Is it Aritzia? Is it Ref? Nope, it's the Gap brands.

Super dupes and other adorable looks for less (+ my picks for their 40% off sale)

Mar 13, 2026

If you know me, you know I love a look for less! And when I did my weekly scan of the Gap brands this week my jaw was on le floor… everything was chef’s kiss. I couldn’t help but think of how many items reminded me of things I’d seen at stores like Reformation and Aritzia.

Since mid 2025 Zac Posen has been the VP and Creative Director for Gap and Old Navy which has elevated these brands into a new realm of stylish, but affordable fashion. The colors are richer and more intentional. The silhouettes and styles are on trend. And their shoes and accessories have especially leveled up. They should not be overlooked while you’re building out your spring wardrobe!

Now let’s tackle the inevitable question…

Does a change in price mean a change in fabric, quality, fit, sustainability and production practices, etc? In some cases, sure. It all depends on what you prioritize. You can find a ton of 100% cotton pieces from Gap brands. They also have CashSoft (Gap) and SoSoft (Old Navy) that replicate the feel of cashmere. Is this the same as 100% cashmere? No, but it’s also not $170 for a sweater.

I’m a big believer in high/low dressing! I’ve talked about this at length in another post which I will link at the bottom of this post, but for now let’s get to the good stuff.

I’m breaking down my favorite pieces below that I think you should buy. And the best news is, Gap is currently having a Friends & Family 40% off sale* so you can really shop without abandon… and is there anything more fun than that? I think not.

As a note, all links below are affiliate links <3 You can also shop everything from this collection here.

The Super Dupes.

Listen, dupes, are not always good thing. When a small business’ unique designs go viral and are immediately ripped off and mass produced by companies like Shein, we should not support them! I watched this happen to a knitwear designer, Hope Macauley, and it was devastado. Her signature chunky sweater was fully knocked off (down to the exact hues and color placement) by Shein and sold for a fraction of the price. Brutal.

But… when an already mainstream store like Aritzia releases a pink striped short sleeve cashmere polo and another (more) mainstream store like Old Navy releases a similar one during the same season, it’s a different story. Neither one invented the pink striped short sleeve polo. They’re massive corporations, not small designers.

So with that in mind, here are the super dupes I’ve found at Gap and Old Navy and where I saw their more pricey counterparts:

Cream and pink polos: Old Navy $27.99 | Aritzia $128
Black wedge thong sandals: Gap $69.95 | Reformation $298
Studded jeans: Old Navy $29.99 | Reformation $218
Tailored black blazer: Old Navy $35 | Aritzia $228
Jean mini dress: Gap $79.95 | Reformation $198
Gingham blouse: Gap $69.95 | Reformation $168
Blue boyfriend overshirt: Old Navy $23.99 | Aritzia $88
Black and gold belt: Gap $49.95 | Aritzia $78
Yellow cardigan: Gap $69.95 | Reformation $198

PS — At the time of publishing (3/13), Gap is currently having a 40% off sale, so take 40% off all prices listed above and smile bc of how much you saved!!!

I also included the current price at Old Navy which subject to change depending on when you read this.

Shoes + Accessories.

God these shoes are good. Ballet flats, thong sandals, and wedge heels will be hot this season. I’d rather have a few cost effective options than one splurge for the season. But you do YOU. Gap also has high quality jewelry! Ana Luisa is Gorjana adjacent, but with Gap’s sales you can get them discounted all the time. And the ruffle socks are my favorite consistent Old Navy buy.

Outfit inspo.

I wanted to show how easy it is to recreate outfits that you see on Pinterest/social media and style them using more affordable pieces. Make no mistake, I love a fancy outfit from a fancy brand! But I also think being crafty with mixing high-end and affordable items is a great muscle to strengthen.

I did a deep dive on these looks on my TikTok, but to recap:

Gap has always done denim well, it’s a core product of their brand. So you can always trust that these pieces will be well tailored and hold up quality-wise.
Old Navy sizing tends to run big, I almost always size down. For mini dresses I also get petite (I’m almost 5’6) to ensure they’re actually mini.
Mixing prints is a fun, easy way to make your outfit look cooler and more intentional. Adding the leopard slingbacks to the polka dot mini dress gives it some edge.
When wearing baggy bottoms, I like to wear a tight top. This will give the outfit structure and balance. Some girls can do baggy on baggy and look chic, but I just feel like I am wearing pajamas.
Athleisure is my favorite thing to elevate! The trick is to pair it with things that are not so sporty. Instead of wearing a scuba zip up with a tennis skirt, opt for a cashmere cardigan and toss it over your shoulders. Bring a real purse instead of a one of those Lululemon fanny packs. I also think this is the spring/summer of ballet flats with workout clothes…… and I’m not mad about it!
OH — AND YOU CAN SHOP ALL THE GAP BRANDS TOGETHER AND CHECK OUT AT THE SAME TIME. Sorry for yelling but that is really good news.

You can find the items above here.

I hope I’ve convinced you to do some spring shopping at the Gap brands! My dream is for you to immediately shop the sale and be absolutely delighted at how many cute things you got and how much you saved.

Spending money is soooooo fun. Saving money and still looking cute is sooooooo much funner.

xx, Caylee

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