The Rise and Fall of TopShop

TopShop was once the golden pig of the Arcadia Group. Almost single-handedly propping up the British High-Street in it's most dire years. However, through a string of only slightly misguided choices, they lost their relevancy and slowly fell from their once heralded spot, bringing the whole group with them.

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[JamesWelsh]

I worked for both Topman and ASOS. I worked for Topman’s personal shopping so Phillip Green would use our lounge a lot when he visited us in the Oxford street store (we called 214) and he was one of the most disgusting, vile and rudest people I’ve ever had the displeasure of being around. The women I worked with would hate being around him as he would always comment on their appearance. I then moved to be a stylist / personal shopper for ASOS and myself and the other stylists had a meeting with the then CEO Nick Beighton (now MatchesFashion). He was so polite, humble and we had a good chat about how one day he wanted Topman / topshop on ASOS. It’s horrible to say but there was something satisfying about watching Arcadia’s downfall, knowing the man Phillip Green is.

[Dreaming]

I was a teenager in the 2000s, and I looooved Topshop. I remember as I got older, going in and seeing less and less items that I liked/ suited me. It was then that I realised I was ‘getting old’ and had aged out of Topshop. Maaaan that hurt to realise 😂😂

[burgersuperking]

TopShop rose with the whole anglomania-indie sleaze wave in 2000-2010, on the back of Christophers Bailey Burberry. It all sank altogether.

[shawnadyment]

When TopShop opened in Vancouver (2012), everyone around me went crazy for it. If you walked down the street you could spot a TopShop shopping bag in every direction. What an era - Jeffrey Campbell 'Lita' boots, TopShop fits and cake pops.

[rosieroo]

This made me a little emotional, I used to love spending hours in Topshop on Oxford St as a teen whenever I’d go to London. All the small boutique brands, the cafe in the basement, the cosmetics brands that were new to the UK or up and coming, it was always such an experience.

[beammeupscottyny]

People forget that Jaded Ldn started as concession in Topshop, alongside Ragged Priest.

[miola]

I still have one of the trending TopShop "it" dresses, which I bought because of Beyonce. That dress is awesome to this day and still on trend, such good quality too. Can TopShop return? I say yes, with cool collaborations, strong website, limited brick & mortar stores and a dramatic rebranding with a clear narrative.

[naregm]

I legitimately get excited when I see one of your videos pop up in my subscription feed.

[natashacutmore]

I remember going to the London store when I was about 15- I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Fast forward a few years, and when I got my first pay check, I bought a two piece suit from Topshop, which I still own and wear today. I was so sad when they went under and I still miss the shopping experience of their stores.

[spa-peggymeatballs]

I was so obsessed with Kate Moss when I was a teenager. I adored Topshop at the time.

[juliac]

i was obsessed with topshop in 2014 when i was also obsessed with american apparel. i was 14 and constantly on tumblr lol. i saved the shopping bags and i still have my american apparel shopping bag

[TheWinQuinn]

Your simple, clear black on white editorial style and including the dates/ extra info (like which collection on the runway etc) in the bottom left is so easily readable and everything ties togtethr very wel. I peronsally rememebr Topshop/Topman being an absolute giant of the fashion industry in early 2010's. Good video.

[garethjd]

I remember moving to London from Sydney in my early 20s. Topshop/Topman was revelation. Australian high street fashion was all beige/white/blue, the "Country Road" aesthetic. Realising that my darker skin was better suited to brighter colours - and Topman/Topshop summer collections were so vibrant. As a skinny teen, it was amazing to find XS sizing across everything - you simply never found it Australian high street brands - not to mention how cheap it was compared to what you got in Australia. When Topshop/Topman arrived in Australia it was a little disappointing, I couldn't work out if they were just sending us the UK leftovers, or if I had aged out of the brand.

[StephanieChaseWrestling]

I worked in Topshop’s Oxford Circus store, or 214 as James said from 2008 to maybe 2010. I remember when I started you were made to feel so cool just by getting hired. I worked on the shop floor and also on the ‘information desk’ for a while. Anything I saw or heard about Green was bad and he caused a lot of stress among the managers that negatively impacted the floor staff. I’ll never forget a rude woman asking me to look after all her shopping from other stores at the info desk while she browsed. This was something we didn’t do and had been told never to do. She asked for a manager, when the manager got there she said she was PG’s cousin or something so the manager apologised and gave me a dressing down in front of her. Honestly a big change with the staff came when they introduced a uniform for us, some horrible cheap blue T-shirts that had ‘Topshop’ ironed on them, morale went down and the treatment got worse. I had some fun times in 214, it was like a student experience in the beginning but Green was always gonna tank the place

[TeefahXOXO]

This was such a good video. For me going to Topshop Oxford Circus was always something I just had to do whenever I visited London. Was hella shocked when I came out of the Oxford Circus stop in Dec 2022 and was so shocked to see no Topshop! Prior to that I’d had no idea about all their issues.

[xweetokfairy]

I still only exclusively wear topshop jeans. I get them on Vinted. I will never give up on them. Hooked for life!

[aaronjanlistanco]

Topshop was very famously in era of late 2000's to early 2010's here in the Philippines..
every magazine was featured in every fashion section and evey luxury malls here

[holistic_rebel_leeds]

This is so well researched i remember working at topshop during 2008-2011 and the writing was on the wall even back then. Still remember when we launched the Christopher kane collection in our store with a sales target of 2-3000 for the 1rst day. We only sold 3 pieces and the manager brought up to look after it went back down to london after 6 days. Kate moss started popular however greatly finished after a year as the store stopped opening early because no one was queuing up and alot of it went onto the sale rail. Another massive problem was that they were so expensive compared to river island and new look, a day dress (nothing fancy) was 45-55 pounds average new look was £20 cheaper.

[pb]

Loved this, I remember getting the train to London from the Cotswolds just to spend hours in Topshop Oxford street, it was so iconic

[Contessa_Savannah]

I was obsessed with topshop. I live in the states but was always a fan of pop culture and fashion in the UK. I would check the site every other day for updates. We finally got a store here in Atlanta GA...and it did terribly. I think the newer generation didn't "get it" and couldn't get into the elevated fast fashion compared to forever 21 and h&m. Also I feel the quality of stylish clothing had declined by 2014+. The stuff was so much better before.