I’m a self-declared Gap girl, so I was super eager to preview GapStudio‘s fall collection, which launches today. The premium clothing line under Gap and Zac Posen’s direction has entered its second fall season with a capsule of elevated denim, matching sets, workwear, and wardrobe essentials. “It’s a natural evolution of the language we’ve been building at GapStudio, but this season, we pushed proportion and construction much further,” Posen tells Refinery29.
The new womenswear and menswear collections unsurprisingly complement each other, both inspired by turn-of-the-century American workwear, according to Posen. “The collection is inherently gender-fluid. I was interested in creating a shared wardrobe where menswear and womenswear inform one another and the pieces can move naturally between the two,” he adds. “Ultimately, it’s about giving people beautifully considered clothes with a strong point of view and the freedom to create their own character through them.”
Ahead, I try the GapStudio womenswear collection and share my honest opinions about the look, feel, and sizing of the limited-edition pieces so you can confidently cart up your favorites (before they sell out) and build trendy fall outfits.
Crop Canvas Jacket, Belted Utility Pants & Poplin Fitted Shirt
Cutting right to the chase, this deep indigo matching set was my absolute favorite and is my top recommendation to cart up. It’s especially great if you’re petite and curvy since GapStudio only offers standard sizing and lengths, and us shorties want to get in on the action!
I was completely shocked when this set felt like it was tailored to my body. “Seaming, volume, and structure are built into the architecture of the garments, so the construction becomes part of their character and the way they sit on the body,” Posen explains. As a curvy gal (currently with a 33-inch waist and 46-inch hips), it can be hard to find pants that fit right in all the right places. But these ones did, with a size 31/12 cinching my waist even before tightening the matching belt. And standing at just 5 feet and 3 inches tall, I surprisingly wasn’t swallowed by the wide-leg pants, especially when paired with a wedge.
The matching jacket similarly fit great in a size large, and I found the cropped proportion to be very flattering both when worn opened or buttoned up. It gives the vibe of an elevated denim jacket, and as a whole outfit, a Canadian tuxedo, sans any denim (but more on that below!).
I also really loved pairing the pants with this button-down top, which was my favorite top of the collection. The fitted torso hugged my waist and felt more feminine than a typical button-down top. Plus, the exaggerated puffed sleeves added more dimension and extra interest to an otherwise (let’s face it, boring) wardrobe staple.
Printed Denim Sweatshirt & Pleated Parachute Pants
It took me quite a few glances when previewing images of this sweatshirt online to realize that it was in fact a sweatshirt and not a denim jacket. Posen notes: “There are playful moments of trompe l’oeil inspired by archival Gap pieces, taking something incredibly familiar and shifting the perception of it through print, fabrication, and construction.” And after a fascination with faux-denim sweatpants in the last few years, I foresee this piece going viral too. The distressed denim wash and nearly-metallic button prints were trippy in all the best ways. The heavy fabric and oversized fit were also super comfortable — I opted for a size large again.
I paired the top with cargo-inspired parachute pants. These were definitely more snug and required some serious maneuvering over my hips because of a slimmer waistband. There are adjustable straps and buckles on both sides that allow you to adjust the waist and customize to your comfort level. But even so, I think sizing up to a 14 would have been better. Overall, I really enjoyed the utilitarian-style buckles, oversized back pockets, and adjustable cinched hems of these pants.
Double-Pocket Denim Jacket & High Rise Pintuck Jeans
Though it was hard for Posen to pick his favorite GapStudio pieces, he shares: “I love the full denim-on-denim look with the Pintuck Flare Jean and Double Pocket Jacket.”
This elevated Canadian tuxedo definitely made a statement, though it did feel too big for me. With a different sizing chart, I opted for the size 33/16R, which did fit my waist and hips (though with some back gaping), but the flared fit was too long for little ol’ me, pooling around my feet, even in heels. But I can see these becoming a tall-girl approved jean! I really appreciated the elevated front and back pintucks and the super-flattering seams above the back pockets for an exaggerated hourglass shape.
The matching jacket was very cool with its oversized balloon sleeves, front patch pockets, and collar. The versatile dual-ended zipper also allows for re-styling the piece in many ways. But I think because of the baggy fit and XL details, I would’ve preferred to size down to a medium. (Hot tip: It’s also great to layer with the sheer mesh denim printed tee.)
Printed Denim Terry Dress
Yet another deceiving look that impressed me! No, this is not a denim dress, but rather a French terry dress with a hyper-realistic denim print. The size large was perfect for me thanks to the super stretchy fabric. This style may just be the fashion It-girl alternative to wearing a sweater dress this fall. It also feels smart enough to wear to the office without anyone blinking an eye.
So, if you’re ready to add to cart and just need some more styling inspo, Posen suggests: “Mix pieces across menswear and womenswear, layer unexpected shapes together, or put something more architectural against something incredibly familiar. There shouldn’t be too many rules. Clothes are a tool for self-invention.”
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