From basic pocket T-shirts to trendier topcoats, Gap fills your wardrobe with updated classics—done in a modern and revitalizing way. And, of course, Gap has put khaki dressing on a whole, new fashionable platform that the market can’t get enough of.

It’s a good thing that casually confident and cool Gap finally opened its first ever store in Manila. With the plethora of retail brands promoting over styled garments, it was refreshing to see a brand that not only preserves classic styles but also redefines them for modern times. Now that’s what I call real value for money as they will stay in your wardrobe for a lifetime.

For Holiday 2007, your wardrobe favorites are getting the freshest color overhaul with the advent of Gap’s Crazy Stripe this season. Yup, it’s all about rainbow-colored stripes. From knit scarves to fleece sweaters, Gap Holiday 2007 is splattered with bright shades—fireflow, pink hibiscus, shamrock and cinnabar red—that take you away from your usual Christmas-tree greens and satin-ribbon reds.

Now if the collection flows with too much color for your surging testosterones, you can just accent with these pieces and go for more of the quintessential items like the pique polo shirts, standard-fit denim jeans and essential oxfords. On the comfort side of the brand, protective gear like the fisherman’s turtleneck, wool double-breasted long coats and heavy-duty puff jackets are also availablein a wide range of colors.

If you visit the stores today, a holiday collection bursting with color and styles will be the first thing you’ll see. Then moving further in, the wardrobe classics that we all love, and, finally, the denim section as well as the undergarment wall. The whole feel and even the smell of the space are very much like its American counterparts.

So it’s a one-stop shop for anyone who considers casual style, great comfort and superb quality for their clothes. Now, it’s time for some quality shopping and to fall in love once again with this unique brand.

The Gap is exclusively distributed by Casual Clothing Specialists, Inc. and is available at Glorietta 4, Makati City and TriNoma, Quezon City.

E-mail the author at rey@nagalimanila.com.