The Cardi B Effect Sends Denim Flying off Old Navy’s Shelves
Cardi B has a well-earned reputation for turning whatever she touches into a moment. Her over-the-top personality, catchy music, and unapologetic nature, coupled with her fashion-forward styling, has made her someone to watch, and someone fans like to emulate. Her latest partnership is proving that once again. The rapper is fronting Old Navy’s new “Most Wanted Denim” campaign for Fall 2026, and people can’t seem to get enough. Just days after the full campaign launched on August 4, the budget fashion purveyor can’t keep the clothes on the shelves.
Cardi B is working with Old Navy
On August 4, Old Navy launched a collaboration with Cardi B, complete with TV ads. As of August 8, just four days later, the well-known budget clothing store can’t keep most sizes in stock. Several washes have just a few options left for shoppers.
The lineup originally featured four silhouettes. The Arc, a mid-rise style with a rounded leg, is one of the most popular. The lineup also includes the Hi-Rise Wide Leg, a ’90s-inspired Low-Rise Baggy, and the Extra High-Waisted Wide-Leg, which is Cardi’s preferred style. All four silhouettes are available in standard, cuffed, and Curvy fits. The looks lean into a heavy 1990s and early 2000s aesthetic.
The commercial itself, which debuted in full on August 4, leans into a Wild West aesthetic, with Cardi cruising onto set in a green convertible before settling into a director’s chair. She’s joined in the campaign by Paloma Elsesser, Brooks Nader, Haley Baylee, Wisdom Kaye, and Quen Blackwell, as part of Old Navy’s broader “It’s Old Navy” series. The ad series kicked off earlier this summer with Paris Hilton, her mother Kathy Hilton, “Summer House” star Ciara Miller, and social media personality Rob Rausch.
Not her first sellout rodeo
The Old Navy denim frenzy is only the latest example of Cardi’s ability to move product. While she’s best known for her music, her fashion sense has kept fans interested in her for years, and that has helped her partnerships and collaborations thrive. Back in 2022, her collaboration with Reebok sold out quickly. The collection of sneakers, a faux fur ombre jacket, and a leotard sold out shortly after launch.
Before Old Navy and Reebok, there was Fashion Nova. The rapper collaborated with the fast fashion house in 2018 with great success. Her first solo collection reportedly sold out in minutes. A follow-up collection dropped just months later, generating over $1 million in first-day sales, according to several sources. The ’80s/’90s-inspired line featured corsets and cutouts, and Fashion Nova stocked nearly five times the inventory to meet demand. Pricing ranged from $29 to $99.
It is unclear what Cardi B will do next when it comes to fashion. The businesswoman seems open and willing to collaborate with many different brands. What we can assume is that anything she touches will turn to gold if the past is an indication of her future success.
