The Best Stuff To Buy At Gap, According To A Fabric Designer

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Whether it was the announcement of Yeezy Gap — the mind-boggling 10-year collaboration journey that Kanye “Ye” West has embarked on with the heritage American fashion brand — or perhaps the influx of stylish Gen Z-ers raiding the secondhand market for TikTok-worthy vintage Gap goods, one thing’s certainly for sure: Gap is back and we’ve fallen deep in it.

As a clothier that’s been around since 1969 — launched with a collection of records and Levi’s jeans and adding its own denim assortment in 1978 — it’s no secret that Gap has decades-long experience when it comes to turning out classic, high-quality basics and go-to capsule wardrobe pieces. It’s almost a bummer that Gap has taken a backseat to the younger, buzzier retailers that also traffic in competitively priced essentials-with-a-twist. Gap walked (maybe too slowly) so these other brands could run (sprint, really).

Well, it looks like Gap is finally closing the metaphorical … um, gap, and beginning to reclaim relevance. (In 2021, Business Insider reported that the company’s second-quarter sales were up 29% year over year.) A recent visit to the site yielded heaps of easy-wearing but un-boring separates in both the men’s and women’s sections, so we tapped Gap fabric developer Lizzie Harper for her advice on how to navigate the brand’s vast digital aisles. The turnout of goods — many of which are also on sale — is actually impressive. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best hidden gems at Gap you can add to cart (utilizing our new on-site shopping technology!) without ever leaving our site.

Jersey Knit Scoopneck T-Shirt, $29.95 $20

If you’re in the market for a fitted tee with an unexpected sleeve, this top is a must. “The mid-sleeve on this tee feels very ’90s to me and I love it so much I bought it in a few colors,” Harper tells us. “Could easily be from a more premium brand. Fabric is the perfect weight and not sheer. This is where Gap’s decades of homework on fit pays off!”

Shop all Gap tees

Oversized Anorak Parka, $138 $96

A solid oversized jacket for those in-between season days (which are coming). (While one unhappy reviewer called the fit of this jacket “tremendously oversized,” we actually think that’s a good cause for carting.) A cotton-nylon blend makes this coat a lightweight all-weather option, and tech-y details like a back vent and drawstrings at the waist and hood lend a outdoors-y edge.

Shop all Gap outerwear

Softest Sweater Midi Skirt, $59.95 $53.99

It’s a ribbed sweater but for your legs! Wear it with a matching knit on top for a monochrome look — or mix-and-match your fabrics for a fun contrast. The sleepy style boasts an impressive 51 reviews and an overall 4.5-star rating. A cotton-blend knit means this style is sweatpant-soft, but the pencil silhouette will add a little polish to your WFH ensemble.

Shop all Gap skirts

Cozy Clogs, $54.95 $27

Consider this a straight-up dupe for another particular (more expensive) suede-outer, shearling-inner slipper slide. Customers are onto the success of this style: “Happy feet!” wrote an anonymous reviewer. “I absolutely love these clogs! I have purchased three of the colors but my favorite is the teddy bear beige. The flat foot bed is perfect for me as it’s like walking barefoot (so healthy). These three are now my house shoes and my wide feet are so happy.”

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High Rise Barrel Jeans with Washwell, $69.95 $48

Gap is jumping on the barrel-leg bandwagon — and we’re here for it. This denim style is reminiscent of a mom jean but with less taper and a slightly wider leg throughout.

Shop all Gap jeans

Chambray Denim Big Shirt with Washwell, $69.95 $55

This oversized denim shirt — processed with Gap’s proprietary water-saving Washwell program, which reduces water use by a minimum of 20% — is as classic as they come. “I wore it open over dresses all summer long,” says Harper. “So versatile it will be with me for a long time.”

Shop all Gap tops

Organic Cotton Ribbed Beanie, $24.95 $19.99

“I love this and wear it a lot, and it’s also perfect as a gift and all the colors are great,” explains Harper. A solid beanie for less than $20? Now that’s a heads up. 371 other customers chimed in on the hat’s appeal, helping it earn a near 5-star rating on the brand’s website. Bonus: it’s also made from 60% organically grown cotton.

Shop all Gap accessories

Microfleece Hoodie, $49.95 $24.00

A microfleece outer with a cinch-waist bungee cord and tapered arms means that you’re going to be cozied up like nobody else. 59 reviewers have awarded this ’90s-inspired style almost 5 stars, stating that “it feels like you’re wearing a blanket.” An anonymous reviewer wrote that the layer is “super soft and keeps me toasty even during below zero walks with my pup.”

Shop all Gap hoodies

100% Recycled Nylon Relaxed Lightweight Puffer Vest, $48

Gap is big into the recycled fabrics game, this 100% recycled nylon puffer vest is sure to bring some major play into your winter-to-spring wardrobe. Reviewers — 190 of them, to be exact — love the oversize fit of the berry-bright topper. “Bought it in three colors as we live near the beach and vests are like my daily uniform,” wrote reviewer Lou H., who sized down from their usual L to a S in this style. “Medium weight and comfortable.”

Shop all Gap outerwear

100% Cotton Cable Knit Sweater Vest, $44.95 $35

The sweater vest trend has yet to come undone! Wear it oversized and solo, tucked into a pair of denim for a slouchy prep school vibe. Gap’s ’90s heyday is in full effect with this 100% cotton, cable-knit layer.

Shop all Gap sweaters

Sky High Rise Vintage Slim Jeans with Washwell, $69.95

Here’s another solid denim option from Gap’s Washwell collection if you’re teetering between the skinny snd straight-leg jean. The extra-high waist and five-pocket styling recall a vintage pair, but the dungarees are still blessed with a touch of stretch for conform-to-your-shape comfort.

Shop all Gap jeans

GapFit Recycled Reversible Runaround Joggers, $79.95 $59.99

“These are lined with super-soft microfleece!” says Harper. “Exterior is a recycled poly that’s also pretty soft and not harsh/swishy. I’ve been wearing these as my snow pants all winter,” she says. While these sweatpants are reversible, you may want to wear these with the fleece side against your skin for those extra-cozy feels.

 Shop all Gap pants

100% Organic Cotton Big Shirt, $69.95

Trust — it only looks vintage. And, since this throwback button-down shirt is made from 100% organic cotton, it’s bound to wear in well over time (until this, too, becomes actual vintage). “Hands down recommended for the oversized collared shirt look,” wrote reviewer Meg G.

Shop all Gap tops

Crew Socks (3-Pack), $16.95 $15

Leaving this here because you’ll always need (cutie) socks, and what’s better than a set of three for under $20?

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Relaxed Taper E-Waist Pants with GapFlex, $59.95 $41.00

You can find this straight-leg, gorpcore pant in the men’s section — though Harper says it’s a home-run hidden gem for any gender. “I had a sudden fiending need for ripstop and could only find it in the men’s section,” she says. (Ripstop is a fabric weave that’s normally found in high-performance outdoor gear.) “These are cotton, so [the fabric] is not too techy. Solid pockets. I bought them in white for my breezy loose-fit spring look and wearing them as winter house pants in the meantime.”

Shop all Gap men’s pants

Adult LENZING™ Modal™ Truesleep PJ Top in Modal, $39.95 $27

Seeking that slinky-soft drape on your body? Modal will help you achieve it. “This pajama set makes me feel like I’m in a chic hotel even when I wear them at home. Very soft and I love that it’s sustainable modal,” says Harper.

Shop all Gap loungewear

Puffer Slippers, $34.95 $17

You can tell just by looking at this quilted brown slipper and (its inviting fleece lining) that it’ll keep your toes toasty. “These puffy slippers are warm, and have just the right amount of fuzz inside (don’t make your feet sweaty). The soles are great as well,” wrote reviewer Walter A.


Shop all Gap shoes

100% Organic Cotton Weekend Tunic Shirt, $69.95 $55

If you don’t already have a plain white oxford button-up in your closet, you must acquire one straight away — and Gap’s oversized, extra-long take is an immediate contender for wardrobe-staple status. “Love the way it fits and looks with leggings,” wrote an anonymous reviewer. “Awesome crisp white shirt,” enthused another. “The length is perfect, and you have room to breathe. So pleased with this purchase! [Thanks] Gap, you got this one right!”


Shop all Gap tops

Recycled Cutout One-Piece Swimsuit, $69.95

You may not have bathing suits on the brain (yet) — but if you’re due for a tropical beachside vacation soon, you may as well grab this very cute suit now.

Shop all Gap swim

Puffer Shirt Jacket, $128.00 $99.99

Here’s another men’s piece that has us salivating. Even though it’s got that lightweight puffer look, we love that this is decidedly an outdoor jacket and not an inner liner.

Shop all Gap men’s outerwear

Ribbed Pants in Modal, $44.95 $22

The slightly flared leg, the side slits, the ribbed detail — not to mention it’s all constructed from modal fabric? We recommend you get these on ASAP.

Shop all Gap loungewear

Dog Wool Hoodie, $44.95 $35.99

Did you know that Gap has a whole collection of hoodies and sweaters for cold puppers? Just imagine how adorable your own furry animal-child will suit up in this business-casual look.

Shop all Gap accessories

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How Denim Brand Boyish Keeps True To Its Sustainable Ethos

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Talking to Jordan Nodarse, founder and creative director of Boyish, is a bit like macro-dosing on shots of espresso every five minutes — and I mean that in a good way. Nodarse operates on all cylinders and talks really fast, and one gets the sense that his synapses move into hyper-speed the more he talks about one of his favorite topics: sustainable fashion.

For Nodarse, being sustainable isn’t about having a “do right by the world” mentality and then simply outsourcing the research to experts — the founder himself is fully immersed in his sustainability practice. He has an insatiable appetite for learning every aspect of manufacturing, voraciously reading related books (referencing titles like Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonoungh and Heuristic Traps in Recreational Avalanche Accidents by Ian McCammon), and traveling globally to factories and meeting the folks at the forefront of this often confusing industry. When it comes to fashion commerce, it seems like the word “sustainability” has been co-opted and watered down to a point where consumers are often ill-informed about what it even means to shop green and circular — but Nodarse is out here making clothes (mostly denim), thoughtfully taking into consideration where his products are coming from, who they’re going to, and, ultimately, what happens to these garments at the end of their life cycles so they’ll break down responsibly.

After working in denim design for fashion companies like Reformation, Majorelle, Lovers + Friends, Band of Outsiders, and previously co-founding a brand called GRLFRND Denim, Nodarse launched Boyish in 2018 — all with the mission to provide high-quality, bomb-ass-fitting jeans for women who share a like-minded goal of dressing more sustainably in vintage-inspired denim styles and fits. (This was a challenge he specifically wanted to take on, knowing that denim production involves one of the most wasteful processes in the industry.) Ahead, Nodarse chats with us about the joys and challenges of entrepreneur life and where he’s looking to take the buzzy brand this year.

The Toby (Krush Groove), $188

Shop all Boyish jeans.

What inspired you to launch Boyish?

“I was really attracted to how women were buying vintage and already worn-in Levi’s Wranglers and Lee’s. I thought it was really cool and I was very intrigued by it. I started buying deadstock and old shrink-to-fit fabrics from this mill that closed down in Texas that used to supply a lot of Levi’s fabrics. And in the process I realized, holy hell, there are way fewer resources that go into making these older fabrics. That kind of opened up my mind …[and] as I started to learn about how much chemicals and processes went into [creating denim], I steered towards sustainability. That’s what made me want to create Boyish and give it a try.”

The Mikey (Short Circuit), $178

Shop all Boyish jeans.

Tell us more about your sustainability ethos.

“I originally started the brand … to show people how they can advance into sustainability starting off with the basics, focusing on sourcing sustainable cotton, and sourcing factories that have good water treatment and chemicals. The brand was really built off of these three basic principles. A lot of designers don’t know how jeans are made, … [but] I’ve … been to chemical manufacturing plants around the world [and have] become friends with engineers … who have been able to figure out how to readjust chemistry to make it greener. But at the end of the day, it’s just a stepping stone. You’re never, ever going to be 100% sustainable because there’s no way to be 100% sustainable, no matter what. The best you can do is really based on what is the market doing … and really challenging that. And that competition is what’s going to create advancements in sustainability.”

The Liam (Black Beauty), $188

Shop all Boyish jeans.

How would you describe the Boyish customer?

“I kept hearing women say this phrase — they’ve kept saying ‘boyish but sexy,’ ‘boyish but chic,’ ‘boyish but casual.’ Never ‘boyfriend.’ Growing up as a teenager in the late ‘90s, I would see girls wearing these low-rise baggy pants with like tiny little tops. Feeling sexy and boyish at the same time — this is a concept that people are getting familiar with again.”

Do you remember the first product you came out with? 

“Jeans. Recycled cotton was a big thing since the beginning. A lot of people were only using like 10% or less of recycled cotton [at the time] — so I started working with some companies to recycle more cotton. I got a mill to buy some new machinery and recycle all of our cutting scraps and utilize what we would normally throw away or waste in the manufacturing cycle, which is a lot of materials, water, and chemicals.”

The Charley (Greed), $208

Shop all Boyish jeans.

With all that recycled cotton it sounds like people go to Boyish for those non-stretch, vintage-inspired jeans that really hug the hips and butt.

“A big majority of what we do is what you would call rigid, no stretch. I have yet to see anybody really come out with anything much more sustainable. One of our materials is made of 17% OCS-certified organic cotton, 43% GRS-certified recycled cotton, and 40% Refibra and Tencel Lyocell, which is a recycled cellulosic fiber that uses cotton scraps. We also have something now that we call a ‘rigid stretch,’ which are jeans that literally look rigid and don’t have a high amount of stretch because we don’t put plastics in them. A lot of [other] high stretch [products] have polyester or oil-based plastics that are mixed with the elastic. [Boyish denim] is highly recyclable.”

The Ziggy (Footloose), $188

Shop all Boyish jeans.

What are some of the best-selling styles at Boyish that people who are new to the brand should check out?

“One of our most popular jeans is the Ziggy, [which is] our sort of relaxed straight leg. It’s going to hug your hips, give you a cute-looking back, but still have that boyish, relaxed leg that girls are wearing right now. And that’s one of the things people think [when they hear] ‘boyish’ — they’re thinking like boyfriend jeans or baggy jeans. And no, actually, we don’t make baggy jeans, we don’t make boyfriend jeans. We want women to feel empowered. Do you ever watch that show 30 Rock? There’s an episode where Liz Lemon is shopping for jeans, but she’s like, ‘I hate shopping for jeans.’ And then she puts this one pair of jeans on and it changes her life. That’s a perfect example of why I got started with jeans — because it’s a very difficult product to make. We also have [another popular style] called the Mikey, which is a more cropped jean, as if a girl who is shorter cut them.”

The Jovi (Rio Bravo), $188

Shop all Boyish jeans.

What’s on the agenda for Boyish in 2022 and beyond? Are you looking to expand categories?

“I mean, we can try and expand categories but it has been very difficult during the pandemic. Every time I choose a new partner, the pandemic comes and sweeps through like locusts. Employee retention has been very difficult [because we’re] an attractive company for other companies to poach our employees. I started shifting my mentality from doing something creative to then just trying to hold onto business and hire people while not having any backing. Loans are getting worse. Interest rates are crazy. So it’s definitely been a challenge.

“I’m starting to realize that our main focus should just be doing what we do best, which is jeans. A lot of what we’re trying to do is add new body types to our fit, additional size ranges that adjust to body types specifically. I don’t want to start using any adjectives or descriptive words here because it can get disappointing for people so we’re still figuring out the right way to do that. Our goal is to bring sustainability to everyone who wants to utilize it and it’s difficult because we’re such a small, self-funded business. But ultimately, you do what makes you passionate as long you’re helping other people. And possibly while you’re enjoying yourself and spreading as much love as you can.”

In Refinery29’s Talking Shop series, we’re chatting with owners of up-and-coming small businesses about their experiences launching, the big challenges and wins they’ve faced, and of course, their products and services.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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