Oxford Street Topshop was truly unmatched. Shopping the Boutique collection made me feel like I was buying super high-end... and it is definitely one of the reasons it took me so long to pay off my student loan 😂 And the bottom floor with all the small brands and vintage bits! So good.
I had so many pieces that I regret giving away (2011 me would have never thought we'd see the end of Topshop) - an incredible dark purple lurex dress, high-waisted paper-bag trousers... the list goes on.
2007, I arrived at 4am to stand in a queue on Oxford street to buy the Kate moss collection & made a KILLING selling it on eBay. I booked a holiday to NYC with the money. Everything about it was phenomenal!
Growing up in rural Western Canada, pre-online shopping (2003-2008ish) - Topshop might as well have been haute couture. It was an absolute flex that you had BEEN TO LONDON, which basically made you a style icon to worshipped by all.
This post spoke to my soul. I still have so many Topshop pieces that I wear all the time. My fave oversized white shirt, black silk-mix shorts and a purple trouser suit are all on heavy rotation. And now you've got me hyper fixated on buying that Kate Moss flower print dress...
Haha thanks for the walk down memory lane! This is literally all me circa 2007, down to the dodgy fringe 😂 I used to queue up for their collaborations. Do you remember the Celia Birtwell printed dresses too? I’m still mourning the loss of my Kate Moss x Topshop sunglasses from back in the day!
I bought a skirt in Topshop circa 2005 and the sales assistant told me "please don't wear this if you're going out to **clubname** tonight, I just bought it yesterday"
What a BLAST from the PAST. I’ll never forget when the one in NYC / SoHo opened. It was SUCH a big deal and I was thrilled to be able to finally shop it locally. Those were the days!
one of the biggest arguments i had with my sister was when she 'borrowed' my silk Kate Moss x Topshop dress and returned it to my wardrobe with a huge rip down the back of it!! it still boils my blood to think about it now lol
Topshop was everything back then! I have a leather jacket from one on the Kate Moss collections that was my whole personality.
I still have the Celia Britwell dress and a black Christopher Kane lace one. My 10 year old daughter wore it to here Halloween disco when she dressed as Wednesday. I also still have a pair the Emma Cook boots if anyone remembers them.
Moved to NYC in 2010 which was just about a year after Topshop opened in Soho. I remember spending much of my time and spare money there, maybe the first item was a pair of American flag denim hotpants (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252965576470) that made so much sense back then and zero sense now. The fact the store came from the UK made it seem posh and trendy in a way that our local shops didn't. I miss the loud music, I miss the thrill of the hunt in there, I miss finding something chic for going out that was just marked down! Nothing will ever be the same.
Thanks Anna. Aside from the nostalgia- it reminded me of some of those never to be forgotten wardrobe pieces that made me feel so right. Most haven’t survived subsequent wardrobe cleanouts, but you have made a case for keeping a small archive of significant items which allow you to time travel.
Topshop Oxford Circus used to have a catwalk in the basement and I remember getting pulled up to be in a styling competition, it was so exciting for teenage me!
I was obsessed with the original Kate Moss Topshop collection, the one shoulder dobby dress is my one who got away. I could only afford the sunglasses when the collection came out, and I've definitely got my money's worth over the years! Since then I have bought (and sold) a lot of pieces from the collection secondhand. But not that particular dress just yet!
Oxford Street Topshop was truly unmatched. Shopping the Boutique collection made me feel like I was buying super high-end... and it is definitely one of the reasons it took me so long to pay off my student loan 😂 And the bottom floor with all the small brands and vintage bits! So good.
I had so many pieces that I regret giving away (2011 me would have never thought we'd see the end of Topshop) - an incredible dark purple lurex dress, high-waisted paper-bag trousers... the list goes on.
Honestly shopping the boutique collection was the reason I never bought any of my university required reading books!! x
2007, I arrived at 4am to stand in a queue on Oxford street to buy the Kate moss collection & made a KILLING selling it on eBay. I booked a holiday to NYC with the money. Everything about it was phenomenal!
Growing up in rural Western Canada, pre-online shopping (2003-2008ish) - Topshop might as well have been haute couture. It was an absolute flex that you had BEEN TO LONDON, which basically made you a style icon to worshipped by all.
This post spoke to my soul. I still have so many Topshop pieces that I wear all the time. My fave oversized white shirt, black silk-mix shorts and a purple trouser suit are all on heavy rotation. And now you've got me hyper fixated on buying that Kate Moss flower print dress...
UPDATE: I bought the size 10
Haha thanks for the walk down memory lane! This is literally all me circa 2007, down to the dodgy fringe 😂 I used to queue up for their collaborations. Do you remember the Celia Birtwell printed dresses too? I’m still mourning the loss of my Kate Moss x Topshop sunglasses from back in the day!
Oh my god YES!! And the Christopher Kane shark top too! https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/fashion/topshop-back-five-best-pieces-ever-b1225712.html
Oh my god I forgot about that Christopher Kane top! So good!
I bought a skirt in Topshop circa 2005 and the sales assistant told me "please don't wear this if you're going out to **clubname** tonight, I just bought it yesterday"
LOL!!!
I have the sequined jacket new with tags in my storage unit in LA!!! Love it
What a BLAST from the PAST. I’ll never forget when the one in NYC / SoHo opened. It was SUCH a big deal and I was thrilled to be able to finally shop it locally. Those were the days!
one of the biggest arguments i had with my sister was when she 'borrowed' my silk Kate Moss x Topshop dress and returned it to my wardrobe with a huge rip down the back of it!! it still boils my blood to think about it now lol
Topshop was everything back then! I have a leather jacket from one on the Kate Moss collections that was my whole personality.
I still have the Celia Britwell dress and a black Christopher Kane lace one. My 10 year old daughter wore it to here Halloween disco when she dressed as Wednesday. I also still have a pair the Emma Cook boots if anyone remembers them.
Pretty sure I was wearing a Topshop top the night I met my now-husband! Black lace crop top with 3/4 length sleeves worn over a black spaghetti strap!
That Kate Moss collection was banging. I still love that gold flapper dress
Moved to NYC in 2010 which was just about a year after Topshop opened in Soho. I remember spending much of my time and spare money there, maybe the first item was a pair of American flag denim hotpants (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252965576470) that made so much sense back then and zero sense now. The fact the store came from the UK made it seem posh and trendy in a way that our local shops didn't. I miss the loud music, I miss the thrill of the hunt in there, I miss finding something chic for going out that was just marked down! Nothing will ever be the same.
Thanks Anna. Aside from the nostalgia- it reminded me of some of those never to be forgotten wardrobe pieces that made me feel so right. Most haven’t survived subsequent wardrobe cleanouts, but you have made a case for keeping a small archive of significant items which allow you to time travel.
Topshop Oxford Circus used to have a catwalk in the basement and I remember getting pulled up to be in a styling competition, it was so exciting for teenage me!
I was obsessed with the original Kate Moss Topshop collection, the one shoulder dobby dress is my one who got away. I could only afford the sunglasses when the collection came out, and I've definitely got my money's worth over the years! Since then I have bought (and sold) a lot of pieces from the collection secondhand. But not that particular dress just yet!
Now that is a *moment*!!! x
I remember nearly crying when the sales assistant told me my local Topshop was closing down 🥲 Absolutely loved this post - thank you, Anna!