culture and the fantasy of pretending,” as BEAMS Couture creative director Keisuke Kanda puts it.

With the collaborative aprons — which go up for pre-order on April 13 via BEAMS’ website — we see them realized with fresh concepts like pleats and lacework as well as new color options like black, grey, and white. BEAMS and Dean & DeLuca also deliver a kappogi, a gown-like apron originating in Japan, that can be worn in the front or back depending on your mood.

As for the basket bags (which will be released on May 23), the totes ditch their rectangular shape in exchange for a more bucket-style vibe. The 2023 collaborative bags arrive in two size options: one small and the other a bit bigger.

Oh, and fans can count on the newest Dean & DeLuca x BEAMS Couture bags to preserve their cooling capabilities like the last time.

This isn’t the brands’ first rodeo with cooling bags either, as BEAMS Couture reworked Ziploc bags into cooling totes for the grocery store company in 2020 and 2021.

Well, I guess you can say Dean & DeLuca and BEAMS Couture enjoy staying in their bag together.