NEW YORK - Just as there's no reason to reinvent the wheel, there's no reason to reinvent the basics of the American wardrobe such as the leather jacket, cargo pants and the boyfriend sweater.
Those items, though, could stand an update, said Patrick Robinson, the new chief designer at Gap.
Robinson unveiled his debut collection for the retailer Sunday as part of New York Fashion Week - likely an effort to attract the attention of the top tastemakers. It's worth noting that Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour was indeed among the first to see the presentation that included airy blouses under button-front blazers for women and a jersey hoodie sweater for men.
Robinson comes to Gap after stints at Anne Klein, Perry Ellis and Paco Rabanne.
"It's not that things are different," Robinson said. "It's that we took the classics we talk about and made them relevant."
Come fall, expect to see new fabrics, including suede on a great cream-coloured drawstring coat for women, and a more sophisticated colour palette. Instead of the primary colours, you'll be seeing a lot more teal, dark purple and charcoal grey at your neighbourhood Gap.
But the most notable change might be in the proportions: Women's shirts were long, dresses short, and for men, jackets and pants were lean while down vests got the puffy treatment.
