Gap

I know it’s not cool, but I like Gap. Sure, a lot of their stuff is a toned down, conservative version of what you might find at other edgier high-​street shops, but they do classic items well. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t dress head to toe in Gap (I’m very conscious of avoiding the Gap advert look), but I do think they have the edge on certain items of clothing. Coats, for example. Every season, Gap will unfailingly have a well-​cut wool pea coat and a couple of great Macs. I like this reliability. Of course, it admittedly makes for a boring shopping experience– there only so many stripey scarves and chunky cardigans I can take in. But I think the way to approach gap, is to use it for staples. I know I will probably never find a great dress there, but I’m okay with that.
As Gaps go, this isn’t the best one. As with Topshop, I am surprised by how small the store is, considering Brighton’s potential as a shopping town. Hoards of students and weekend shoppers but teeny tiny shops. Whats the deal? Because of the space issues, they don’t carry the full range and when you’re already writing off half the stock, that doesn’t leave much to choose from! On the up side they have a good number of spacious changing rooms for such a little shop.

As a brand, I’m not a big fan of The Gap.
Whenever I look around one of their stores I always find them a bit soul-​less and uninspiring. Sure, they sell nice stripey scarves, stripey tees and stripey jumpers but the rest of the stock is so preppy it hurts. I mean, they still sell beige and grey slacks and denim chinos for goodness sake!
In terms of style and originality I’d only give them two stars. I felt obliged to give them one extra however, because the only item I’ve ever bought for myself from The Gap has since become one of my favourite pieces of knitwear. It was a cream cashmere jumper with thin red stripes across and whenever I wear it, I get told I look like a (dead) Hollywood star!

My relationship with Gap has been long and patchy but I keep going back. I first turned to it as a teenager in need of something or those difficult middle years between awkwardness and full-​on adulthood and it supplied a basic canvas. Now, the fully obedient shopper that I am, I return for the same basics, which have yet to fail me– comfy t-​shirts in pleasing colours and the occasional super soft jumper or well cut coat. In recent years they have improved on their trend-​conscious items as well so that you can sometimes find a really great piece that goes beyond basics. Their biker style ankle boots from last year are one of my favorite buys. The prices are mid level and good I think for the quality, which is much better than most high-​street shops.

I used to buy a lot of stuff from Gap, especially when it first arrived in the UK. I liked the simply designed, unfussy basics, which seemed good quality and reasonably priced.
Since then, their menswear at least seems to have become more fashion conscious, with new ranges each season, and more self-​conscious styling. This no longer works for me, I’m afraid, although judging by the number of people who have been in here on my occasional visits, it seems to work for some of the studenty types in which Brighton abounds. Maybe I’m just too old for them, now?
As well as the styling, I’m not a great fan of the Brighton shop: it’s relatively small: long and narrow, menswear is upstairs, reached by a relatively narrow staircase towards the rear of the shop, so you have to negotiate most of the crowded womenswear section to get there. The store’s size also means the range is relatively limited, compared with the larger branches in London.
Still, if their clothes work for you, it’s probably worth a look.