Collaborations have become a mainstay of the fashion industry, it’s true, but not all are made equally. If you need proof, it has arrived in the form of John Lewis X RIXO, a partnership between two stellar British brands that have both earned a loyal following for good reason. Renowned for teaming up with buzzy, fashion-forward labels, this new RIXO drop marks John Lewis' biggest collab yet, with an incredible 44 pieces available in 30 stores across the UK. With the retailer's heritage and RIXO's keen eye for excellent vintage pieces, this is a match made in heaven—and the answer to any autumn style dilemmas you may be facing.
When Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey launched RIXO in 2015 (from their student house), they did so based on a shared love of vintage style. Becoming known for their printed dresses, the duo have quickly expanded the brand to include accessories, outerwear and homewares, all of which are inspired by one-off items they find on their travels. It’s this eclectic aesthetic that they lend to their John Lewis designs, producing frilled blouses that will update jeans, backless dresses for party season and embellished accessories that go with everything.
"For me, if you’re going to do a collaboration, you have to do it properly," says McCloskey. "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. This feels like a true extension of RIXO, taking the heritage of John Lewis, leaning into its incredible archive, and bringing it to life."
Excitingly, as part of the collaborative design process, an exclusive floral motif inspired by a block-printed textile from 1849 was thoughtfully selected from the JLP archive (as it’s known), marking the very first time an archive print has been used in a John Lewis fashion collab. It was applied to two dresses, a blouse, a skirt and a scarf.
From knitwear to jackets, dresses to scarves, RIXO's signature silhouettes blend with John Lewis' commitment to wearability; this is a collection designed for all ages that will work for every woman who wears it. One of the most showstopping pieces is The Vesper: a full-length dress boasting delicate cap sleeves and a ruffled neckline, in the aforementioned archive print. It’s the sort of dress you’ll want to wear to every event, whether you dress it down with knee-high boots for easy weekends, or pair it with stacked heels and layers of gold jewellery for winter weddings.
"We wanted the collection to do the talking," McCloskey says. "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." Styling options are endless, in fact; the brands have really created a capsule wardrobe that can be mixed and matched with other pieces already in your wardrobe. The boho-style blouses, for example, will make your favourite jeans look brand new, and the knitted jackets will add polish to wide-leg trousers or midi skirts. Forget minimalism—this collab dials into the maximalist spirit of abundance that’s so on-trend this season, so consider this the perfect intro to the "personality-dressing" we saw splashed all over the autumn/winter 2026 runways.
It’s worth setting a reminder for the launch of this collection, because it’s bound to sell at record speed. These types of collabs don't come around often, and it's the perfect way to find timeless treasures to add to your forever wardrobe, so start making your wish list now.
