Design
Quality of Materials
Value for Money 
Craftsmanship 
Customer Service Toward the end of summer, I start acting irrationally.
It’s still 90 degrees outside, but I insist on wearing my long sleeve shirts and jackets.
After months of hot weather, I get so tired of t-shirts that I’ll sweat through a dozen sweaters if I have to.
And then the weather finally breaks. Sweet relief.
This year, when that first breeze of autumn air carried through, I popped over to my local mall to get a watch battery replaced. While there, I came across a familiar friend: GAP. They had some cool looking styles in the window, and after a bit of shopping, I came out with a few outfits.
GAP is a classic, but are their clothes any good? Come on in and find out.
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What Is GAP?
GAP was founded in San Francisco, 1969, and originally sold only Levis jeans and LPs.
I wasn’t alive in ‘69, so I can only assume there were constantly flocks of hippies hanging around. Anyway, the hippies loved the initial GAP store so much, the brand started to make their own jeans.
Over the subsequent five years, GAP exploded with popularity to the point of opening over 25 stores across the United States.
You may have been wearing GAP your entire life. I distinctly remember a polo shirt with golf clubs on it that I wore just about every day of third grade. That was a GAP piece. And I’m still rocking them today.
GAP’s staple is still jeans, and their aesthetic remains simple, fit-focused, with minimal branding.
Things to Consider Before Buying Clothes from GAP
In my work on this site, I’ve probably reviewed over 100 brands. I’ve seen the good, bad, and ugly.
So where does GAP fit into the mix?
GAP is a great place to get your seasonal staples. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a piece from GAP that was exceptionally unique and a total showstopper as the centerpiece of an outfit.
But if you’re looking for Oxford shirts, quality jeans, and some excellent layering pieces that don’t cost a small fortune, GAP is an excellent place to start.
Like I said, with cooler weather on the way, I popped into a store and tried a few things and found some basic, stylish pieces that are versatile and seamlessly fit in with just about everything else in my wardrobe.
GAP Review
When I walked into the store, I was pleased to see so many pieces that have a timeless look to them, so the outfits I put together aren’t going out of style any time soon.
GAP Jeans
GAP got their start with jeans, so that’s where I’ll start my review, too.
This isn’t my first pair of jeans from the GAP. I’ve owned another pair for about seven years, and they’re currently stained with paint, faded, and two sizes too small. But they’re still going strong—no holes and the fabric still keeps its shape.
I’ve tried other brands of jeans—some that cost north of $150 for a pair, and I still haven’t found a pair of jeans I can wear on the daily like my old GAPs. But they’ve lost their crispy deep indigo color, so I grabbed a new pair I can fade in.
GAP has a ton of different fit options: Relaxed, Straight, Slim, Slim Taper, Skinny, and the list goes on.
I tried on fits in the Staight, Slim, Slim Taper, and Skinny. Of all the fits, my favorite is Slim Taper: it’s fairly narrow through the hips and thighs, but still leaves a bit of room. Under the knee it comes to a significant taper so there isn’t a ton of extra fabric around the ankle.
That’s my biggest pet-peeve with jeans—the leg opening is often too wide for my taste. With a slimmer leg opening, men tend to look taller and thinner, both of which are good things.
The Slim Taper and Skinny fit both have the kind of taper I like below the knee. The Straight and Slim didn’t however—they’re more a relaxed fit below the knee.
But I’m actually wearing the Skinny fit here in these pictures. Why Skinny if I prefer the Slim Taper? Well, they didn’t have the deep indigo wash I like so much in Slim Taper. So Skinny it is.
Honestly, my thighs are big enough to where the fabric hugs my legs regardless of whether I’m wearing a Straight cut, Slim, or Skinny, so I didn’t notice too much of a difference (besides the leg opening, which is tapered how I like it).
These jeans feature a 12oz denim, which is a mid-weight fabric that transitions well through any season. There’s also a bit of added Spandex, which GAP calls “GapFlex.”
They’re also made through GAP’s Washwell initiative, which saves thousands of gallons of water compared to traditional denim production methods.
I’ve been wearing these jeans every day since I got them. I’m trying not to wash them either because I don’t want the color to fade.
After owning two pairs of jeans from GAP, I can say I’m a big fan. I can attest to how long they last (my first pair is still strong after about seven years). And while they’re not expensive like many other brands, they fit well and have a rich color.
After owning two pairs of jeans from GAP, I can say I’m a big fan. My first pair is still strong after about seven years, so I know they have durability. The variety of washes and fits make GAP a go-to option for good jeans.
Cotton Slub Sweater
The Cotton Slub Sweater fits smaller than the rest of GAP’s clothes, so if you like the look of this piece and you’re ordering online, get the next size up.
While I ordered a medium in the two shirts below, the large fits me really well in this sweater, and I’ve been loving it.
Made with slub cotton, the material is dynamic and interesting. It has a lot of texture, and I like that there’s an elastic band around the waist. Because of that band, this sweater does a good job of hiding your belly (if you have one) and accentuating your shoulders.
My only gripe with the Cotton Slub Sweater is that after a wash, the seams at the shoulders can get bunched up and need a thorough steaming to flatten out. It’s not a huge deal, but it’s important to note that this sweater requires a little extra care.
It also shrinks significantly in the wash, so if you’re wearing it and thinking it’s a touch large: don’t worry, it’ll shrink down to size after a cleaning.
This makes for a solid standalone piece throughout fall, and it’ll look great as a bottom layer in winter. That robust texture is a winner in the colder months, so I’ll be relying on this piece often.
Made with slub cotton, the material is dynamic and interesting. It has a lot of texture, and I like that there’s an elastic band around the waist. Because of that band, this sweater does a good job of hiding your belly (if you have one) and accentuating your shoulders.
Long Sleeve Henley
I’m a sucker for a henley. Short sleeve. Long sleeve. No Sleeve? No.
GAP’s Long Sleeve Henley is basic: it fits well, features a mid-weight cotton, and has solid stitching.
These are exactly the kind of pieces I like getting from GAP as they’re fantastic for layering and go with virtually any outfit.
I picked up this henley in an off-white color, which isn’t the greatest color for fall and winter, but I felt it looked too good with the light Denim Pocket Shirt to pass up.
Still, GAP has a lot of fall and winter friendly color options available. And for the most part, they’re all neutral, so you can use this shirt again and again in your weekly wardrobe cycle.
I picked up the Long Sleeve Henley in a medium, and after a wash it fits well. It shrank a little, but even the medium fit fairly large on my 6’1” 200lb frame.
These types of pieces are often on discount or can be picked up on sale, and that’s a deal I’d jump on for a little wardrobe pick-me-up.
GAP’s Long Sleeve Henley is basic: it fits well, features a mid-weight cotton, and has solid stitching.
These are exactly the kind of pieces I like getting from GAP as they’re fantastic for layering and go with virtually any outfit.
Denim Pocket Shirt
I fell in love with this shirt the moment I saw it.
And luckily it fit me well, too.
Like the jeans, I’ve worn this shirt every day since I got it. Actually, today is the first day I’m not wearing it (I bought it eight days ago—it’s not stink-proof).
There are two washes available for the Denim Pocket Shirt, the light wash I’m wearing and a darker version.
I opted for the light because I love how distinctive the color is and I think the ensemble works with the darker, crispy looking indigo jeans.
Plus, as we head into the colder months, lighter layers usually work better close to your body, so with the lighter wash, I can layer on top with pretty much anything and it’ll generally look good.
It’s made with 84% cotton, 15% polyester, and 1% elastane. With this fabric blend, you get the classic look of denim, but it’s softer and more colorfast due to the polyester, and has a subtle stretch to it that ensures the seams don’t rip.
The Denim Pocket Shirt is really comfortable, and I love the way it fits. Again, like the Cotton Slub Sweater, I find this shirt accentuates your shoulders and has a slimming effect, both of which I’m a fan of.
This shirt has a decent amount of stretch, and the cotton is soft. It retains its structure but stays comfortable.
What do Other Reviewers Say About GAP?
There are literally millions of reviews online for GAP. I didn’t get a chance to read them all. But it can be a tough game when scanning through reviews for big brands like this.
It may shock you to learn, but some people aren’t familiar with “how to internet,” so there are tons of nonsensical negative reviews that often never have anything to do with the brand itself.
A lot of the reviews I read felt the prices were fair for the quality—especially so when a sale is going on—and that the styles are versatile and classic. So like me, a lot of reviewers feel that GAP is a great place to go for basic styles.
Some reviewers had issues with GAP’s delivery partners occasionally not being able to ship to a P.O. Box. While that’s not always the case, just double check if you get your mail to a post office.
My Thoughts Overall On GAP
What I Like
GAP’s focus on classic, timeless pieces makes it easy to find staples for your wardrobe you can wear for several years.
Their jeans are sturdy, and there are a ton of different washes and styles—my seven-year-old GAP jeans are still holding up.
The price is very fair and you’ll often find many items on sale.
Because of the minimal branding and mostly neutral colors, it’s easy to put together several outfits from only a few pieces.
What I Don’t Like
Their Slim Taper was my favorite fit because of the leg room and slimmer leg opening. But I went with Skinny instead because they didn’t have the same basic dark indigo wash, which I felt was an oversight as they only carried more stylized washes in their Slim Taper fit.
Who is GAP for?
GAP is an excellent brand for you if you’re looking to bolster your seasonal wardrobe and want to add a few basic pieces that work well with just about any outfit you put together.
The Verdict
It’s been a while since I shopped with GAP, and this most recent trip was definitely my most successful.
I’ve been rocking a pair of GAP jeans for the past seven years, but now that they’re covered in paint stains, they just don’t “dress up” as well as they used to.
So finding a new pair of crispy deep indigo jeans made me happy—I hope I’m wearing them seven years from now, too.
My only disappointment with my GAP haul is that there weren’t more tapered options for their jeans. I have larger hips and thighs, but I prefer a tapered leg opening as that generally makes guys look taller and thinner.
Their Slim Taper fit really well, but there weren’t many washes available—they were all quite stylized—and I was only looking for a basic dark indigo wash.
Otherwise, my favorite pickup is the Denim Pocket Shirt. It fits super well and looks great. Plus, it’s really comfortable and has plenty of stretch.
The Henley isn’t earth-shattering, but it’s a solid piece and I’ll get a ton of use from it over the years.
And the Slub Cotton Sweatshirt is a cold weather staple that I look forward to mixing and matching as a layering piece.
FAQs
Is GAP good quality?
Yes, GAP’s clothes are good quality. I’ve owned a pair of their jeans for seven years, while wearing them several times a week and washing them at least once every two weeks. They’re surprisingly robust.
Are GAP jeans worth it?
Yes, GAP jeans are among my favorites after trying dozens of brands. GAP has a huge selection of fits and washes, so you’ll almost certainly find something that’s flattering and comes in a wash you enjoy.
