Gap masters the early fall coat

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Welcome to the most abrupt season change in the history of mankind. OK, not really. But last week we were cranking our air conditioners in L.A., and now we’re contemplating lighting our heaters’ pilot lights.

And I, for one, am ill-prepared in the outerwear department -- or at least I was until Tuesday, when I moseyed into the Gap and was greeted by a wide selection of adorable lightweight coats. Gap’s new-ish creative director, Patrick Robinson, has been turning out some devilishly good casual wear lately, including the 1969 Premium Denim collection (I’ve been hooked on the brand’s soft, shapely Real Straight jeans since they launched.) And with this new collection of chic, torso-length coats, the company’s design contingent has done it again -- correctly guessed just what we’d be wanting before we even knew we wanted it.

I picked up a Jackie O-feeling wool boucle cropped double-breasted jacket ($88) boasting a great shrunken fit that works beautifully with jeans and lace-up oxfords now and will seamlessly move into L.A.’s temperate winter, when I plan to team it with knee-high boots and thick tights for a collegiate ‘Love Story’ vibe.

Other standouts in the well-priced collection include a tweed cropped military jacket ($98) with a stand-up collar and diagonal button line that’s an easy day-to-night piece, and a shrunken plaid peacoat in a muted black-and-gray plaid that’s part ‘90s grunge, part dressy tailored suit jacket -- and a perfect partner for almost every imaginable pant.
-- Emili Vesilind

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