Gap is getting an upgrade thanks to Valentino. When the American brand opens its first-ever store in Italy this fall on Milan’s Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the high-fashion company will create a capsule collection in its honor. "The collection has been designed by Valentino’s creative directors, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, using 'iconic Gap pieces' as its basis, the company said. Stylist Karl Templer, who works closely with Gap and Valentino, introduced the two brands," says Women's Wear Daily. But the wares won't be exclusive to the Italian market; they'll be sold at Gap's store in London's Dover Street Market and Colette in Paris. The move isn't Gap's first into high-fashion territory (they partnered with Stella McCartney in the past), but given J. Crew's recent CFDA Fashion Fund sponsorship, the Valentino collection is helping Gap hang onto some much-needed high-end cred.

Quite a few major retailers are beefing up their e-commerce operations this fall and expanding internationally. British mega brand ASOS just launched in the states, with free shipping to boot. But news has it the inexpensive clothier (whose price points are on par with the likes of H&M and Zara) is branching out with a Craigslist-like seller option soon. "Retail industry watchers report that the company has recently hired Leighanne Miles, the ex-head of UK mom-and-baby brand Mothercare's ecommerce, to launch the ASOS Marketplace later this year," says Racked. While there will be no bidding and only clothing, accessories and shoes will be available for immediate purchase, expect to see garments ranging from slightly used to vintage. GAP Inc. is building its e-commerce presence too, specifically with regard to markets abroad.

It's been quite the week for Gap and Levi's. The former is not only opening a pop-up shop in Milan's 10 Corso Como boutique in anticipation of its first Italian standalone store, It's re-branding its core—denim—via the collection, called 1969. "The strategy centers on selling in-depth jeans, priced $59.50 to $79, all under the Gap 1969 Premium Jeans label, to compete with premium jeans priced elsewhere at more than $100," says Women's Wear Daily. So, what exactly does 'in-depth' connote with regard to denim? Changes in fabric and fit (this includes "jean with great stretch and recover" and "lighter weight fabrics"), for one. There's also been "more color in denim assortment," which encompasses "flair jeans, a black denim campaign... [and] additional sportswear in denim fabrications." Come Thursday, "'Blue Gold: The Story of American Jeans,' a documentary that includes Gap’s founding family, the Fishers, and Patrick Robinson, executive vice president of global design," which will debut in GAP stores.

Introducing two new shops, one in Greenpoint courtesy of rockers Kings of Leon's longtime denim guru, the other in Milan thanks to the Gap. Loren Cronk got his start designing skinny jeans long before American Apparel helped make them a staple. "Against the kooky backdrop of a TV cop show shoot on the corner, Cronk, a Levi’s alum and former designer at LIPS, showed off his range of wares from hand-picked vintage denim goodies to his own original collection created in-house," Dossier wrote of the opening night fete, which took place late last week. The shop is stocked to the brim with LOREN collaborations, including "denim guitar straps made in collaboration with Heavy Leather Nyc, jean shoes by LOREN x Heutchy, and LOREN x Keller, and super dope bowties made in cahoots with J. Cravata." If you bring in your ratty but beloved denim to the shop, Conk will either mend it to the best of his abilities or create a custom-made replica brand new. Meanwhile, Gap is setting up a temporary shop in Italy with a partnership of its own.

Vivienne Westwood has teamed up with jeans maker Lee to design a line featuring a variety of forgiving styles (think uber loose-fitting knits), including harem-like jeans that take the term drop crotch to new lows. Print-heavy and chock-full of vibrant pinks, reds, and greens, "the collabo launches this July and will feature jeans in a variety of cuts, plus hot pants, and will be sold online at ZapposCouture, Net-A-Porter, and Asos, among others," says Nitrolicious, which landed a sneak peek at the collection. At the same time, the three winners of this year's CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award—Patrik Ervell, Monique Péan and Sophie Theallet—have signed on to design accessories and clothing for the GAP.

Gap has been struggling in recent seasons to really find its niche. The beacon for basics has launched its own series of designer collaborations and thrown a fair bit of money at fun, eye-catching ad campaigns. But, over all, things at Gap HQ have felt a bit bland ... especially in comparison to competing brands cultivating a classic, workwear-inspired sense of Americana (read: Ralph Lauren and J. Crew). But thanks to a new store in Vancouver that has quite literally turned the traditional shopping experience on its head, Gap is garnering headlines once again.

Some of the best news we've heard in a long time. Coveted designer Stella McCartney has stepped down -- literally -- to meet the eye and wardrobe needs of her younger clientele. No stranger to collaborations with mega retailers, McCartney has decided to ride the wave of her uber-successful jaunt with H&M and partnered with GapKids and babyGap for a limited edition (read: this stuff's gonna sell) fall/winter collection, and to the delight of many a gay boy in the making, she didn't stop at girls.