High fashion and accessible retail are continuing their romance as Old Navy prepares to unveil its latest high-profile designer partnership. Following successful previous collaborations with Anna Sui and Christopher John Rogers, the retailer is teaming up with luxury ready-to-wear designer Joseph Altuzarra. The upcoming collection, Old Navy x Altuzarra, infuses the designer’s signature theatrical storytelling and romantic sensibilities with Old Navy’s classic American heritage, resulting in a thoughtful, literary-inspired fall wardrobe.
For Joseph Altuzarra, approaching a mass-market retailer required the exact same creative rigor he applies to his own eponymous label. Treating the collaboration like a capital-F fashion collection, the designer grounded the pieces in rich, atmospheric storytelling.
"This is one of my favorite pieces," Joseph Altuzarra says, singling out the Scarf Maxi Dress from the collection. Explaining his creative process, Altuzarra reveals that he approached the Old Navy partnership just as he would his own luxury line. "I often start my own collections with a book as the inspiration," he notes. "I had just read ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Pride and Prejudice.’ I really imagine this collection on a windswept Scottish moor."
That literary foundation is evident throughout the lineup. The Old Navy x Altuzarra collection transports shoppers to the rolling hills of Scotland, weaving Victorian and Gothic literary references into a comprehensive fall wardrobe. Key pieces include velvet floral dresses, classic Fair Isle sweaters, and embroidered barn jackets. By blending Altuzarra’s affinity for drama with Old Navy’s everyday practicality, the collection bridges two vastly different worlds of the fashion industry.
The aesthetic narrative is further amplified by a subtle 1990s grunge undertone. "There’s this slight nineties grunge feeling to some of the collection," Altuzarra explains. "I love the idea of these tiered skirts that are windswept and feel a little bit bohemian." To bring this mood to life, the campaign stars British model and style icon Alexa Chung. Given her long-standing association with indie grunge and effortless cool-girl style, casting Chung ensures that these rebellious undertones resonate clearly within the campaign imagery.
Alongside Chung’s effortless aura, Altuzarra has introduced a distinctly bold runway trend to the Old Navy customer base: balloon pants. Known on the runways as a directional and sometimes polarizing silhouette, the extra high-waisted balloon trouser pants bring high-fashion experimentation directly to mainstream retail. "This was something that we introduced in our own collection," Altuzarra clarifies, pointing to his spring/summer runway. "I love the idea of bringing it to the Old Navy customer."
In a notable first for Old Navy’s designer collaboration series, the collection extends beyond womenswear to include matching pieces for girls and toddlers. For Altuzarra, who is a parent, this family-focused expansion was a particularly exciting aspect of the design process. "I have kids. So I was excited to be able to create some pieces for two of my kids, for the girls," he shares.
Beyond clothing, the collection spans a wide range of categories designed to complete a complete cold-weather wardrobe. Shoppers will find outerwear staples such as wool overcoats, oversized two-in-one hooded parkas, and sherpa jackets featuring intricate Fair Isle motifs. The assortment also includes tailoring like fitted blzers, casual layering pieces such as the satin lace cami top and jersey off-the-shoulder tops, denim options including high-waisted baggy wide-leg jeans, and foundational dresses like the handkerchief midi dress and the off-the-shoulder velvet maxi dress. Accessories round out the offering, featuring satin scarves, velvet drawstring baguette bags, and vegan leather gloves.
The Old Navy x Altuzarra collection officially launches on September 30, available on OldNavy.com and in select Old Navy stores. For dedicated shoppers and brand enthusiasts, Old Navy cardmembers will be granted early access to shop the highly anticipated collaboration twenty-four hours before the general public, starting on September 29. As the launch date approaches, fashion editors and consumers alike are eagerly eyeing standout pieces like the embellished bomber barn jacket, the velvet maxi dress, and the signature scarf maxi dress before the limited-edition collection sells out.