Topshop - tiptop, or flop? (Top Shop)

Member Name: sugarcultsweetie

Product:	Top Shop
Date:	06/06/09 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wide ranges, well fitted, diverse collections

Disadvantages: Occasionally overpriced, sizing limited

Topshop is one of the leading fashion retailers aimed at young women, branches in every major town throughout Britain. I do personally shop there, albeit occasionally...

Good attributes:

Each shop is laid out beautifully, displays grouped by trend, range and type of clothing - generally all the jeans are together, plain vest tops and tees are in one collection - this may sound ridiculous but many shop's (such as Zara) spread out, boutique shops drive me insane! In Topshop, you can easily find what you want, shown with matched collection items.

Their jeans, shoes and coats are beautifully well made and long lasting - the stitching is generally perfect, and though these items can seem a little overpriced compared to other shops (£40 jeans, £60-80 heels, £80-100 coats), but they don't stretch out or self destruct on you.

Fashion-concious shoppers mean regularly updated, large collections providing a wide selection of jewellery, accessories and lingerie alongside clothing. You can seldom walk in to Topshop and have seen everything there already, and there is alot of styles to choose from.


Poor attributes:

As a petite, somewhat boyish-framed teen I don't personally have this problem, but I do have more curvy friends who can't fit in any of Topshops more structured tops and dresses - let alone bras! - so sometimes one can be restricted by Topshop's sizing range.

Their pricing isn't astronomical by any stretch of the imagination, however shops such as H+M can often provide similar designs of casualwear at far lower prices - the Kate Moss limited collections have also often been described as overpriced.

Thes staff can be hit-and-miss in their helpfulness and manner. Hired partially due to their knowledge and dedication to current fashion trends, they can occasionally be a bit snooty and too-cool-for-thou.

Lastly, a problem that I have found personally is with the thin T-shirt material tops - though pretty on the hanger and light on the skin, a couple of these have bobbled on me within a few hours of wear, and at over £20 a piece this really isn't acceptable.


In conclusion, you can't escape Topshop! - but you should consider shopping around at lower cost high street stores before making a purchase, at least this is the case on my student budget. However, their regularly updated and diverse collections make them a top brand for all women.

Summary: A high street brand that you can't imagine being without