The Old Navy x Altuzarra Collab Is Here: Zac Posen & Joseph Altuzarra Break Down The Fall Capsule
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Overview
With fall officially here, there’s a chill in the air, leaves are falling, our couches are calling us to cozy up with a good book, and (in my opinion) it’s the best fashion season. To dress us for all the fall activities (and help us channel our best Cathy), Old Navy has teamed up with Altuzarra on an enchanting collaboration.
“Drawing inspiration from the Regency and early Victorian literary eras, the collection reflects the romance and mystery of classic Romantic and Gothic fiction,” according to a press release. Inspired by Wuthering Heights, these designs are meant to be worn passionately (and to frolic through wide fields in). It’s also the first time one of Old Navy’s collaborations features styles across women’s, girls’, and toddlers’ for matching family moments.
Ahead, I speak with Old Navy’s Chief Creative Officer Zac Posen and Altuzarra’s Creative Director Joseph Altuzarra to learn about how this collaboration came about and their favorite styles to build fall outfits with. Then shop the limited-time collection, which ranges from $24 to $140, on Old Navy’s website on September 30.
With fall officially here, there’s a chill in the air, leaves are falling, our couches are calling us to cozy up with a good book, and (in my opinion) it’s the best fashion season. To dress us for all the fall activities (and help us channel our best Cathy), Old Navy has teamed up with Altuzarra on an enchanting collaboration.
“Drawing inspiration from the Regency and early Victorian literary eras, the collection reflects the romance and mystery of classic Romantic and Gothic fiction,” according to a press release. Inspired by Wuthering Heights, these designs are meant to be worn passionately (and to frolic through wide fields in). It’s also the first time one of Old Navy’s collaborations has featured styles across womens, girls, and todders for matching family moments.
Ahead, I spoke with Old Navy’s Chief Creative Officer Zac Posen and Altuzarra’s Creative Director Joseph Altuzarra to learn about how this collaboration came about and their favorite styles to build fall outfits with. Then shop the limited-time collection, which ranges from $24 to $140, on Old Navy’s website on September 30.
Old Navy has done many viral collabs at this point. How did this one come about? Who approach who and how has the process been working together?
Posen: This is actually our third collaboration with a designer. This came to be because Joseph and I ran into each other at a cocktail party and he kind of said: “I’d love to do something with you.” And then I went to one of his beautiful fashion shows, and the idea of doing designer collaborations was just percolating.
And I said, let’s stand for American design for an iconic American brand. And I knew I wanted Joseph. I was sitting in his fashion show, and I was just totally enchanted by the work and by him. And then his kids came running on the runway, and I knew that he was an Old Navy guy, too.
Why did a Regency and Victorian-inspired collection feel like a natural fit for both brands?
Altuzarra: Well, I think there was a really beautiful tension between what Old Navy stands for, which is this American sportswear and optimism and joy, and then I think the romanticism and femininity of Altuzarra. When I was thinking about how to bring those worlds together, I had just read Wuthering Heights. I had read Pride and Prejudice. And I think this idea of storytelling through literature and books and having that kind of bind everything together felt really authentically Altuzarra, but also felt really interesting as a starting point for this collaboration.
Are there specific pieces that you think are Wuthering Heights-coded or that a specific character would wear?
Altuzarra: Well, honestly, everything when I was drawing it and when we were fitting it, I was sort of imagining everything kind of like windswept, like on a cliff somewhere in Scotland. But you know, I really imagined these tiered skirts blowing in the wind. A lot of the colors came from these sort of harvest festivals. So everything is coded in that way. And then I think the whole storytelling aspect with books and reading in the collection will make everything really feel cohesive.
Posen: And I was imagining bringing that romanticism onto the city streets and that moment of when fall just starts to hit. And how great this collection would look from drop off at school to a special occasion or just everyday elevation of your wardrobe; making pieces that can last a lifetime.
Which pieces are inspired by the Altuzarra archive?
Altuzarra: There are a bunch of styles that are inspired by the archive. The first piece that I designed was this parka, which was really inspired by one of the first parkas I designed in 2011. It was sort of a military-inspired era in fashion.
Also the balloon pants with these really great pleats in the front. I think this is such a relevant shape right now. We showed a version of this on the runway, and it was amazing to be able to bring it to a broader audience with Old Navy.
Which pieces make up your favorite outfit combination?
Posen: I never pick a favorite child… Okay, well, multiple moments. I love the parka; love it next to this yellow. I love the front-pleated trousers, and I love the black tailored jacket with the multi buttons. It’s such a great take on a classic jacket and I love that paired with the front-pocket Joseph Altuzarra Old Navy jeans, because we are the denim destination.
Altuzarra: I love the mix of this great cotton poet blouse with the kind of American sportswear jacket that has broken-down embroidery paired with this great tailored pant and these gloves with faux fur. I think there’s something so idiosyncratic and interesting and very “capital F fashion.”
And more for myself, I also love this look: this kind of wider denim in this great wash and then this Sherpa patchwork fleece with this yoke in knitwear. I just love how easy and how cool this looks and that it speaks to Old Navy but also Altuzarra.
Is there a piece you think is most versatile that everyone needs in their closet?
Posen: Wow, that’s hard. I think when I look at this heathered tropical wool front trouser, I think it’s such a pickup look for a way for somebody to be romantic but also professional and give that sort of sense of whimsy. That’s a keeper.
Alutzarra: I definitely think everyone needs this in their closet. I would say everyone who’s tried it on has fallen in love with it. Also, don’t sleep on these pants. I think the balloon pant is amazing with a suit jacket, with a little sweater, and great on a weekend. And then I also feel like some of the underpinnings like these great little T-shirts are so easy. And obviously because it’s Old Navy, I think the denim is just so easy. Everything goes back to denim.
This is the first time for an Old Navy collab to include children’s apparel. Why was this the perfect opportunity to do it together?
Altuzarra: Well, I think for me, it just feels really authentic and organic because I have three kids, and so I’m constantly dressing kids and thinking about kids’ clothes. And I buy a lot of Old Navy kids’ clothes. So it felt like a really exciting way to continue the story from grown-ups into kids.
Posen: I mean, I’m all about mommy and me. Family matching moments are a really wonderful, whimsical part of Old Navy’s DNA. You see it in Jingle jammies. And I thought, what a great opportunity, especially within print and the shapes, to bring that moment into a collab. And I knew that Joseph was the man to bring it to life.
Do you have a favorite kids apparel piece
Altuzarra: I mean, no contest, I love this one. I love the kind of feeling that it’s a little bit of a ’90s dress. And I love that it’s sort of a full look in and of itself.
Posen: I love this sweater. This is so cute. I just like how it has this dropped arm and relaxed quality. Super cute.
Where do you hope shoppers and fans wear these outfits out this fall?
Posen: Wherever their own story takes them.
Altuzarra: Good answer!
Details
for matching family moments.
Ahead, I speak with Old Navy’s Chief Creative Officer Zac Posen and Altuzarra’s Creative Director Joseph Altuzarra to learn about how this collaboration came about and their favorite styles to build fall outfits with. Then shop the limited-time collection, which ranges from $24 to $140, on Old Navy’s website on September 30.
Old Navy has done many viral collabs at this point. How did this one come about? Who approach who and how has the process been working together?
Posen: This is actually our third collaboration with a designer. This came to be because Joseph and I ran into each other at a cocktail party and he kind of said: “I’d love to do something with you.” And then I went to one of his beautiful fashion shows, and the idea of doing designer collaborations was just percolating.
And I said, let’s stand for American design for an iconic American brand. And I knew I wanted Joseph. I was sitting in his fashion show, and I was just totally enchanted by the work and by him. And then his kids came running on the runway, and I knew that he was an Old Navy guy, too.
Why did a Regency and Victorian-inspired collection feel like a natural fit for both brands?
Altuzarra: Well, I think there was a really beautiful tension between what Old Navy stands for, which is this American sportswear and optimism and joy, and then I think the romanticism and femininity of Altuzarra. When I was thinking about how to bring those worlds together, I had just read Wuthering Heights. I had read Pride and Prejudice. And I think this idea of storytelling through literature and books and having that kind of bind everything together felt really authentically Altuzarra, but also felt really interesting as a starting point for this collaboration.
Are there specific pieces that you think are Wuthering Heights-coded or that a specific character would wear?
Altuzarra: Well, honestly, everything when I was drawing it and when we were fitting it, I was sort of imagining everything kind of like windswept, like on a cliff somewhere in Scotland. But you know, I really imagined these tiered skirts blowing in the wind. A lot of the colors came from these sort of harvest festivals. So everything is coded in that way. And then I think the whole storytelling aspect with books and reading in the collection will make everything really feel cohesive.
Posen: And I was imagining bringing that romanticism onto the city streets and that moment of when fall just starts to hit. And how great this collection would look from drop off at school to a special occasion or just everyday elevation of your wardrobe; making pieces that can last a lifetime.
Which pieces are inspired by the Altuzarra archive?
Altuzarra: There are a bunch of styles that are inspired by the archive. The first piece that I designed was this parka, which was really inspired by one of the first parkas I designed in 2011. It was sort of a military-inspired era in fashion.
Also the balloon pants with these really great pleats in the front. I think this is such a relevant shape right now. We showed a version of this on the runway, and it was amazing to be able to bring it to a broader audience with Old Navy.
Which pieces make your favorite outfit combo?
Posen: I never pick a favorite child… Okay, well, multiple moments. I love the parka; love it next to this yellow. I love the front-pleated trousers, and I love the black tailored jacket with the multi buttons. It’s such a great take on a classic jacket and I love that paired with the front-pocket Joseph Altuzarra Old Navy jeans, because we are the denim destination.
Altuzarra: I love the mix of this great cotton poet blouse with the kind of American sportswear jacket that has broken-down embroidery paired with this great tailored pant and these gloves with faux fur. I think there’s something so idiosyncratic and interesting and very “capital F fashion.”
And more for myself, I also love this look: this kind of wider denim in this great wash and then this Sherpa patchwork fleece with this yoke in knitwear. I just love how easy and how cool this looks and that it speaks to Old Navy but also Altuzarra.
Is there a piece you think is most versatile that everyone needs in their closet?
Posen: Wow, that’s hard. I think when I look at this heathered tropical wool front trouser, I think it’s such a pickup look for a way for somebody to be romantic but also professional and give that sort of sense of whimsy. That’s a keeper.
Altuzarra: I definitely think everyone needs this in their closet. I would say everyone who’s tried it on has fallen in love with it. Also, don’t sleep on these pants. I think the balloon pant is amazing with a suit jacket, with a little sweater, and great on a weekend. And then I also feel like some of the underpinnings like these great little T-shirts are so easy. And obviously because it’s Old Navy, I think the denim is just so easy. Everything goes back to denim.
This is the first time for an Old Navy collab to have children’s apparel. Why was this the perfect opportunity to do it together?
Altuzarra: Well, I think for me, it just feels really authentic and organic because I have three kids, and so I’m constantly dressing kids and thinking about kids’ clothes. And I buy a lot of Old Navy kids’ clothes. So it felt like a really exciting way to continue the story from grown-ups into kids.
Posen: I mean, I’m all about mommy and me. Family matching moments are a really wonderful, whimsical part of Old Navy’s DNA. You see it in Jingle jammies. And I thought, what a great opportunity, especially within print and the shapes, to bring that moment into a collab. And I knew that Joseph was the man to bring it to life.
Do you have a favorite kids’ apparel piece?
Altuzarra: I mean, no contest, I love this one. I love the kind of feeling that it’s a little bit of a ’90s dress. And I love that it’s sort of a full look in and of itself.
Posen: I love this sweater. This is so cute. I just like how it has this dropped arm and relaxed quality. Super cute.
Where do you hope shoppers and fans wear these outfits out this fall?
Posen: Wherever their own story takes them.
Altuzarra: Good answer!
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Originally published at www.refinery29.com.