Hasta La Ideas

Veteran designer Jose Abellar recently left his post at Gap to put his own spin on classic American style, creating Gilbert & Lewis, where high fashion meets functional plaids. An expression of Abellar’s favorite fashion components, Gilbert & Lewis is an evolved view of sportswear boasting bold colors, great patterns and slim fits.

The inaugural Spring/Summer collection (above) features a fresh color scheme inspired by the vibrantly colored lifeguard stands on Miami’s South Beach. A matching tie compliments each of the button downs, adding to the label’s slightly nerdy aesthetic while offering a “confidently off-center” base for the label’s tailored suits.

Artist Carlos Aponte, who designed the cover of the look book, served as both inspiration and an illustrator for the forthcoming Autumn/Winter collection (at top and below). A hybrid of “English professor and the great outdoorsman,” the fall collection teems with velvety corduroys, tweed blazers and chunky sweaters all deconstructed or pre-washed for a cozy, lived-in feel.

Named after Abellar’s and his longtime partner and collaborator David Ayala’s alter egos, Gilbert & Lewis is a decidedly modern approach with a genuine vintage twist, referencing great cinematic characters like those found in John Hughes movies.

The line sells from stores around the world such as Unionmade, Bird, United Arrows, and soon online.

See more of the Spring/Summer collection in the gallery.