STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

rar210 · Marc Jacobs

Bad News For The Gap! (Long)

bumblebee · Coach

i dunno, i think this is a bit overstated (from a fashion perspective--i get that the earnings are falling and from a business perspective it's looking bad). i consider myself to be fairly stylish, and i own plenty of jeans from the gap, which live in a drawer with lots of friends from the "premium denim" category that cost 5x as much as they did--and i wear them just as much.

i actually have liked what gap has done recently with their new design director, although i will admit that i didn't care for their summer stuff half as much as i liked spring and last fall. i haven't tried any of the new jeans they have, but after reading the negative reviews here, i will take your word for it. it seems like they are missing the point with that, but overall i don't think they are doing that badly--maybe they just need to get some kind of a new denim concept going...?

Christine · Coach

I haven't tried any of their new styles of denim (curvy, original, or straight, I think the 3 categories are) but I just got a pair of trouser jeans from them in a dark wash and they are great! Great flap pockets that make the tush look cute,

perfect length to wear with heels.....and they were marked down to $30! (I definitely agree that they are getting too aggressive with the markdowns -- no one wants to pay regular price for their things anymore, for fear of the inevitable sale!)

Elle · Hermes

I used to really like Gap - they used to have cute accessories and sweaters along with a variety of denim styles. Now they've just gotten reallyyy stale. They're in no-mans-land, like they refuse to commit to anything offbeat/edgy for fear of loosing clients. It looked like they had a nice suit selection when I was in last, but isn't that what Banana is for? They need to hire some big-name designer to come in and create a new, revamped look for them!

Tara · Dooney & Bourke

LMonet wrote:

They need to hire some big-name designer to come in and create a new, revamped look for them!

I completely agree. I have tried on so many occasions to like the Gap. Their commercials are so cute. I want to look like a cute little Gap-girl dancing and singing in my cute Gap clothes....I do, honest. But when I go to the store everything is so hohum.....shapeless....and made of strange unnatural fabrics that make me feel sad

Please Gap......listen to LMonet......please

member · Hermes

I agree w/LMonet and Tara - lately the Gap has just been stale to me. I haven't been impressed with anything there since last fall/winter.

-- Edited by shopchicago33 at 16:32, 2005-08-19

Cortney1982 · Chanel

They need to can some of their designers. Also, it would help if they had more smaller sizes instead of having tons and tons of XXL left on the racks! I usually don't end up buying anything because they don't have any extra smalls left. The other day I went into the outlet to buy some jeans, I only saw size 12-16? No size 0. Another factor to consider is color selection. I always shake my head in disbelief when I see more bright orange and yellow! Nobody wears these colors, it's always what's left on the clerance rack!

bumblebee · Coach

-- Edited by bumblebee at 17:56, 2005-08-19

NCshopper · Hermes

-- Edited by NCshopper at 18:37, 2005-08-19

Bastet · Kate Spade

I like the Gap for the basics. I can't live in only designer jeans, so I like the cheaper jeans from the Gap. I just got some trouser jeans and a pair of the 'curvy' fit ones, which I like a lot. So far, they actually fit me the best. That said, if I want a piece of clothing to really stand out in, I head for Anthro.

Meow · Coach

I went in Gap this afternoon and was basically unimpressed. I did try on a cute pair of trouser jeans that fit perfectly, but I didn't buy them because I figure they will go on sale. Hmmm, that's what the article said was part of their problem.

I really thought their fall styles last year were cute, but they are just blah overall to me this year so far.

honey · Gucci

imo the problem with gap is that it's failed to distinguish itself from br & old navy. br is stylish work clothing, old navy is trendy casual clothing, but where does that leave the gap? i think of late they're really trying to focus on basics. however there sizing and fit is so off it's difficult to shop there. i'm actually one of the people who likes the direction the gap has taken this fall and i've bought more stuff from there than so far than i have in the past two seasons combined b/c they're offering a lot of basics with cute details, like that ruffled shirt they have. those are the types of things i can use to balance out my other stuff.

i personally don't really want to get trendy stuff from the gap. imo part of adding trendy stuff to your look is to separate yourself from the masses, but if you get it from the gap -- well everyone has it. but that's just my 2 cents.

-- Edited by honey at 21:25, 2005-08-19

atlgirl · Gucci

I totally agree with this article. I have shopped the Gap off and on since high school (mostly on) over the years, and in the last 2-3 years, really, I have found nothing that works for me. Either the clothing is too cheaply made and doesn't fit well, or the price is right but it's just so blah.

Even BR - occasionally I find some nice things there, but I work for myself now, and they are far too conservative to suit me anymore. They remind me of Ann Taylor a lot of the time. No offense to people who like AT and BR; if I still had a corporate job, I'd still shop there plenty.

And ON is hit or miss for me too - I will buy inexpensive summer stuff there, knowing it won't last for more than maybe two seasons, but for long-term, quality items? Naah.

I have a fondness for the Gap and hope they can pull out of this tailspin. I've been around enough to remember that they've done so in the past. I'd like to see them do it again.

ETA: I do still love their jeans. They're reasonably priced (I don't do triple-digit denim) and they fit me, so I'll stick with what works.

-- Edited by atlgirl at 21:23, 2005-08-19