Ask anyone who has turned 30 in the past few years which brand had the most influence on their adolescent style, and they’ll likely say Topshop. From my formative years spent stealing my mother’s Topshop staples for Friday nights spent in my best friend’s front room to landing my first-ever job with the brand the second I turned 16, Topshop was at the centre of my teenage universe. I’d try on the store’s most recent deliveries during my lunch break, get a thrill out of introducing a customer to our best-selling jeans (long live the Jamie!), and would eat up its going-out dresses like candy, particularly when I reached university age.
Although I have the memory of a goldfish, there’s a part of my brain where my Topshop purchases live rent-free. I remember buying a black jacket covered entirely by fringing from Kate Moss’s first Topshop capsule and a red lace dress that I wore for my first date with my now-husband. In fact, my wedding shoes came from Topshop, too.
I started out my career in fashion when Topshop was still king. I worked for a high street magazine, and Topshop was the brand that bridged all tastes, styles, and aesthetics. The best pieces in every shoot would inevitably come from Topshop, and calling in samples for said shoots was a challenge to say the least, as every publication from Vogue to Grazia tried to get their hands on them for their latest editorials.
This, the nostalgia and deep roots of the brand made it seem almost unreal when it was announced it was going into administration. Of course, this was a move every fashion editor had seen coming for a while, but the followthrough of seeing a Great British fashion institution close its doors was a sad day for the high street. But, a ray of hope: Topshop had been acquired by ASOS, another shopping stalwart. Perhaps the magic of Topshop would be reimagined into a new digital concept. It’s been a moment, but that time is now.
Topshop has officially relaunched, and after a few edits that didn’t quite live up to its former glory, that Topshop magic has been recaptured, and just in time for it to make a positive impact on our autumn wardrobes. It’s clear to me that the design team have taken the task of rejuvenating the behemoth very seriously, resulting in an edit that appeased 30-somethings like me, but that will also tempt Gen Z.
Amongst the trend-led pieces Topshop always did so well, there’s a solid selection of more timeless items, too, with a honed focus on tailoring, accessories, and outerwear. The shoe department looks strong, too, but will it be able to capture the mecca that was its Oxford Street shoe lounge? Time will tell. For now, though, it’s a promising start. So, what should you buy from Topshop? Perhaps start things off with my edit below. Oh, and those Jamie jeans? They’re back, too.
Next Up: The 9 Most Expensive-Looking Pieces on the High Street This Week
