"While GAP was a mainstay of my youth—I essentially lived in my GAP logo hoodie for the entirety of grade school—that love hasn’t quite transfered to my adulthood. Even when I’ve been on the hunt for affordable pieces, GAP has entirely slipped my mind—that is, until recently.
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Back in February 2024, Zac Posen was brought on as the chief creative officer of Old Navy and creative director of GAP. His touch has made GAP trickle onto my radar throughout the year: first with a shift dress Anne Hathaway stepped out in back in May that boasted a $158 GAP price tag, then with their collaboration with cool-girl brand Cult Gaia, which sold out almost immediately after launch. With all signs pointing toward a GAP comeback, I decided to stop by my local store this week to see if the rumors were true.
After a couple of laps around the store, I headed to the fitting room with armfuls of pieces to try on and was met with something I didn’t expect: a parade of tops, jackets, and pants that I actually loved. In fact, I loved so many of them, I actually had to put some things back before I headed to the checkout. A few of the pieces I tried on came home with me, like the cropped trench and dark blue horseshoe jeans.
The thesis from my research? GAP is so back. These are the pieces I saw that I’d add to my cart this spring.
1. The Icon Trench Coat
Trench coats are synonymous with spring, and with the new season fast approaching, I’ve been on the hunt for a fresh one to add to my rotation. Gap’s classic icon trench is the quintessential, wear-with-anything version you’ll have for years to come.
2. The High-Rise Barrel Jeans
For those of you who have an adverse reaction to the words “barrel jeans,” fear not: These wear more like a straight leg with a tapered ankle, so they feel cool-girl, but approachable. Not to mention they come in about a dozen colors that I’m stuck deciding between.
3. The Barrel-Sleeve Denim Mini Dress
My assumption that denim dresses were overdone dissipated the second I laid eyes on this one. This barrel-sleeve dress featured the shape and structure I’ve spent years looking for. My worry over whether or not it would be comfortable also evaporated the second I tried it on.
4. The Barrel-Sleeve Cropped Jacket
If puffy sleeves used to have you in a chokehold, barrel sleeves are an updated replacement that boast a similar effect. This jacket’s horseshoe-shaped sleeves and semi-corseted waist are a modern take on the traditional denim jacket, featured in the perfect transitional shade to carry you through to summer.
5. The Mid-Rise Baggy Jeans
Baggy jeans’ casual vibe can be oddly misleading considering how difficult it is to find the right pair. They need to be loose, but not too loose; long, but not too long—you get the picture. To my surprise, I walked away with this pair in two different washes after my trip to the dressing room. Bonus points for the tall and petite-length options.
6. The Asymmetrical Trench Jacket
At the top of my spring wishlist is a cropped trench, as I’m sure you’ve seen come across your For You Page by now. It’s one of the most-talked about styles for spring, and one that has appeared in droves across most retailers’ new arrivals. Though I was considering a more expensive version earlier in the season, I’m now realizing that I like Gap’s version way more.
7. The Vintage Cropped Tee
I don’t mean to brag, but I’m somewhat of a white tee aficionado. The rate at which I wear a white tee (nearly every day) means that I’m almost always on the hunt for the next best version. The perfectly relaxed fit mixed with the quality and affordability makes Gap’s vintage cropped tee the newest top contender.
8. The Shaker-Stitch Crewneck Sweater
I love a chunky, shaker-stitch style sweater in the warmer months—they’re the perfect lightweight layer for the early spring days and late summer nights. This swoon-worthy striped combo is the perfect alternative to my classic off-white crewnecks, and one that I can see myself centering my entire outfit around while it’s still cool out.
9. The Mid-Rise Horseshoe Jeans
Fair warning: These jeans are barrel-y, but in the best way possible. I’ve been keeping an eye out for new everyday pants—ya know, those ones you can throw on in a pinch and still look put together? A perfect cross between sweatpants and baggy jeans, these are soft but structured and feature an elastic waistband for all-day comfort.
10. The Hooded Nylon Jacket
Up next on the list of most-talked about outerwear this season: sporty jackets. While I was a bit hesitant to jump on this trend to start, Gap’s subtle, minimal version suddenly has me reevaluating. I can see myself wearing this with relaxed-style jeans and midi-length skirts for effortless style all spring long.
Maddie Galassi, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor
Madeline Galassi is the Fashion & Beauty Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the fashion and beauty categories of the site. She brainstorms, writes, and edits stories across a broad range of topics including trend reports, product reviews, celebrity style, and more. She’s always keeping a pulse on the latest trends to create timely, exciting content for our readers.
Tinsley Crisp, Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer
Tinsley Crisp is a Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer at The Everygirl and specializes in reporting on the season’s latest trends and hottest products. As a New York City-based stylist, she’s committed to injecting joy into the art of getting dressed and delivering attainable yet aspirational content to our readers.