Wait, that’s GAP? Is a phrase I’ve heard on repeat all week. After putting a number of their wardrobe basics to the test recently, I’ve gotten nothing but shocked reactions from everyone who’s inquired. Nobody seems to believe that pieces this forward are from the retailer, and even more shocking, that they all ring up for under $100.
Let me rewind a minute. I didn’t just wander over to the GAP site unprompted. First, it was my sister who showed up to our last family holiday in a very Parisian-looking navy striped sweater which she proudly informed me was from GAP. Then, I spotted a few of the retailer’s basic tees being raved about in a TikTok shopping haul. But the real kicker was when I uncovered the most epic silver jeans that I raced to buy after seeing similar styles on the runway during NYFW last month. So while I haven’t shopped at the GAP in years, consider this my official apology letter: sorry I ever overlooked your assortment of cool and classic wardrobing essentials. I won’t do it again!
Now that they’re on my radar again, they need to be on yours, too. In the interest of sharing the wealth, I did a bit of digging around on the site and ended up finding a trove of cool spring staples that I never would have otherwise encountered. I decided to put my shopping knowledge to good use and do my own version of a GAP haul so that everyone can understand just how good the shopping is there right now.
So behold, the nine best GAP wardrobe basics I can’t stop raving about. Read my reviews and see how each of them look IRL, then add them to your cart because trust me, you won’t be able to resist.
My review: I love the double-denim look as much as the next person, but I’ve always had my qualms with actually pulling it off. The proportions have to be just right and I’m not a fan of when denim shirts are too thick to tuck into jeans. So I was pleasantly surprised to try out GAP’s Denim Big Shirt which is soft and lightweight and so easy to tuck into jeans if you so please. It’s also the same cut as their cotton button-downs just done in denim so it has that same perfectly boxy fit. I styled it with their Low-Rise Stride Jeans, a loose-fit pair with a lowish mid-rise that is, in my opinion, *the* jean style of the moment.
My review: Ladies and gentlemen, her. I shop a lot for my job so when I say that these silver jeans are the shopping find of the year and maybe even the decade, I’m not over-exaggerating. Metallics are trending hard this spring and most of the silver jeans on the market come with high designer price tags, so scoring this pair for a cool $98 is definitely newsworthy. As for the fit and feel, they’re cut like a pair of slim-fit straight-leg jeans with a high rise and the same kind of waistband and pocket placements you’d find on any denim. Now, because GAP calls them jeans, they fit like jeans, too. So if the relaxed and slouchy fit you see on me here is what you’re after, too, I recommend ordering one or even two sizes up from your typical jeans size. For reference, I went up two sizes and am in love with how they sit lower on my hips.
My review: Everyone needs a pair of relaxed trousers in their closet and this GAP’s version has everything I want in a pair: they’re tailored at the waist but languid and loose throughout the leg and pool just slightly at the feet. Ideal, if you ask me. Made from Tencel Lyocell, a regenerative cellulose fabric that’s sustainable, they’re also so soft. I paired them with the Linen Blend T-Shirt, a tissue-thin striped tee with a wide boatneck that lent the look a preppier feel.
My review: If you see me wearing this button-down every day… no you didn’t. It’s still too early in the season to make any definitive statements, but I can already tell this bright button-down will have a prominent place in my spring and summer outfit rotation. It’s boxy and airy and looks just as good with trousers here as it will with denim shorts to wear on vacation.
My review: Let me preface by saying that this sweater was so popular it’s now sold out in the color I’m wearing here, but some sizes in the camel and beige striped colors are still available. I know spring isn’t the most exciting time to buy a sweater but it’s just so chic and flattering that I omitting it from this edit would feel like a crime. This is also the one I mentioned piquing my interest in GAP in the first place thanks to my sister Jennifer who brought hers home for Christmas and really sold me on it. The standout details include its wide fit and bell sleeves that I swear make it look like it could pass as Toteme. It’s hard to tell with my navy trousers here, but the sides have slits in them that go halfway up which makes it easier to tuck the front of the sweater into jeans or pants.
My review: A long-sleeve tee isn’t the kind of thing that makes headlines, but in this case, it kind of is. GAP’s Modern Crewneck T-shirt is stretchy but tight and feels sculpting in a way that makes the Skims tees so popular. I think the tighter fit and thicker fabric make it look so polished even with jeans, so if you’re looking for a really great basic without spending a lot, I highly recommend this one. I liked it to so much I’ll be going back to order it in the short sleeve version, too.
