Good-looking Gap
Designer Patrick Robinson has moved hither and yon in the fashion industry. He worked for Giorgio Armani in Milan. Then he came to New York to design Anne Klein. Then he had his own collection. Then he was hired at Perry Ellis. Then he designed the Paco Rabanne collection in Paris. Then he did a small collection for Target. And I'm sure I have missed some pit stop along the way. Now he has turned up at the Gap, where he is the executive vice president of design. At long last, can it be? Has he found the perfect fit?
Dare I say "maybe"? Sunday afternoon I went to see his first Gap collection. He looks after both the men's and the women's collections and does all that other "visual" stuff that designers love to do and get all hot and bothered about when their bosses won't let them do it.
(Maria Valentino for The Washington Post)
The collection is filled with all the basic sportswear pieces you'd expect: jeans, cargo pants, t-shirts, camisoles, pullovers, etc. But it looks just a little cooler, more streamlined, a smidge more sophisticated. There are also shoes by Pierre Hardy for the Gap. I like the ones that remind me of the desert boots from back when desert boots were cool. Was that also when earth shoes were cool? Everyone was cooing over the faux shearlings. Don't call them vinyl! And Patrick was especially pleased with the sexier cargo pants and the wide leg pants in mattress ticking stripes.
(Maria Valentino for The Washington Post)
Of course, everything looked especially good because it was all layered and styled just so. Patrick will not come to your home and dishevel your t-shirt and dress you in that extra special way. Despite all the sexing up of the collection, Patrick says the prices didn't go up. Great fashion, he says, doesn't have to cost a lot. Ok, Patrick. Just remember that if you happen to turn up at Chanel one day.....
By Robin Givhan |
February 6, 2008; 8:01 AM ET
New York
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Posted by: CW | February 7, 2008 2:05 PM
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OK Robin, this is my semi-annual post to show you some love and to thank you for the blog. You'll never get enough space in the dead tree version to satisfy my craving for all things Givhan.
Your writing is terrific and there could never be too much of it for my tastes. Thanks, and keep it up.