KICKED-UP KHAKI
Khaki has a few less-than-fashionable connotations -- those frumpy, pleat-front slacks that always seem to have a cellphone holder clipped to the waistband, for instance. But the staid staple is about to get a lot more stylish with the Gap Design Editions collection created by Alexander Wang, Albertus Swanepoel, Lisa Maycock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava.
For each of Gap’s Design Editions -- this is the third -- the winners of the CFDA /Vogue Fashion Fund competition reinterprets a Gap classic. This year’s crew took the khaki theme and churned out everything from bucket hats to boyfriend blazers in a fresh, wearable collection.
Stand-out items in the line (in stores Tuesday) include a short-sleeve, elastic-waist dress with a black geometric print at the neckline by Vena Cava. The style is versatile for day or night, and the wide neckline and slightly extended sleeve flatters the neck and collarbone area.
Wang’s popular boyfriend blazer silhouette appears here in ultrasoft khaki. The jacket looks like a hybrid of several classic coat styles, with a traditional trench coat vent in back, blazer collar and lapels and peacoat-style buttons down the front. It is perfectly slouchy, with sleeves sewn so that they always look scrunched and chic. And Swanepoel’s khaki bucket hat is adorned with two layers of grosgrain ribbon trim and a band of delicate feathers. The inside crown of the hat is lined with whimsical peacock and navy blue-striped cotton for a surprise punch of color.
Some of the line’s pieces -- the slouchy jackets, flared shorts and zip-front dress -- may be hard for most people to pull off, but there are also khaki trousers that are fitted at the waist and hip, with a clean, wide leg that makes for a much more flattering fit than the originals. Cellphone holder not included.
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