Ten really good things at the Gap

And are flare jeans seriously coming back?

I was a teenager in the ‘90s, arguably the heyday of The Gap, or just Gap, as they call themselves nowadays. Gap pretty much dominated American specialty retail until the 2000s, when H&M, Zara, and Forever 21 swept onto the scene with cheaper, trendier, speedier-to-market fast fashion. (You could also argue that Gap undercut itself by introducing its lower-priced brand, Old Navy, in 1994, but that’s another argument for another day.) Coupled with declining foot traffic in malls, where most of Gap’s stores were, sales struggled, stores closed, and the clothes started to feel like an afterthought. Nostalgia aside, Gap has a special place in my heart—I moved to San Francisco 12 years ago to work for its sister brand Banana Republic, and I also had a stint at Old Navy a few years ago—and I want to see the company not only survive but thrive. There’s been talk of a turnaround for years, but that finally seems to be happening now that former Mattel executive Richard Dickson is CEO and Zac Posen is Chief Creative Officer. Gap’s ads started catching my eye on Instagram last summer, and after buying a few of their dresses and sweaters (including an excellent Khaite dupe), I started to feel more than a little optimistic about Gap’s renaissance. Their spring new arrivals are starting to flow in, and my shopping bag is already loaded. Here’s what I’m most excited about.

Puff-Sleeve Lace-Trim Shirt $41

I am powerless to resist a lacy white top, and with boho making a comeback for spring, I figured now was a good time to replenish my supply. This one is giving Isabel Marant (my favorite designer) and the fit is impeccable (I’m in a small). I was worried that the sleeves were going to be too much, but because the fabric is so light, they have a really nice drape to them. This also comes in black, and I’m contemplating getting that one too.

Quilted Liner Jacket $110

Of course, before we start breaking out our pretty spring tops, we’re going to need a transitional jacket. I’ve been seeing quilted cotton jackets everywhere (again, the boho vibes), and this one looks way more expensive than it is—it’s streamlined and modern but soft and interesting.

Gap X HFR Tunic Shirt by Kaphill $108

One of the many things Gap has been doing well is collabs, and this is one with Harlem’s Fashion Row, which connects designers of color (in this case, Krystal Phillips of Kaphill) with brands. (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is alive and well at Gap!) This is such a modern twist on a classic white shirt, and I love how they’ve styled it with wide-leg pants.

Linen-Blend Midi Skirt $55

An ad for this look made me stop scrolling on IG and instantly add it to my bag; apparently I wasn’t the only one, because the skirt is now mostly sold out in red (although a restock appears to be on the way; the matching top is still mostly available). Just looking at this makes me want to book a vacation to somewhere fabulous, although I’d settle for some warmer weather here at home.

Linen-Blend Pointelle Cardigan $79.95

On the more practical side, this is totally a wear-now piece—you can layer it over a long-sleeved tee now and wear it on its own later in the season (the pointelle knit is like built-in air conditioning). The close, somewhat cropped fit has that ‘90s minimalist look that all the kids are into right now, but with a softer, more textured look (again, the boho influence for spring). This would look so good with high-waisted, wide-leg pants.

Lace-Trim Mini Dress $78

Yep, it’s another white lacy boho thing, sorry not sorry. This feels like a LoveShackFancy dupe, which is funny, because Gap did a collab with them last year, and they’ve had a similar version of this midi dress for years (I put them head-to-head in this post). Either way, this is another great vacation dress, or just a cute little white dress, and it’s calling my name.

Coated Denim Moto Jacket designed by Zac Posen $248

Gap has been dropping in more pieces designed by Zac Posen (the chief creative officer), and yes, that’s Lindsey Wixson modeling them. They’re a little more expensive than the rest, but they definitely feel the most fashion-y, in a good way. This moto jacket is just so cool (there’s also a cropped version) and because it’s cotton, it feels a little lighter and springier than leather.

High-Rise Ponte Crop Kick Pants $47–$63

Love them or hate them, the High Sport dupes aren’t going anywhere anytime soon (sorry, Total Rec). These come in a bunch of colors (including red!) and seem to have pretty good reviews across the board.

Lace-Trim Shirt $69.95

Ok, back to pretty spring tops, and one that’s not white (although it does come in white). This one also appears to be selling pretty well; again, it reminds me of the dress I’m wearing in this post and has that Ulla Johnson/LoveShackFancy look that I have a feeling we’re all going to be wearing nonstop this season.

Linen-Blend Scalloped Mini Skort $39–$47 and Cropped Top $49.95

One more because I’m almost out of space, but isn’t this the cutest set ever? If I’m being honest, I probably could not pull off the cropped top (unless I’m wearing it with ultra high-waisted pants), but the skort—which is actually more like a skirt with built-in shorts underneath—seems very practical for summer, and I love the scalloped edging. Well done, Gap!

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This week on the blog

Thanks to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance, flare jeans have entered the chat, and people have OPINIONS about them. So this week on the blog, I pulled my Spanx flares out of storage and took them for a spin. Will you be wearing flares this time around? Drop a comment and let’s discuss!