Like countless moms at the start of summer vacation, Ciara corralled her kids into the car in search of a fun outdoor activity. The difference is that when you’re a megastar, you don’t always run for the nearest swing set—instead, your playground is a photo shoot for Gap. “You know that saying, ‘You plan and God laughs?’” she asks when we connect over the phone. “That was literally this photo shoot…I’m so proud of how great they were, and I loved being able to share the campaign with them. But kids are gonna be kids! You have a whole vision of how it’s gonna go…and then you get, to put it politely, aremix.”

Fittingly, the collection itself is also a remix—one between Gap and LoveShackFancy, the all-floral-everything brand that smooshes together Hamptons chintz and Versailles vibes. As a muse for Tom Ford and Dundas and a designer herself, the pairing seemed fun, albeit unlikely. “That’s why I liked it!” says the 37-year-old. “I definitely am a tomboy, but I really love how this collection is at an intersection of culture and romanticism, and also, it merges Gap’s iconic styles. It can still have that edge to it, if you style it your way.”

For Ciara, that includes mixing Kate Moss-esque wellies with Gap’s newest floral hoodies and maxi dresses. “You could do it with sandals instead and have it be a whole different thing,” she says, “But for me, I wanted to make it rock ‘n’ roll…you know, I’m not going to be in a campaign and have to become someone else. I’m at the point [in my life] where I’ll only wear something if I can truly make it my own.”