Christopher John Rogers Wants You to Break Fashion Rules With His Old Navy Collab

Old Navy x Christopher John Rogers Crop T-Shirt ($35)

Popsugar: What was your experience like working together and collaborating? I want to hear how you feed off each other's energy.

Christopher John Rogers: It was really fun. We started initially with [me sending] over a few different ideas of what I was thinking about and how I wanted to approach the collection and working with Zac and the team. We figured out what made the most sense for the Old Navy customer and how to bring them the most value without compromising on really great directional design.

Zac Posen: For me, my role here is as like a fashion fairy godfather. So I think the collaboration, from a creative standpoint and a development standpoint, comes from Christopher really working with our incredible design team at Old Navy, right? So, there's a bit of matchmaking here. There's a bit of the art and science of knowing timing and when to bring in a really talented creator.

I knew that I wanted Christopher for our second American designer collaboration. It's part of a commitment that I and Gap Inc. have to supporting great design talent and American design talent. I look at that from icons like Anna to the present-day icons like Christopher, to emerging designers, to potentially designers that are archives today. I think there's interesting storytelling for our consumer to be building on.

I wanted to bring somebody in that really brings that energy, joy, color, and a coolness that I know that our customer is looking for.

Old Navy x Christopher John Rogers Halter Peplum Top ($45).

PS: Christopher, what bold details were you excited to introduce to the Old Navy customer that were perhaps bolder than what you've seen them wear before?

CJR: Growing up, especially during the summer months, I loved going to Old Navy to play with stripes, madras, this idea of color. So, I was excited that it felt like it made so much sense to me. I think in terms of maybe like pushing a customer to try something new — definitely with the scale of prints. The polka dot, we pushed forward a bit, the stripe is a bit more maximal, but grounding it all in tried-and-true denim and new shapes felt really fun. And also allowing the customer to play more with accessories. So, the bags are great. The scarves are fun, little ways to add color in case someone wants to try something new, to make a top out of it.

ZP: That happened on set. We got to work with the incredible Paul Cavacco, an icon of our industry.

There's bathing suits, there's cover-ups, the florals, the rugby [tops], all the lightweight summer denims: it's a real complete wardrobe. I feel like as a customer, this is a collection where you can really do an Old Navy supermarket sweep and have your wardrobe all the way into September. And not break the bank doing it. So, for anybody on social, I challenge them to do that. I want to see it. You can give me your two months of summer outfits here and post it.

Old Navy x Christopher John Rogers Long-Sleeve Back Keyhole Sweater ($60). Old Navy x Christopher John Rogers Sweater Midi Skirt ($55).

PS: Name a piece that you think people are going to gravitate to immediately, and it may be one of the first sellout pieces. And then a piece that you think people will be surprised when they put it on, taking it from the hanger to the body.

CJR: I think the stripes might sell out first: the set with the tight crew neck and keyhole in the back and then the matching coordinating skirt. I feel like [it's] a CJR staple in a way. And so being able to access it, at this price point, it's really exciting. I love that they're separate, so you can put the top back to another skirt in the collection, back to jeans, something that already exists in your closet.

I think what might be the most surprising when you put it on would be the jersey pieces. We haven't really offered [it] before, so to be able to access it at this price and this quality, it was really exciting.

Old Navy x Christopher John Rogers Large Canvas Tote Bag ($35)

PS: Is there any celebrity you'd love to see in the collection?

ZP: Our customers are a celebrity. It's about your own star moment at home and wherever you live. There's a wide range of people that I can see in this collection. I can see everybody from like Emrata to Katie Holmes. And Tracee Ellis Ross — anything with a voluminous or exaggerated silhouette, she owns it.

Jessica C. Andrews (she/her) is an award-winning editor and writer who currently works as the senior style director of PS, overseeing beauty, fashion, shopping, and identity content. With more than 15 years of experience, her areas of expertise include fashion, shopping, and travel. Prior to joining PS, Jessica held senior roles at Teen Vogue, Refinery29, and Bustle and contributed to The New York Times, Elle, Vanity Fair, and Essence. She's appeared on "Good Morning America," NBC, and Fox 5 New York and spoken on various panels about fashion, hair, and Black culture.

Sarah Wasilak (she/her) is the PS Shopping Director. With plenty of experience in the fashion industry and over 11 years as an editor at the brand, she enjoys writing and creating social videos across the lifestyle, health, and fitness categories. She is the host of the "Dinner for Shoes" podcast and has bylines at InStyle, Elle, Refinery29, Who What Wear, Elite Daily, Byrdie, and The Quality Edit.