Gap x Dôen Is Live: Here’s What To Shop Before It Sells Out, Including The Perfect Summer Dresses

It's fair to say that in the past couple of years, Dôen dresses have become to summer what Gap's entire collection in 2007 was to my sixth form wardrobe: almost inextricable. Celebrity endorsement has helped Dôen, the relatively small California label founded by sisters, go from a little-known start up in 2016 to a brand with real selling power now (the label's designs often sell out online). Gap, meanwhile, has tried to rebuild its image in the past few years, using collaborations as one part of its strategy to attract a new audience. It has tapped brands as diverse as LoveShackFancy to Palace, with Dôen becoming its latest partner.

Given that Dôen was founded by Margaret and Katherine Kleveland, this new limited-edition collection is a celebration of sisterhood, with Lily Aldridge and her sister Ruby acting as the faces of the new campaign. There are 46 pieces across women's and childrenswear, with everything from summer dresses to pretty vest tops and even a Dôen take on Gap's classic khaki trousers.

Gap x Dôen: Our Verdict

Hannah Banks-Walker, head of fashion commerce and Gavi Weiss, fashion assistant, tried on the full collection to bring you the very best pieces...

The Dôen Dresses:

Hannah: I'm sure this midi will be the biggest seller of the collection as it's the piece which bears the most similarity to Dôen's best-selling dresses. It has the smocking detail which Dôen does so well, as well as pretty eyelet detailing combined with Gap's flair for denim. It is a slightly tricky shape, so I would suggest sizing up if you want a bit more wiggle room (literally).

Gavi: I really love the fact this dress feels so much like Dôen's mainline collection. I do agree that you may want to take a size up if you want it to feel slightly more comfortable – the smocking goes right over the middle part of you, so a bit more oversized felt more flattering.

Gavi: I absolutely love this midi dress. It is so flattering, really comfortable and also just very pretty. As you can see, I'm wearing it with boots which makes for a cool contrast on those cooler summer days when it's (probably) raining. But I'll also take it on holiday and wear with sandals and (hopefully) a tan.

The Denim:

Hannah: I'm not the biggest lover of jeans but I love the wid leg cut of this pair. They sit high on the waist, which balances out the proportions and I loved them with the oversized denim jacket. Not only is it great quality denim, the sleeves are mini balloon sleeves, giving it the edge on standard jean jackets.

The Shirt:

Gavi: This shirt is perfectly oversized – it's not too baggy but has enough material to allow you to style it in different ways. Whether you wear it open with high waisted jeans, as I am, or tuck it into tailored, wide-leg trousers, it'll quickly become one of those staple pieces in your wardrobe that you come to rely on.

The Logo Jumper:

Hannah: With its vintage vibes, this is the sort of jumper you'll want to throw on with jeans over a cami top on those summer nights when it's suddenly cold. I liked it with the floral midi skirt – it dressed it down a bit and would go perfectly with your favourite trainers.

Gavi: This is the dreamiest jumper which I didn't want to take off. It has such a soft, fleecy lining and is exactly the thing I'd want to have in my hand luggage in case I need an extra layer. I'm about to go away, so I'll be wearing it to the airport, too.

Prices are not much higher than Gap's usual offering; women's pieces range from £12 to £100, making this one of the more affordable collaborations of the year so far. 'It’s been a dream to watch our collections, so rooted in nostalgia and femininity, reimagined through the classic Gap lens,' says Katherine Kleveland. 'As with all our designs, the collaboration pieces were designed to be loved, worn in, and passed down — and we’re beyond excited to partner with Gap to be able to offer this to an engaged global community.'

Indeed, given that most Dôen dresses start at around £250, this is the perfect opportunity for fans of the brand to add it to their wardrobes for considerably less than usual. With that in mind, it's a fair assumption that the dresses will sell quickly – particularly the midi, available in denim or white, with Dôen's signature smocking detail.

Shop: Other Highlights From The Gap X Dôen Collection

When does Gap x Dôen launch?

The collection is live and ready to shop now, available online at Gap.co.uk.

How much does Gap x Dôen cost?

Gap x Dôen is not much more expensive than Gap's usual prices. The collection starts at £12, with the most expensive pieces at £100.

What are the best Dôen dresses?

The brand brings back its best-selling silhouettes every year, so even if something sells out, chances are. you can get your hands on it when it's back in stock. Shop some of our favourite Dôen dresses below.

Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter. But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.