Latest news with #Posen
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gracie Abrams Pays Tribute to San Francisco With Custom GapStudio Gown by Zac Posen at Outside Lands Music Festival
Gracie Abrams turned to Zac Posen and his GapStudio designs for her ethereal look during her Outside Lands Music Festival performance on Saturday in San Francisco. For the performance, Abrams paid homage to Gap Inc.'s hometown of San Francisco, wearing a blush pink silk crepe gown inspired by the city. The dress included a cape effect element, forming a soft, flowing silhouette with ease of movement for the singer. Posen shared a video of Abrams wearing the look on his official Instagram account. More from WWD Jessica Alba Gives Monochrome a Fresh Edge with Willy Chavarria Design on 'CBS Mornings' Jenna Ortega Embraces Gothic Edge in Simone Rocha for 'Wednesday' Season Two Press Tour in Seoul Sienna Miller's Choice for an Everyday Tote Comes From Gucci's Cruise 2026 Collection 'I'm honored to be dressing Gracie Abrams for this special performance in Gap Inc's hometown of San Francisco,' Posen said via statement. 'It's always been an exciting part of my career and my continued work at Gap Inc. to recognize and dress the next generation of great artists and icons of influence.' Designed by Zac Posen, who officially joined Gap Inc. in February 2024, Abrams' custom dress and overall look was curated by stylist Spencer Singer, who also collaborates with Lily-Rose Depp, Margaret Qualley and more. Following his appointment as the creative director for Gap Inc., Posen began working on a series of collections and drops, reimagining the brand for a new era and serving distinct clientele. In April, Gap launched its inaugural collection under GapStudio, titled Collection 01. The collection emphasized Posen's penchant for fabric draping and tailoring, featuring a campaign with models Alex Consani, Imaan Hammam and Anok Yai. Following the success of Collection 01, GapStudio debuted the Summer Drop with a campaign starring Kate Moss' daughter Lila in June. The collection included a series of denim-inspired summer essentials, including mid-rise, draped denim baggy jeans, a draped denim romper, crepe dresses, contemporary off-the-shoulder tops, and a voile and draped denim shirtdress dubbed 'Gaptan.' 'For over 55 years, Gap has been a canvas for creativity, allowing creators to reinvent Gap classics as personal expressions of style. Now with GapStudio, we're taking that legacy to the next level,' Mark Breitbard, president and chief executive officer, Gap brand, said upon the release of Collection 01. 'GapStudio creates both accessible, coveted retail collections and exclusive, one-of-a-kind designs that celebrate self-expression and solidify Gap's place in culture.' Zac Posen Through the Years View Gallery Launch Gallery: Zac Posen Through the Years Best of WWD Amanda Anisimova's On-court Tennis Style Through the Years: From Teen Phenom to Wimbledon Finalist A Look Back at Fourth of July Celebrations at the White House Princess Diana's Birthday Looks Through the Years: Her Sleek Black Jacques Azagury Dress, Vibrant Colors and More Solve the daily Crossword
Elle
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Gracie Abrams Masters Easy Festival Dressing With the Perfect Shade of Blush Pink
THE RUNDOWN: Gracie Abrams is the master of low-key stage style, and her recent look at Outside Lands Music Festival is no exception. Over the weekend, The Secret of Us singer wore a custom GapStudio look designed by Gap Inc. executive vice president and creative director Zac Posen while performing in San Francisco. The blush pink halter dress, which was styled by her longtime collaborator Spencer Singer, featured a deep V-neckline, open back, and flowing pleats, creating easy movement as she twirled across the stage. Posen was in attendance at the festival and took to Instagram to celebrate the moment. In one post, he noted that the singer's look was designed just a stone's throw away in the brand's hometown studio, also in San Francisco. The two were all smiles as he congratulated Abrams in a second post, adding, 'Pure talent, pure heart. A star, no question.' On the grounds, Gap also hosted 'The Hoodie House,' a booth dedicated to celebrating the Bay Area's creative energy. The activation, which was overseen by Posen, allowed fans to craft their own custom hoodies in partnership with the locally-based non-profit organization Holy Stitch, which uplifts displaced workers, senior citizens, and ex-felons through teaching sewing, technology, art, and building community. Abrams has been on a roll with festivals lately, making her debut on the Glastonbury stage, sporting a flowing red dress and matching bandana, before returning to New York to perform two consecutive sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden (in Miu Miu and Chanel, no less). Next, she continues the final leg of her The Secret of Us Tour, which will wrap at the end of August.
Winnipeg Free Press
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg singer-guitarist gets his own signature Fender Stratocaster
For nearly 20 years as a professional musician, Ariel Posen has been honing his unmistakable signature sound. Now, the Winnipeg-raised guitar hero has his own signature guitar, too. Earlier this month, Posen and the manufacturing giant Fender released the Limited Edition Ariel Posen Stratocaster, an instrument customized to the specifications of the prolific singer-guitarist, who has released two albums — Mile End III and a self-titled duo album with session drummer Ash Soan — so far in 2025. 'It was kind of like the sky's the limit; whatever you want, we can do,' says Posen of the collaboration with Fender and the company's pickup designer Tim Shaw, who worked with Posen for nearly three years to get the finished product — which combines his favourite features of Jazzmaster and Strat models — just right. SUPPLIED Ariel Posen plays the custom Fender Limited Edition Stratocaster designed for him. 'It's a fairly simple instrument, but every little detail I wanted was never an issue. Everyone has their tool of choice in whatever field they're in, and for me specifically, this is the style of guitar I gravitate to.' Posen, whose career kickstarted with local projects such as the New Lightweights, Sierra Noble and the Bros. Landreth, has lived in Montreal for five years while touring at a consistent clip. Much of the work with Fender was done remotely, but the guitarist had the chance to visit the company's Corona, Calif., headquarters to prepare video content for the instrument's release. Prior to last week's limited launch of 100 signature models, finished with a faded Lake Placid blue lacquer and featuring custom soapbar pickups, Posen had a prototype model for about a year, which he says gave him the chance to get comfortable with the instrument that puts him in rarefied company. Other guitarists to receive a limited-edition Fender model include country star Brad Paisley, the Clash's Joe Strummer, Beatle George Harrison, guitar virtuoso Eric Johnson, '60s icon Jimi Hendrix, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. 'It's hard for me to register that this is actually a real thing. It's so funny to find my name there. I'm just incredibly beyond grateful for the opportunity, whether my name belongs on that list or not,' says Posen, 37, whose parents Kinsey Posen and Shayla Fink are members of legendary klezmer band Finjan. 'The first guitar I ever got was a $30 acoustic that my parents bought for me, maybe from a garage sale.' Earlier this summer, Posen also partnered with Stringjoy to introduce a signature, nickel-wound string set, which, according to Premier Guitar, is ideal for B standard, open C and other lower tunings. On Dec. 12, Posen will bring his signature sound, strings and guitar to Winnipeg's Park Theatre for the closing show of his 24-date Future Present Tense tour. Tickets for the all-ages show go on sale today at Ben WaldmanReporter Ben Waldman is a National Newspaper Award-nominated reporter on the Arts & Life desk at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Ben completed three internships with the Free Press while earning his degree at Ryerson University's (now Toronto Metropolitan University's) School of Journalism before joining the newsroom full-time in 2019. Read more about Ben. Every piece of reporting Ben produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Elle
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Uma Thurman Gave the Canadian Tuxedo a Surprising Twist
Canadian tuxedos have always possessed an 'if you know, you know' kind of chicness, but how you style them makes all the difference. Uma Thurman embraced the look at the New York premiere of Dexter Resurrection, wearing a custom GapStudio denim ensemble designed by Zac Posen, executive vice president and creative director of Gap Inc. The Kill Bill actress posed for photos alongside the original Dexter himself, Michael C. Hall, and co-star Peter Dinklage. The trick to making it not your dad's Canadian tuxedo? Swap the separates for a wide-legged jumpsuit. Underneath, Thurman sported an ivory silk charmeuse long-sleeve collared shirt. Both the blouse and the darker wash helped bring the typically casual look from day to night. 'Uma is a longtime friend and a true force—she brings such elegance, intelligence, and magnetism to everything she does,' Posen says in a press release. 'I wanted this custom indigo denim look to feel effortless but powerful, just like her. It's all about precision, ease and that undeniable Uma presence.' Gap is in the midst of a quiet renaissance. Since Posen's appointment in February 2024, an unmistakable It factor has crept back into the household brand. Red carpet moments have played a key role in establishing its evolving house codes under his direction. 'Each one has been a powerful way to express GapStudio's creative potential,' Posen told ELLE earlier this month. 'Red carpet dressing is a kind of high-frequency communication—it lets us amplify the brand codes through an artistic lens.' From Laura Harrier's three-piece suit at the 2025 Met Gala to Anne Hathaway's shoppable shirtdress—and now Thurman's denim jumpsuit—Posen has seamlessly blended Gap's sensibilities with his own relatable allure.
Elle
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Take It From Zac Posen: The Mall Brand Is So Back
Zac Posen, the smiling conqueror of the red carpet, has been up to something a little different lately. With his appointment as the chief creative officer of Old Navy and creative director of Gap Inc. in February of 2024, the designer was tasked with revitalizing a massive heritage brand. In just a little over a year, Posen, who can also point to his ready-to-wear experience as creative director of Brooks Brothers, has launched GapStudio (a brand atelier of elevated staples), ushered in a subtle aesthetic shift, and signaled that the 'mall brand' renaissance is finally here. Many of Gap's peers have re-found their footing within new niches. Abercrombie & Fitch pivoted to TikTok influencers and released pieces across an inclusive range of sizes. In 2021, tapped Noah co-founder Brendon Babenzien to head up menswear, in an effort to revitalize the brand by capitalizing on his downtown New York appeal. More recently, also rebooted its beloved catalog and delved into high-end, cult-following-driven collaborations with designers including Christopher John Rogers and Maryam Nassir Zadeh. However, no 'mall brand' conversation would be complete without the retail giant that is Gap Inc., and it is precisely why Posen's and Gap's fans are paying so much attention. Many are nostalgic for the simple-but-cool appeal of '90s and early 2000s-era Gap, much of which was attained through its high-fashion-like commercial advertising. Celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Madonna and Missy Elliott, along with supermodel Naomi Campbell, fronted campaigns shot by fashion greats like Patrick Demarchelier and Annie Leibovitz. With so much star power, there was an undeniable aspirational appeal. 'You would see them put these famous people in their ads in very simple clothes, and it was this interesting way to say 'You can have this look, too,' because they would be in a $14.99 hoodie, for example,' Liana Satenstein, a fashion writer and founder of the shopping series Neverworns, tells ELLE. In 1993, Gap even launched its famous 'Who Wore Khakis' campaign, which utilized archive images of cultural figures like Miles Davis, Salvador Dalí, and James Dean all sartorially equalized by a single everyday item of clothing. Though the marketing landscape and celebrity culture have vastly changed since then, within Posen's brief tenure, parallels can be drawn. His creative directorial debut began with something true to his heart as a designer, a red carpet rollout that included Da'Vine Joy Randolph at the 2024 Met Gala and Anne Hathaway's instantly shoppable shirtdress at a Bulgari event last May. The looks lent themselves to the budding excitement for GapStudio, which officially debuted in April of this year. 'We've only done a few red carpet looks so far, but each one has been a powerful way to express GapStudio's creative potential. Red carpet dressing is a kind of high-frequency communication—it lets us amplify the brand codes through an artistic lens,' Posen explains. For the designer, each look, whether it be Demi Moore's goddess gown at the Time100 Gala or Laura Harrier's recent Met Gala suit, provides a platform for the brand's new house codes. Current offerings from GapStudio's summer drop include draped denim trousers, a light-wash denim dress, easy slip dresses, and on-trend off-the-shoulder tops. Posen adds, 'These moments are rooted in the same language: American classics, reimagined through construction, elegance, and wit. They're about taking familiar pieces and distorting them into something special.' By opening the design dialogue between the red carpet and the mass market, this strategy recalls the 'they're just like us' mentality that Satenstein noted. In both 1996 and 1998, Sharon Stone caused a stir arriving to the Oscars wearing a Gap shirt paired with her Armani jacket and Vera Wang skirt, respectively. Controversial at the time, the blending of relaxed, classic day-to-day aesthetics with red carpet glam has made both appearances some of the most iconic Oscars looks of all time. Add on a handful of collaborations with hugely popular independent brands like Dôen and Cult Gaia, and customers are noticing a tangible shift in designs across the company, too. New York City-based content creator Kelsey Kotzur recently went viral for a pink bubble-hemmed dress that she found at Old Navy. 'He's taking the heart of Old Navy/Gap and putting his expertise behind it and creating something incredible,' she tells ELLE. For Kotzur, who worked at both stores throughout high school and college, the fact she can now find an on-trend, evening edit-inspired dress for under $50 at the retailer is surprisingly refreshing. The shift in offerings has been subtle and pleasant, or as Posen explains, 'Not through an overnight transformation, but through thoughtful evolution.' Recent ads are also reflective of this nostalgic, real-life celebrity appeal. In May, Old Navy tapped a star-studded cast, including ELLE's Summer Issue cover star Lindsay Lohan, Dylan Efron, Quen Blackwell, and Charo, for a retro workout video, titled 'Old Navy, New Moves.' The campaign was shot by fashion photographer Ethan James Green and directed by Torso. Coinciding with Posen's appointment, Gap brought back its dancing commercials, featuring Tyla and Jungle's viral hit 'Back on 74'—signaling a re-ignition of the videos that heavily contributed to its advertorial influence in the '90s. Since then, Gap has continued dancing its way through digital marketing, producing campaigns starring The White Lotus's Parker Posey and Troye Sivan. Not to mention Lila Moss, the ultimate Gen Z iteration of '90s iconography, fronting GapStudio's summer 2025 campaign. Turns out, Posen's design identity has more in common with the label's '90s era than one might think, and it's an aura that the company is undoubtedly working to recapture. 'There's this amazing intersection of '90s sportswear, New York grunge, late-'30s futurism, and uptown/downtown energy—all of which shaped me growing up. We're looking at how that aesthetic, that attitude, can live in today's world,' he says. As for what we can look forward to at GapStudio, he adds, 'At its core, it's about building an elevated capsule wardrobe that feels personal, cultural, and timeless—designed to live in your life and also be remembered.'
