Gap Renaissance

Like every other preppy high schooler in my hometown, I lived and loved The Gap (in little old El Paso, J. Crew and Abercrombie were luxuries reserved for catalog orders and trips to cooler cities). Before the Gap opened in our nearby mall, I'd make my mom drive me to the bigger mall on the other side of town to shop, generally insuring that I'd be one of the only girls wearing Gap stuff at my school. This was key. And when the Gap opened a closer location one Saturday in ninth grade, you better believe I was waiting at the door for it to open at 10 a.m. I rememer that I bought a pair of adorable seersucker shorts that day. Clearly, I've taken shopping very seriously for a long time.

But since then? I haven't really been a huge fan of the Gap, generally favoring the consistency of J. Crew to the Gap's sometimes floundering and random attempts at reinvention.

Until yesterday. I stepped into the Gap hoping to find a few pairs of work slacks after striking out at Banana and White House, and omg people, the Gap and I are seeing each other again, reunited after years of separation based on irreconcilable style differences and friends?!? I loved everything in that place, (and almost bought everything too) most notably their "sunfade lightweight" cargo shorts in summery pastel colors (which I will wear fitted tees and heeled sandals; what else do I wear with anything?) and their super low-cut worn cotton tees which I got in five colors. I didn't manage to get away without a few pairs of "sunkissed khakis" either, in "periwinkle" and "peony," (muted purple and pink) so it suffices to say I am *ready for summer. And broke.

*can't you just hear my voice getting progressively higher with abject excitement? I am a woman possessed. Gap, I love you. Let's run away together.