Meet me in The GAP

When I was in high school my first job was at the coolest store around, The Gap.  When I told my friends I got a job there, they thought it was a perfect fit for me because I was there all the time, my sister worked there, and I wore their clothes anyway.  I’ll never forget the day I went for an interview and was hired on the spot! The same day I went back to tennis practice feeling so excited to start my very first job.  Retail was fun, for the most part, besides the holiday season.  I think that’s in part why I wanted to write this post. This time of year always reminds me of when I used to work at the mall.  I started work at The Gap in the fall of 1995.  It was awesome to work in retail, and the best (or worst – depending on how you look at it) part was I received 50% off  full price items and 30% sale… all of the time.  Now for me this was great but I had a shopping problem (HAD – who am I kidding, still do) so my entire paycheck would go right back to The Gap’s bottom line.  The idea was simple: offer an amazing discount so the salespeople wear the clothing and help sell the merchandise.  Made total sense.  I was definitely going to live the brand and wear it as much as I could.  Right?  What was a 16-year-old to do with all those discounts?  I remember I spent so much time in the dressing room trying on new items as they arrived.  Salespeople had first glance at the new lines and our managers actually encouraged many try on sessions.  No problem!  I remember one of my managers said to me, “…you’re like a walking mannequin.”  I think it was a compliment at that time, but hey I  gave my job 100% from day one and wearing the brand was part of the job from my perspective.  You don’t have to tell me twice or encourage me to buy more clothes – lol.  To be honest, trying on the clothes really helped me connect to my customers and I actually had some return customers come in and ask me to put together outfits for them and their families.  I really loved my experience and stayed with the company for about 7 years – I ended my Gap career as a manager / visual merchandiser.  Having worked for a retailer that was synonymous with casual cool in the 90s was really tons of fun and I will always be a ‘Gap Girl’ at heart.

Which brings me to 2017…  I have been a loyal Gap shopper for quite some time.  I did stray for a little while because the brand was having some issues and I did not love the lines they put out, to be perfectly honest.  However, in recent years, The Gap as really stepped up their game and I shop there often, for not just me, but my family too.  Keep scrolling to check out some of my favorite classic looks with some twists.

Look #1 – Moto Jeans and Puffer Vest

One of my most favorite outfits for the fall include jeans and a cozy puffer vest.  These moto jeans are seriously the best I have tried on!  They are so super flattering as they are a mid rise and keep everything in place… ya know!  This vest is made extremely well and very soft and warm.  It comes in several colors too.  I will surely be wearing it often!  The long sleeve tee is an updated twist on a classic and is so soft that you will not want to take it off.  I completed this look with tall boots and a fringe scarf, which also comes in a ton of colors and will complement any outfit.

Look #2 – Moto Jeans and Twill Jacket

For this next look I paired the moto denim leggings with a basic twill navy jacket and added a pop of leopard.  I mean, everyone can use leopard in their life.  This adorable belt gives the outfit just enough sass.

Look #3 – Black on Black, Pop of Red

Night out?  No problem.  Check out these awesome black jeggings and tunic (which you can wear off the shoulder or as a boat neck) for ultimate comfort and style.  The tunic is so soft you will want to wear it around the house!  I added these fabulous J.Crew gold earrings to complete the look.  For a more casual feel I styled with this oversized buffalo check red and black scarf that can be worn as a poncho or traditional scarf.  To complete the look, I added black booties and my favorite Rebecca Minkoff clutch.


So next time you are at the mall shopping or pass by a Gap store front, go in.  You may be pleasantly surprised at what you may find.  Hope you enjoyed reading the latest post!  Please stop by again 😉  XOXO