Gap Goes Upscale With a Valentino Collaboration

Gap and Pierre Hardy just works. Gap and Valentino? We’re not so sure. The world’s biggest specialty retailer is teaming up with the historic fashion house to create a capsule collection, which will be available in a few of its European stores. (The US flagships are not scheduled to receive a shipment, unfortunately.) The partnership was formed to celebrate the opening of the new Gap stores in Milan and Rome. The launch will take place in November at the retailer’s new Milan flagship, but pieces will also be available at Colette, Dover Street Market, and Gap’s London flagship.

I was living in London when Gap did something similar with Roland Mouret and I will say that the results were impressive. And of course no one can forget Phoebe Philo’s “European collection” for the brand. But Mouret’s dresses are structured and Philo’s a minimalist–those looks were slightly easier to recreate in a knit than a silky blouse or ruffly frock, which is what the new Valentino team is best known for. It’ll be interesting to see what they turn out.