Velvet, lace, liquid lamé and a floral first block-printed in 1849. John Lewis x RIXO is the department store’s biggest fashion collaboration to date, and it is every bit as romantic as you would hope.
Some collaborations feel like a logo swap. This one feels like a meeting of minds. John Lewis has teamed up with RIXO, the vintage-loving British label behind some of the most-worn dresses of the last decade, on a 44-piece collection that launched on 22 October in 30 John Lewis stores nationwide and online.
It is a natural fit. RIXO began in 2015 in the university flat of best friends Henrietta Rixon and Orlagh McCloskey, who bonded over a love of vintage and set out to reimagine past styles for the modern woman. John Lewis, founded in 1864, has spent more than a century and a half building a reputation for quality you can rely on. Together they have made something that feels both heirloom and brand new: pieces made for milestones, and for the ordinary days that deserve a little magic too.
A print from the archive
The heart of the collection is a print with a story. During the design process, the two teams went digging through the John Lewis Partnership Archive and found a block-printed floral textile dating back to 1849. Reworked in RIXO’s rich autumnal palette, it now appears across two dresses, a blouse, a skirt and a scarf. It is the first time an archive print has ever been used in a John Lewis fashion collaboration.
The hero piece is The Vesper, a full-length dress in the archive print with delicate cap sleeves and a ruffled neckline. It is the kind of dress you buy for one occasion and end up wearing to ten.
For Rachel Morgans, Fashion Director at John Lewis, the archive was what made the project special. “Being able to use the John Lewis Partnership Archive for the collection feels extra special, using our extensive heritage to create something that feels contemporary and unique for our customers,” she says. She also points to what the two brands share: “RIXO is an iconic British brand adored by so many, much like John Lewis, so it felt natural to create something special together… we’re proud to be supporting a British, female-founded brand.”
Done properly
RIXO co-founder Orlagh McCloskey is clear that this was never going to be a half-measure. “For me, if you’re going to do a collaboration, you have to do it properly,” she says. “It should feel as strong, if not stronger, than anything you’ve created before – every piece considered, every detail cared for, and something you feel genuinely proud to put your name to.”
That thinking shows. Signature RIXO silhouettes meet John Lewis wearability, alongside new shapes and patterns you will only find at John Lewis. Every piece is designed to be worn again and again and styled your own way, whatever the occasion. “We wanted the collection to do the talking,” McCloskey adds. “We can’t wait to see women across the UK, whether they’re longtime RIXO lovers or discovering us for the first time through John Lewis, style it in their own way and make it theirs.”
Velvet, sequins and silky lamé
This is a collection made to be touched. Luxe velvets, soft cashmere, decadent sequins and silky lamé sit alongside vintage florals, and the details do the rest: fur and lace trims, ruffles, metallic embroidery and intricate embellishment. Across dresses, knitwear, blouses, jackets and skirts, it has the texture-rich, slightly-too-good-for-a-Tuesday feel that RIXO does better than anyone. As party season approaches, the timing could hardly be better.
The pieces to know
If you buy one thing, make it the Luanne jacket (£295). It is a cropped black jacquard with a plush fur-trimmed collar and cuffs, and it will work as hard over jeans as over a slip dress. The Carina dress (£545) is the collection’s showpiece: a floaty, flutter-sleeved maxi in the archive print with a lace-panelled waist. For something shorter and bolder, the Delphina dress (£235) pairs a jewel-toned floral with a contrasting sleeve print and a high, frog-fastened neckline.
The finishing touches
The accessories have a distinctly vintage feel, the kind you might hope to find in a very good antiques market. The Kova bag (£145) is a beaded shoulder bag in gold and black on a twisted rope strap. The Niara shoes (£225) are strappy metallic gold sandals on a block heel. Silky scarves start at £65, the most affordable way into the collection. Selected mainline RIXO jewellery and footwear from the campaign is also available on johnlewis.com.
Get the look
- Clash with confidence. RIXO prints are made to be mixed. Try a floral blouse with a different floral skirt in the same autumnal tones.
- Toughen up the romance. Wear a maxi dress with a pointed ankle boot and a fur-trimmed jacket for a more grown-up, after-dark feel.
- Let one piece lead. With a statement bag or metallic heels, keep everything else simple and let the detail shine.
- Think beyond the party. A silk scarf in the archive print will lift a camel coat or a plain knit all winter.
The details
John Lewis x RIXO is available now in 30 full-line John Lewis fashion stores and at johnlewis.com. Prices start at £65. The collection is not stocked at John Lewis Horsham, Canary Wharf or the home-focused stores in Ipswich, Poole and Chichester.
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