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Last year, the internet went absolutely wild when Anne Hathaway turned up in Rome wearing gleaming gems, sharp white pumps, and an unexpected floor-skimming shirtdress that came custom-designed by Gap’s creative director Zac Posen. Taking inspiration from Aubrey Hepburn’s distinctive style in “Roman Holiday,” the Oscar-winning actress’ ensemble made the case that shirtdresses can be exceptionally chic for day-to-night wear. Gap saw how desperately the public wanted to own that exact style and delivered in spades: releasing an effortlessly elegant version in May 2024, for $158. By the end of that month, it was fully sold out.

Though the poplin dress was popular when first worn by Hathaway, it became even more buzzy when Julia Fox took it for a spin in NYC circa August 2024 — at a time when the item was available to consumers after a restock. No fancy jewels in sight, Fox gave the versatile frock an avant-garde refresher: pairing it with white opera gloves, a headscarf, and a bright-green, wide-brim hat. This sensational style moment inspired so many people to hit the “add to cart” button that, believe it or not, the dress promptly depleted in inventory once more.

Didn’t get your lucky chance to score this wear-everywhere wonder perfect for spring? GapStudio’s just-released debut collection — masterminded by Zac Posen himself — has it in stock. And while all sizes are still shoppable, it’s just a matter of time before everyone (not just fashion insiders) finds out about this and grabs hold of every last piece.

Reminiscent of 1950s stylings comprised of a blouse and billowing midi skirt, GapStudio’s shirtdress breathes an air of modernity into its classic silhouette with flattering darts and soft tailoring. The $158 red carpet replica features the same crisp architecture and airy organic cotton fabrication as Hathaway’s, with functional touches like side pockets and a line of front buttons that allow you to wear the dress in more ways than one (Fox, for instance, chose to mismatch the buttons for added visual interest, as if that hat wasn’t already enough).

“What’s more iconic and fresh than a white shirt?,” Hathaway’s stylist Erin Walsh wrote last year on Instagram. “In plotting this with @zacposen and defining a new era of @gap Couture, we were thinking Roman Holiday and deconstructed elegance. Refined and raw. It’s a little risky to rock a white shirtdress at a gala. But somehow — it was utter perfection.

While you can certainly layer the shirtdress with a white bustier à la Hathaway (not included with the dress), consider leaning into Hepburn’s styling in the iconic film with a waist-cinching leather belt and a silk neck scarf, leaving it open as a long shirt with jeans, or sporting it as a swim cover-up for days spent along the coast. The style serves as a blank canvas for warm-weather styling, whether paired with Mary Jane shoes in the office or your comfiest white sneakers that go great with dresses.

Having bought your very own GapStudio shirtdress out of 100-percent organically grown cotton, with a darling point collar and short sleeves for breathability, it’s fine time to lock down other top picks from the label’s Collection 01.

Speaking of the new drop, Posen said in a press release: “Inside Gap’s New York HQ, we’ve built a creative studio where I’ve designed looks for the red carpet, and where we’ll continue to collaborate with visionary talent in the future. GapStudio Collection 01 reflects that vision — blending tailoring with innovative denim treatments that sculpt and refine the fabric in new ways. This is just the beginning.”

Tap into all that innovation, top-tier craftsmanship, and trendiness (Gap isn’t just a mall brand anymore!) by shopping even more Collection 01 pieces below.

Shop More Top Hits From GapStudio’s Collection 01

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Meet the Authors

Olivia Cigliano was a Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD, where she wrote shopping content across fashion, beauty, footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Cigliano received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. She is currently based in New York City.

Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on trending new product releases, including those from Gap.