Be Better Than the Gap

Anyone who’s seen Crazy, Stupid Love (one of my favorite movies) knows this quote well. Ryan Gosling’s character says it to Steve Carrell’s clueless character, who is in need of a whole new wardrobe when his wife divorces him in his late 40s. He doesn’t know he needs to revamp his wardrobe yet, though, and defends his clothes by saying “Geez, these are from he Gap!” and Ryan replies in all his wisdom, “Be better than the Gap!”

And when you think about it, he has a good point. For one, the Gap’s clothes really aren’t that special. I mean, yeah, some of their selection definitely has a sophisticated air. There’s no denying that. I have a sweater from the Gap that looks absolutely gorgeous on me for all occasions, from brunch to business. However, for the most part, I find the clothes from the Gap to be, well, crap!

Haha, OK, they’re definitely not crap. That was my attempt at humor with rhyming. But I don’t think they’re anything special. For one, they’re all the same kind of garment, you know? It’s all grey/black/white tones, and nothing really stands out. If you bought your whole wardrobe at that place, you’d have to forgive people for thinking you only have one outfit you cycle through day after day. So it really baffles me why everyone and their dad has to always go there when they want new clothes!

For one, why not go to their sister store, Banana Republic? That’s where you’re going to find virtually any item of clothing at a much higher quality, style, and fit, for only a small increase in price. And to be honest, if you’re the kind of guy who doesn’t mind spending $60 on a pair of slacks, do you really care if the price jumps to $80 or $90 at the Banana?

You could also easily head to Express for something a little more flashier. Obviously, you don’t have to go so flashy that you stick out like a lightning rod, but you can find clothes that are just as elegant or sophisticated, but with a little oomph to them. Instead of thinking that the selection is blah, you’ll likely find that Express’ selection is quite eye-catching. You’ll find many diverse options in all colors of the rainbow that somehow maintain their aura of elegance.

This is all assuming you don’t want to shop anywhere but your mall. If you’re brave enough, try online shopping – that’s where the deals are at for one-of-a-kind clothing that no one will forget!

So, happy shopping and remember – be better than the Gap!