40 Reasons Gap Will Own You This Summer

We know we can always walk into a Gap and find a great pair of perfectly relaxed, but not-too-slouchy, jeans. We can buy a classic denim jacket that wears so well it'll still be in our outfit rotation years down the line. (This writer has had hers since high school.) But, in Rebekka Bay's new collection for the tried-and-true mall brand, we're finding that Gap is done with the days of just predictable — although reliable — denim finds. And, that's good news for us.

The latest Gap designs look like they've been sun-dried for several summers, with a strong, traditional Americana vibe that still feels unexpected. And, most importantly, the mass retailer has made a point that it can kill it with all kinds of denim clothing, the very least of which is jeans. Think: pullovers, parkas, and — not exactly new, albeit rad — pencil skirts that we're happy to see make a return from the early aughts. Ultimately, the most predictable part of this Gap experience will likely be the traffic on the way to the mall when the collection officially becomes available on May 1.