Questionnaire: Patrick Robinson

Not from 2008

 

In the annals of the celebrity shill, Gap will go down as the company that wrangled the most major names to help push sweaters and socks—Madonna and Missy Elliot, Jeremy Piven, Sarah Jessica Parker, Common, Claudia Schiffer, Deepak Chopra, and even a digitally resurrected Audrey Hepburn have all made the list in the past. For 2008’s holiday campaign, creative director Patrick Robinson turned to some of the biz’s best funnymen to make things feel all warm and cozy. “It’s about being relevant with icons of the moment, and they have to be fun on set,” he says of their selection. SNL’s Fred Armisen, Jason Sudeikis, Seth Meyers, and Will Forte all obliged, hamming it up for the cameras while decked in Gap’s holiday stripes. “Making people smile is what Gap is all about,” Robinson says. With that in mind, the new master of khaki himself will be spreading joy with the label’s hoodies and cardigans for everyone on his list.  And what about for those of us feeling the credit crunch, with a scanty $25 to spend? Skip the stocking stuffers and “Give them the cash!” Robinson says.  “Just kidding…Gap’s over the knee socks in solids or stripes for women.”  Of course.