We gave you all the ‘unconfirmed’ details last week, but this morning GapKids and babyGap officially announced their plans for the launch of a brand new kids’ and baby collection created in collaboration with Diane von Furstenberg!

Diane von Furstenberg commented on the announcement saying:

“As a proud mother and grandmother I am so excited to create a capsule collection for children with the superstar retailer, Gap.”

Art Peck, the President of Gap brand, North America says they are excited to debut an “exciting collection that applies her (Diane von Furstenberg’s) signature approach to print, optimistic color and femininity, mixed with our expertise in great quality premium children’s clothing at accessible prices.”

The new collection is expected to be available for purchase to customers in March 2012 through GapKids and babyGap stores in almost 30 countries including United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, France, China, Japan and Australia as well as online in 75 countries.

Source: GAP

Photo: DVF

In September, we announced the launch of Gap’s fifth annual casting call and today we are excited to share with you the new faces and adorable winners of the contest. American voted and over one million entries were narrowed down to these cuties who each received $1,000 Gap GiftCard in addition to being part of the GapKids campaign which began two days ago coast to coast, in store windows in other various forms of advertising.

“Every year, we’re overwhelmed by parents’ incredible enthusiasm for Casting Call,” said Mark Breitbard, executive vice president of babyGap and GapKids. “Now in its fifth year, Casting Call continues to break records and we’re so excited to introduce this year’s winners – Evie, Dylan, Sofia and Keyghan. On behalf of the entire Gap family, I’d like to congratulate the newest faces of babyGap and GapKids.”

The new faces of babyGap are the imaginative and fun Evie Sowers from Tecumseh, MI and Dylan Bandale from Pompton Lakes, NJ, a “Will Smith look-alike” who is always flashing his “million-dollar smile. For GapKids, the outgoing and spunky Sofia Jaworovich from Skillman, NJ; and the fun-loving Keyghan Burns from Hereford, AZ.

The window campaign features each of the child’s hometown and favorite activities – from ballet and soccer to dancing and drawing. Each of the kids are dressed perfect-for-the-playground looks consisting of colorful pieces amidst solid basics in denim and khaki. Arch logo hoodies and graphic tees in colors such as cupid pink, ruby red, havana yellow and orange blaze really add a nice punch of color to the look!

Shot in San Francisco, the campaign features the winners in colorful, perfect-for-the-playground looks. Rooted in denim and khaki, the outfits get a kick of color with the addition of arch logo hoodies [$24.95 - $29.50] and graphic tees [starting at $14.50 for babyGap and $16.50 for GapKids] in colors like havana yellow, orange blaze, cupid pink and ruby red.

Gap Kids and babyGap ads are just the cutest! This year, Gap is holding their fifth annual casting call contest, and is inviting parents to submit photos of their kids sporting their favorite pair of jeans.

The really cool twist? Gap has introduced their new Gap Casting Call iPhone app, to make it even easier to enter. The app, which can be downloaded for free by visiting gap.com/castingcall or by visiting Apple’s App Store, will be available this week.

At the end of the contest, 4 lucky winners, a boy and girl for babyGap and a boy and girl for GapKids, will be featured in a nationwide Gap campaign early next year. Contestants also have a chance to win the highly coveted America’s Fan Favorite award!

How Casting Call Works:

Entry Phase:

From Sept. 27 to Oct. 24, parents across the country can upload up to five photos of their baby(ies) (ages four and under) or kid(s) (ages five to 10) either online at gap.com/castingcall or through the Gap Casting Call iPhone app.

The Finalists:

After the entry phase closes on Oct. 24, judges will narrow down the field to 20 finalists — 10 babies (five girls and five boys) for babyGap and 10 kids (five girls and five boys) for GapKids. The 20 finalists will be flown to San Francisco with their families to participate in an official Gap photo shoot and will receive prize packages, including a $500 Gap GiftCard.

Voting Phase:

On Dec. 6, the 20 finalists will be unveiled and voting will begin on gap.com/castingcall. It will then be up to America to decide the next faces of babyGap and GapKids for the 2011 campaign. Voters can vote once a day every day for babyGap [one boy and one girl] and GapKids [one boy and one girl] online at gap.com/castingcall or via the iPhone app. And contestants won’t be the only ones with a chance to win great prizes [see more about the Fan Favorite and Voter's Sweepstakes awards below].

The Winners:

Four children will be selected as winners of the Gap Casting Call — a girl and boy for babyGap and a girl and boy for GapKids. The winners will be featured in the windows of babyGap and GapKids stores from coast-to-coast and will receive a $1,000 Gap GiftCard. Winners will be unveiled in February 2011.

The Fan Favorite Award:

Due to the overwhelming popularity of last year’s America’s Fan Favorite award, Gap is once again offering one lucky child a $1,000 Gap GiftCard for receiving the most votes at gap.com/castingcall. Fan Favorite voting runs from Sept. 27 through Nov. 14 and the winner will be announced on Dec. 6, along with the 20 finalists. To help get the word out, parents can leverage the power of Facebook, Twitter and e-mail to help get votes for their little one.

Voter Sweepstakes:

Also back by popular denim, Gap is offering a special Voter Sweepstakes prize for the second year in a row. For each vote cast at gap.com/castingcall from Dec. 6 – Dec. 20, voters will be entered in a contest to win a $1,000 Gap GiftCard. The winner will be revealed in January 2011.

Visit gap.com/castingcall for official contest and sweepstakes rules and information.

Our readers in Italy and Australia will be pleased with this news! Gap Inc. has revealed their plans to open the first Gap and Banana Republic stores in Italy this year, according to WWD.

Located in central Milan, the stores will be side-by-side in Corso Vittorio Emanuele, one of the busiest shopping streets in the city. Milan’s Gap store will offer three floors and over 84,000 square feet of apparel, carrying Gap, babyGap, GapKids, GapBody and GapMaternity collections. In 2011, Gap is planning on building stores in Rome and other Italian venues.

The new Banana Republic store in Milan will be over 57,607 square feet, carrying men and women’s wear, accessories and personal care products.

In March, Gap Inc. signed a franchise agreement with Brand Republic Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Busby Holdings Australia Pty Ltd, for exclusive rights to operate Gap brand stores in Australia. The first Gap store is expected to open in the popular Chadstone Mall in Melbourne, Australia in the fall of 2010.

Health Canada, Gap Inc., and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (US CPSC) put out a joint recall today for babyGap Marrakesh and Gap Outlet Baby One-piece Bathing Suits due to a strangulation hazard. The swimsuits are available in infant sizes up to 24 months, and are made of a synthetic knit stretch fabric of polyester and spandex.

Approximately 460 of the recalled babyGap swimsuit and 23 of the recalled Gap Outlet swimsuit were sold in Canada. 5045 of the babyGap and 900 of the Gap Outlet swimsuits were sold in the United States and an additional 636 of the babyGap swimsuits were also sold online at www.gap.com (only in the United States).

The babyGap Marrakesh swimsuit is the blue and white print with style number 706260 and was sold from February 2010 to April 2010.

Gap Outlet baby one-piece swimsuit is the red and white print with style number 700452  and was sold from March 2010 to April 2010.

(Style numbers can be found on the inner side seam of each swimsuit.)

The bathing suits have halter straps and were manufactured too short which causes the plastic ring located at the neck of the swimsuit to press against the child’s throat and obstruct the airway, thus posing a strangulation hazard.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled swimsuits and return them to any babyGap, GapKids, Gap, or Gap Outlet store for a full refund. Consumers who return the swimsuits will receive a 20% off coupon for a regular-priced item.

If the swimsuit was purchased online, consumers are asked to contact Gap to return it by mail.

For more information, consumers may contact Gap toll-free at 1-888-747-3704 between 9AM and 9PM ET Monday to Friday, and between 12PM and 7PM ET on Saturdays.

Consumers may also e-mail Gap at custserv@gap.com or visit the Gap website.

 The release by the US CPSC can be viewed on the  Commission’s website.

Child Mode is thrilled to bring you a sneak peak look at Stella McCartney’s Spring Summer 2010 collection for GapKids and babyGap!

Eclectic designs, nautical and western themes are mixed with bright colours and pop prints. Gorgeous eyelets are dressed up with delicate embroidery, soft crumpled linens and cottons offer class and practicality while the classic summer stripes, indigo shades and creamy whites offer a trendy summer look. I am completely in love with the embroidered ‘Stella’ dress with a zig-zag hem and romantic flounce!

Stella McCartney commented on the new collection saying, “For this second collection I wanted to design pieces that ensure your child looks like an individual with their own style statement, a mixture of simple minimal styles and more detailed pieces to create a summer wardrobe for all your kids’ needs.”

This amazing line will be available in select GapKids and babyGap stores in the United States, Canada, UK, France, Ireland and Japan from the beginning of April. Selected stores in Russia, Turkey, Greece, Asia and the Middle East will also carry the line.

If you live in the United States, Gap.com will unveil the entire collection on their website March 30th. We can’t wait!

Photo Credit: GAP

I am really impressed with the Spring 2010 collections from Gap! The Porcelain 2010 Collection is one of the latest lines that I have fallen in love with. Chambray blues, creams, linens, bright whites and navy blue make up this beautiful palette and the designs are simply beautiful! We’ve put together some of our favorite outfits for babies and toddlers.

Above from top left baby girls

1.  Shirred eyelet top $27

2.  Repair straight jeans $35

3.  Eyelet espadrilles $15

For baby boys

4. Chambray slip-on sneakers $16.50

5. Knit moto jacket $25

6. Striped roll-up cargo pants $25

For toddler girls

1. Denim jacket $30

2. Pintucked dress $30

3. Strappy snake sandals $27

4. Round sunglasses $9

Boys

5. Chambray bucket hat $15

6. Embroidered slub polo $17

7. Chambray roll-up pants $27

Apparel from babyGAP come in sizes from 0-24 months while the GAP Kids come in sizes from XS to XXL. To purchase or to view more from the Porcelain Collection please visit GAP.

babyGAP has introduced their own 1969 Premium Denim collection for infants and tots!  Denim overalls, white shirts, denim jackets, jeans, smocked tops, chambray shirts and white dresses are just a few of the pieces found in this new line.

Prices are reasonable and range from $15-$29.50. To purchase or to view more please visit babyGAP.

With Moroccan influences weaved throughout the fabrics, GAP’s Marrakesh Collection is a winner all around. We’ve put together some of our favorite outfits from the GAP kids line as well as from babyGAP.

For the boys from top left:

From top left:

1. babyGAP Green Plaid Driver’s Cap $15

2. babyGAP Madras Plaid Hoodie Jacket $30

3. babyGAP Utility Patch Jeans $25

4. Silver Aviator Sunglasses $9.50

5. White Embroidered Shirt $24.50

6. Patchwork Cargo Shorts $30

For the girls from top left:

1. babyGAP Floppy Straw Hat $17

2. babyGAP Embroidered Eyelet Dress $35

3. babyGAP Fringe Sandals $17

4. Embroidered Graphic Tank $15

5. Patchwork Bermuda Shorts $27

6. Woven Suede Flip Flops $19.50

7. Cropped Denim Jacket $26.50

8. Smocked Print Dress $30

9. Oversized Ombre Sunglasses $9.50

Apparel from babyGAP  come in sizes from 0-24 months while the GAP Kids come in sizes from XS to XXL.

To purchase or to view more from the Marrakesh Collection please visit GAP.