The Shophound

Pop-Up Alert II: Gap's (RED)™ Christmas On Fifth Avenue

We know that the Gap has been working with the (PRODUCT) ^RED program for quite a while with its own collection that benefits The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. To remind everyone about the charity driven product lines, the Concept store at the Fifth Avenue flagship has just been converted into The (RED)™ Store featuring not only its own products, but also those from most of the other companies that participate in the program, including Emporio Armani, Converse, Nike, Apple, Hallmark, Dell, Bugaboo and even Starbucks. The centerpiece of the store, of course, is the Gap's newest collection of artist designed t-shirts benefitting the program including the latest one designed by Stella McCartney ($28 above left). We also found sunglasses and watches from Emporio Armani, the latest iPod Nano, skateboards from The Girl Skateboard Company and a special limited edition laquered silver "Hot Lips" ring ($1,500 at right) from Solange Azagury-Partridge.
We have to admit that we had gotten a little bit weary of the whole (PRODUCT) ^RED thing not because we didn't think it was worthwhile but because it seemed like nobody would make anything that wasn't RED.
Seriously, it's kinda limiting.
Thankfully, some of the companies have discovered that they can make at least a few things in other colors now, too, a refreshing update.
The (RED)™ Store at the Gap Flagship Concept Store, 680 Fifth Avenue between 53^rd & 54^th Streets, Midtown

Pop-Up Alert: Return To Paris With Merci GAP

Around this time last year, the Gap had devoted its newly renovated Fifth Avenue concept store to the Parisian cult boutique colette. Though it generated long lines and lots of publicity, we have to admit that the result left The Shophound a little cold. This year, the Gap returns to the City of Lights collaborating with the less well known boutique Merci for a much better result.
This time, instead of gimmicky tchotchkes, Merci Gap is offering real stuff, like elegant housewares from around the world and vintage French prêt à porter along with a few co-branded items that have already proved popular with certain editors at Fashion Week. Vogue fashion Market/Accessories Editor Virginia Smith has been proudly sporting a Merci Gap customized trenchcoat all week, but of course, she's a little biased being married to Gap Creative director Patrick Robinson, and all.
When we briefly visited a few days ago, we found a special line of Annick Goutal fragrance candles, contemporary French tableware and tidy little packages of linen napkins among other things. Unlike last year's event, we actually want to go back and check it out again! As in the Paris store, Merci Gap will be sending its profits to children’s charities and programs that provide work for impoverished youth in Madagascar, which makes it somewhat more acceptable that the prices in the little shop are often more than a bit higher than your typical Gap fare, though not necessarily for Fifth Avenue in general. The concept shop will be open until October 5^th.
Merci GAP Fifth Avenue at 54^th Street, Midtown

T-Shirt Report: Gap Goes Gallery For Artists' Tees On Fifth

You can never have too many t-shirts, or at least that's what The Shophound tells ourself when we are cramming yet another one on the closet shelf. If you happen to find that your t-shirt shelf is looking a little anemic, it is important to differentiate between the cool (UNIQLO, James Perse, Trovata) and the revolting (Ed Hardy and anything else associated with Christian Audigier). It's not always simple, but the GAP —no strangers to the T-shirt— have made it easy for you shoppers. This month they have launched a the latest in a series of artists-designed T-shirts in conjunction with the (PRODUCT) Red program which fall decidedly on the cool side of the fence.
To promote this newest group of tees, Gap has transformed its Fifth Avenue concept space into a gallery featuring 10 original artworks along with the $28 shirts. The gallery will be open until August 10^th, and the shirts will be available at Gap stores and at Gap.com as well as at The Whitney Museum of American Art which will carry selected styles through August 30^th
As part of the (PRODUCT) RED program, 50% of the profits from the t-shirts will be donated to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS in Africa.
GAP Concept Store, 680 Fifth Avenue between 53^rd & 54^th Streets, through August 10^th, Midtown

More information about the participating artists after the jump

Collaboration Launch: Gap Design Editions Previews Today On Fifth Avenue

Today's the day Fifth Avenue shoppers get a preview of this year's Gap Design Editions collaborations featuring exclusive khaki capsule collections by current darlings and CFDA Fashion Fund Finalists Alexander Wang, Vena Cava's Lisa Maycock and Sophie Buhai (pictured above) and Albertus Swanepoel. The collection gets released to stores tomorrow, but the designers along with Gap Creative Director Patrick Robinson will be at the midtown flagship store today at 10:30 AM to launch the initiative. Though the designer roster is smaller this year (and there's no menswear) the individual collections appear to have been broadened, and the choice of a Khaki theme is right in Gap's wheelhouse while allowing the designers a few more design options than the white shirts of years past. The collections are ONLINE  TODAY, and will launch in the rest of the chain tomorrow. Get there fast. This group of merch looks like it will sell swiftly.
Gap Design Editions (Official Site) Flagaship at 54^th Street & Fifth Avenue

More McCartney: Stella X GapKids Set For Yearend

What drives us nuts about designer children's wear is the ridiculous prices for clothes that, most of the time, are barely noticed by the people wearing them.
Now Stella McCartney, individualist that she is, has joined the children's scene for a one-off collection that promises to offer a more affordable price point because it is being offered in conjunction with GapKids and BabyGap at the end of this year.
It will include clothes for boys and girls, and it appears that Stella feels the same way we do about kid's clothes. WWD reports:

"For years I’ve wanted to create a collection for kids,” McCartney stated. “It’s something I’ve often been asked about. I believe that this one-off collaboration will be a great way for customers to be able to participate in the Stella McCartney brand. I believe that kids’ clothing should be more accessibly priced, which is particularly important at the moment, given the current climate.”

Stella has become something of a collaboration queen without tarnishing her brand's prestige in the least. Could this be a sign of more Little Stella to come? Time will tell, but if this works out it will probably be a safe bet. The line will be available in yet to be announced selected GapKids and BabyGap locations in the U.S. and internationally as well as online.
Gap, Stella McCartney Sign Kids’ Deal (WWD)

More Collaborations:GAP's CFDA Line Slowly Leaks

Gap hasn't really officially announced much about its Design Editions collaborations for 2009 featuring the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists, but images from the line continue to quietly float through the magical interwebs from generous "tipsters". This year, the focus has moved from the iconic white shirt to the iconic khaki pant, which should offer some more variety. We're not even sure who the all participating designers will be yet, but Patrick Robinson dropped hints about an "incredible motorcycle jacket" from current darling (and last year's winner) Alexander Wang at the Havaianas Urban Beach Flip-Flop Shop party last week, and today, our friends at RACKED have a photo of that likely to be coveted item (pictured above). This comes hot on the heels of spilling some shots of graphic printed dresses from Vena Cava on Friday. Apparently, there will also be an abundance of 1920's style cloche hats as well. Interesting.
We're looking forward to the full reveal, which should be sometime this month, but it's usually only a few weeks ahead of the launch, which happens on June 16^th.
Collabs: Gap Design Editions Has Everybody in Khaki, Alexander Wang Included (RACKED includes slideshow)

Summer's Comin': GAP x Havaianas Hits Fifth Avenue

It's always the things you didn't know you wanted that'll get you.
Like, for example, we didn't know we wanted a pair of customized Havaianas flip-flops, and yet we couldn't have been more tickled to leave last night's preview of the Gap's latest Fifth Avenue Concept Store pop-up carrying a pair.
Starting today, the Concept Store becomes the Urban Beach Flip-Flop Shop, presenting those ever more popular rubber sandals in a range of styles as well as embellishments like pins and crystals to be added for a small fee, of course. The event marks the beginning of a new partnership between Gap and Havaianas that will put the sandals in stores throughout the chain all Summer and in select locations all year round. The little shop's latest incarnation features bright Brazilian graphics and a selection of beachy looks and bikinis from Patrick Robinson's Summer collections for the chain, which, we have to say, keep getting better and better under his direction. Weekends will offer the "Make Your Own Havaianas” customization bar where customers will be able to mix and match colors to make the rubber shower shoes of their dreams to be assembled by the charming Gap-clad flip-flop technicians The Shophound has come to know and love at the Fashion Week tents.
Now all we need is a beach house.
The Havaianas Urban Beach Flip-Flop Shop at the Gap Concept Store through June 13^th, 680 Fifth Avenue between 53^rd & 54^th Streets, Midtown

Collaboration Report:In Which We Finally Make It Tocolette x GAP

Sometimes we just can't make it to everything on the very first day. Such was the case with colette X GAP which opened just as we were in the midst of running around for Fashion Week.
Our feeling on this, however, is that if the pop-up store is supposed to be open until October 5^th, it should be worth visiting at any time ...in theory, that is.
There was certainly no line Monday morning at around 11:30 AM when we made our way there, and inside the shop there were three salespeople conversing in French. Atmosphere? Perhaps they were colette employees specially imported from Paris.
Here's the thing: We have never actually been to the famous and revered colette in Paris, so we really have no comparison for this little hybrid version. Should that really matter? Shouldn't we be able to enjoy this shop on its own merits?
If that's the case, then we are a little underwhelmed. In fairness, we can't really review the store properly because so many of the special items appear to be sold out. The Longchamp Pliage bag in gray sweatshirt cloth is gone, and the supply of artist-designed t-shirts was decimated, though we were told that a replenishment was coming tomorrow. What was there included the trench coat customized by André, the jeans jackets customized by Olympia Le Tan and the Kangol hat and Repetto flats both in sweatshirt fabric. There were also a few pairs of Seavees sneakers left as well as various odds and ends.
Here's our problem. First of all, a lot of this stuff is much more expensive than normal Gap merchandise. One of the things we appreciate about UNIQLO's designer collaborations, for example, is that the prices are right in line with the rest of their stock. The Le Tan jackets clocked in at $350. Isn't the point of the Gap not spending $350 on a jeans jacket even if it is embellished with a decorative patch?
Look, we went in there expecting to be at least marginally impressed, but why would be get excited about a co-branded bottle of Kiehl's Crème de Corps that we can get pretty much anywhere these days? Lots of the novelty items were cute, but expensive, and without the context of the fabulous Paris store, maybe some of their meaning was lost. Some items just looked cheap, like the clear framed Oakley Frogskin sunglasses with a star print that looked like something Debbie Gibson might have thrown into a time capsule around 1988. They weren't cute. They were cutesy, and not so cheap at around $144. Perhaps we would have been more impressed if we had more appreciation for Hello Kitty, which was also represented.
So call us cranky, but it wasn't until we went next door to the newly remodeled Gap flagship that we actually found things we wanted to buy.
colette X GAP Fifth Avenue at 54th Street, Midtown, through October 5^th.

Collaboration Du Jour:Line Up For colette x GAP

Here's what we can tell you about colette x GAP: There's a big-ass line to get in.
Theoretically we could have gotten up at the crack of dawn to be first in said line, but sometimes theory simply doesn't play out the same way in practice, and it's not like we don't have enough places to run around to for the next seven days.
Ordinarily, we might have sucked it up and justlined up ourselves, but we don't have that kind of time to invest during Fashion Week, and it's muggy as hell out.
It does prove, however, that there are at least enough New Yorkers who are savvy about colette to create an initial swell of interest. The tourists thronging Fifth Avenue, however, seemed thoroughly uninterested.
It will, after all be open until the beginning of October, and, presumably, they won't sell out of everything immediately, and there will be no shortage of breathless reports on line about it.
Thankfully, we will have a proper preview of next week's Bullseye Bodegas from Target up on time, we promise.
colette x GAP (Official Site updated with more product information, but no prices)

Eric & Cathy Go Shopping:Thursday Styles Goes Luxe and Mass...But Not Critical

Today's Thursday Styles is without its critical shoppers. Perhaps Mike and La Cintra are trapped at Barneys Warehouse Sale.
In their stead, Times Fashion Doyenne Cathy Horyn does a bit of shopping herself, and confirms everyone's fears that despite the pressures of the economy, designer clothing is more expensive than ever this Fall.

Lots of people can’t afford, and can’t accept, paying $3,000 to $4,000 for an outfit, which is entirely possible in Designerland. You can rationalize blowing your rent on Gucci’s $1,900 swinging fringed boots — by telling yourself you’ll spend only $89 for Zara’s copy of Gucci’s mini peasant dress. But you would know immediately that your cheap-jack Doctor Zhivago outfit wasn’t working, and then what?

Cathy gets down to business with a serious approach. There's no room fore a cutesy turn of phrase or faux-astonishment at prices. She's a problem solver, and the article comes complete with a rare fashion shoot styled, presumably, by Cathy herself with items pulled from her shopping trip. Her solution is to turn to the (marginally) less expensive off-the-runway collections from your favorite designers and mix items with well priced basics. Its smart advice backed with the gravitas of a veteran.
Eric Wilson, more of a Thursday Styles regular, sits down with the new Gap creative director, Patrick Robinson, whose new designs are finally starting to impact the mega-chain's merchandise mix in a noticeable way.
Wilson, perhaps unfairly, compares the Fifth Avenue Gap flagship's traffic with that of the the absurdly popular Abercrombie & Fitch palace a few blocks uptown. After all, there are about twenty Gaps in Manhattan versus two Abercrombies. He makes his point, however, that A&F, no matter how banal and predictable it has become (which is VERY), has captured the cachet that Gap once had with a certain customer that they would very much like back.
To put it simply, Gap's business hasn't yet improved, but every analyst and fashion editor has been knocked out by Robinson's vision for the chain, and you can include us in that group.
For the first time in we don't know how long, we find ourselves checking in at the Gap regularly to see if anything new and exciting has come in, and most of the time, it has.
Walk into the store.
Robinson has touched even the most basic items. The t-shirts have a new cut and light texture. The jeans are restyled. The V-necks are just the right depth. The stuff looks good again, as if all the crappy stuff from the past few years was never made.
We can barely believe we are encouraging people to go check out the Gap. It's like sending people to Walmart, but what can we say? It looks good, and it's still affordable, and like the old days of Sharon Stone at the Oscars, you wouldn't mind mixing a Gap jacket with more expensive designer items.
At least Cathy Horyn didn't (see right). We do love some good old synergy.
Fall Fashion: Tiptoeing Into the Stores by Cathy Horyn (NYTimes)
The Second Coming of Khaki by Eric Wilson (NYTimes)