Topshop Sydney - the lowdown

I went, I saw, I freaked.
It was a zoo.

Since it is faster for me to upload my photos on Facebook compared to the blog, I will do that. But her is a summary of my Topshop experience today.

The facts:

1. I arrived 6 pm, left 9.30 pm with a dinner breather in between.
2. There were 4 floors, top floor was mens (Topman), the rest was womens.
3. There are two entrances - the George St level had the huge queues. The lower QVB entrance had minimal queues.

Comparison to Zara:

1. Topshop is younger than Zara
2. Topshop is trendier than Zara
3. Topshop is cheaper than Zara
4. Topshop quality is not as good as Zara (it looks to me like Topshop has never met a polyester it didnt like)
5. Topshop music is much louder than Zara (deafening)
6. Topshop has a max of 6 items in the change room (Zara has a 10 item maximum)
7. Prices in Topshop are more concentrated around price points than in Zara. Zara has far more variations in price for any particular style (top, bottom, dress etc) due to differences in quality. 
8. Topshop collaborates with known designers - Zara does not.
9. Topshop is offering a permanent 10% discount to all students. Zara doesnt have this type of promo.
10. Topshop's return policy is 14 days for a full refund. Zara's is 30 days.
11. Sizing is similar to Zara - small. 

& yes, while Zara is cheaper than Topshop in the UK, here in Australia isnt the other way around.

Comparison to the Sydney high street:

For those of you who havent experienced Zara, I'll frame my Topshop experience in terms of the Sydney high street (Sportsgirl, Portmans, Forever New, Temt etc)......

1. Topshop is significantly cheaper than the Sydney high street
2. Topshop quality is marginally worse than the Sydney high street
3. Topshop music is significantly louder than the Sydney high street

Seriously though, Sydney needs a store like Topshop. The Sydney high street needs the competition. 

Topshop had a cosmetics area where they were doing free makeovers.
There is a lingerie & sleepwear area.
Plus accessories, shoes, bags, you name it, they had it.


There were also opening promotions - 
- a photo booth where they took your photo & you stuck it up on a board for a change to win prizes.
- if you Instagramed your fave Topshop piece, you could also go into a draw.
- there were DJs on every floor.

How knowledgeable were the staff?

The Topshop staff (like Zara) dont know much about the labels & the marketing of the brand. I had to ask a number of people about some of the different Topshop brands until someone could tell me anything that make sense.

Topshop brands?
Huh?
What Topshop brands?

1. There have women's Petite.

2. They have Women's Tall.

3. They have "Topshop Unique" - this is the collection that shows at London Fashion Week - it's expensive, trendy & edgy but in a glamourous way. Sydney pieces with the Unique label were priced around $230 - $400.

4. They have "Topshop Boutique"
This seems to be better quality than the general Topshop women's range - also a tad more expensive. It also seemed a touch more classy, a touch less "street". The Boutique collection's lighter items were silk, not synthetic. Its knits were cotton & natural fibres rather than synthetic/polyester.

5. Mens - Every type of clothing was catered for - from work suiting to beach clothes and hip accesories. Tops & bottoms of suits are sold separately. 

Prices:

Topshop has more consistent price points than Zara. What I mean by this is that any group of clothing is typically priced similarly & there isnt a huge variation in price. Eg: Apart from "Unique" and "Boutique", most tops are a similar price, most bottoms are a similar price. 

In comparison, Zara has a massive range of quality (& hence price variation) in tops or in bottoms or dresses. Prices for Zara Women differ to prices for Zara Basic which again differ to prices for Zara TRF. Basic & TRF constitute more than 50% of the store. 

Topshop on the other hand produces everything with the one label, except for a small selection of "Boutique" and "Unique". "Boutique" and "Unique" constitute less than 5% of the store.

Typical price points were:

Dresses: $90 
Jackets: $70 or $130 
Leather shoes: $130
Tops: $40
Skirts: $40
Leather bags (med size): $130
Vinyl bags (med size): $70
Jeans: $70 

MENS:
Tees: $40
Shirts: $55
Pants: $65
Jackets: $130 (gaberdine mix)
Jackets: $210 (wool mix & Pant $95)
Jackets: $290 (100% wool & Pant $130)
Jeans: $55

Despite the lower quality of Topshop, I think it will do well in Sydney as it targets a young & trendy market - the young market loves cheap fast fashion - they arent interested in quality/longevity and so Topshop will thrive.


What more can I say?

I purchased....a men's white short sleeved shirt with pale blue swallows for $55. I generally dont buy clothes with animals on them (not sure why as I am happy to eat animals), but this one called out to me. Perfect  for bumming around in, with jeans....The women's wear was too short, too small, too tight, too see through or just plain too ordinary for me. Funnily the men's shirt was an XL (very small sizing...)

Finally, I think the Facebook pictures complete the story of my Topshop excursion....

Richard Nicoll's TOPSHOP wedding dresses are here!

Wedding dresses now at TOPSHOP!

Further to my previous post:

http://styleintoaction.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Richard%20Nicoll

Richard Nicoll's bridal collection for Topshop is finally here. 

The collection is Nicoll's, as well as Topshop's, first ever bridal-specific offering.

Nicolls proposed the idea after his spring/summer 2012 show as a way to make available a modern affordable alternative to “meringue culture”. Best of all, the dresses are marketed as bridal but would equally be suitable as bridesmaid or cocktail dresses.

The capsule range, comprising seven dresses, both full-length and short has Nicoll's signature fuss-free femininity and easy, wearable coolness. It features lace and silk dresses in both white and pink - priced from $120AUD to $560AUD - and is called Tie The Knot. But don't expect Nicoll to make bridal his new day job.

He says he has added some red carpet options to his forthcoming resort collection but wedding dresses are not something he plans to launch. While he has made wedding dresses for friends in the past (you can see photos of these in my previous blog post) and can make them on request, he did say that “I'm not the new Vera Wang, no!"

Here is the collection:

 

1. Which is your favourite?

2. If you were getting married, would you consider trying any of these on?

3. What about as a cocktail dress? Do you like any of them?

2012 Met Ball New York - the fashion Oscars!

For those that may not be aware, the annual New York Costume Institute Gala Benefit is viewed as the Oscars of fashion. 

The ball celebrates the opening of the annual fashion exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The ball organisation is overseen by Anna Wintour of US Vogue.

I have created an album on my Favebook page with 155 photos (& growing) of the red carpet attendees, who pay approx $25,000 per ticket to attend.



I'd love it if you could view the album and write your comments - faves, not so faves, disasters!


In the mean time, here is a quick summary of the trends.


But some background first:


This year's exhibition is Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations.
(last year it was for Alexander McQueen).

So it was only fitting that the most popular designer of choice was Miuccia Prada's Prada & some Miu Miu, with a theme of silk satin and carefully placed gemstones.

Next popular seemed to be Givenchy, with alot of body con dresses with feathers on the hems.


There was also a sprinkling of Ralph Lauren Collection, Tory Burch, Alexander McQueen (& MCQ by Alexander McQueen), Zac Posen, Calvin Klein,  Vera Wang, Rachel Zoe, Valentino, Versace & even two Topshops!


The themes that emerged:

Very dark lipstick

Frizzy hair

Fair skin (not everyone was sporting a spray tan this year!) 

Metallics, especially gold

Black - goth &

Black - wet look

Reds & oranges  

White

Yellows

 Minis

 

Peplums

Blues, both pastel, brights & navys

 

Toilet roll tulle

Enjoy!

Would you buy a wedding dress from Topshop?

UK Vogue has revealed that Richard Nicoll has created a collection of bridal dresses for Topshop.

The dresses, which all feature Nicoll's signature sculptural shapes and feminine fabrics, will be available from June 2012.

However, no photos have yet been released.

Topshop has advised that the collection is a "modern alternative to meringue culture".

To give you a feeling for the Nicoll aesthetic, here are some photos from his 2012 SS London Fashion Week collection....

Photos from www.style.com


Some of you may recall that Richard did a capsule collection with Sportsgirl in Australia about 2 years ago.....but it was surprisingly tailored for him....I remember trying on the jacket but the Size 14 was soooooo tiny......waaahhhhh.

Its not the first time that Richard has done bridal gowns. He has shown two recent bridal designs on his personal blog.

The first one is for a colleague.....

What do you think of this one?


This next one is for a friend.




I LOVE this one. What do you think?


So will you consider buying your wedding dress from a fast fashion chain?


I guess it depends on many factors:


* Availability in your local market

* Whether the design is alterations friendly (some high fashion items simply arent, even if pay truckloads of money)

* Price

* Quality

* Whether you like his aesthetic

* Other?

A tale of Celine inspired florals

Once upon a time, for SS 2012, it all started with the Celine florals.......some of you may say this is "too much"...dont forget this is fashion, or more like it, FASHION.

Its supposed to be OTT.




In reality, this is a runway look which will usually be broken down and worn as separates. Toning down the accessories will also help to make it more street normal.



Too cute, eh? .....Only during Fashion Week.....





Anna Wintour of US Vogue jumped on the band wagon...naturally she was wearing it AT the 2012 spring shows...most of us need to wait a bit later to pick a copy up.....





Frankly, I love her take on it. The simple black boots, the coat...she lets the floral do the talking & doesnt allow it to compete with other pieces. In fact, she looks like a "normal" person, albeit a stylish one. Not OTT at all....


Sans coat sitting next to Salma with hubby Fracois-Henri Pinault (who owns Gucci, YSL, Stella McCartney & so many other luxe brands I cant begin to name them.... & (here's some goss)...he has fathered an illegitimate son with Linda Evangelista (of "We dont get out of bed for less than $10K a day" fame)





And then everyone on the high street went NUTS copying them


Here is H&M....


Zara top, H&M pants





Even Olivia Palermo got in on the high street act in Topshop pants...



Zara shirt -


Per the Zara look book




Styled for evening - adore the father bag and lace shorts - very glam.....




Same shirt styled with the silver metal collar. I love this.....




Same shirt styled with ASOS gold tips at the collar.....




Same shirt with leather short & tights - very street savvy.



Another Zara shirt in blue & red florals in a soft cotton with more of a grandpa open neckline.....






Zara jacket -

In the Zara Woman label - $129 in 100% polyester, fully lined, single breasted jacket.

I would have bought this, but they didnt make it in an XL.

Bummer.


Styled with their (smaller) print blouse - great example of mixing prints




Same jacket mixed with reptile print. Great impact.




Same jacket - look like its mixed with another floral shirt. Her outfit pops with the red satchel bag.




Successful jacket. What now?

Here's the formula for making money on the high street:

If an item is selling well, the store will have it re-made.

The faster the store can do this, the more money they will make.

If they dont have the same fabric, they find something similar.

Then they cut some corners on the second version, to increase their margin.

Often the corners are by buying cheaper fabric, often they are by using labour in a cheaper jurisdiction.

Fast fashion stores do it all the time - this floral Zara jacket is a great example.

Notice anything familiar? Similar, bit not the same......



This 2nd version was $119.....& guess what? it was made in an XL, so it followed me home....Happy dance!

Its 100% polyester, fully lined, back vent. However this version is in the Zara Basic "collection".
Bear in mind that Zara Basics tend to be made in Asia (cheaper labour) while Zara Woman tends to be made in Europe.

The 2nd version floral jacket is made in Spain, however they have obviously done something to reduce the price from the original version of $129. Yet I am sure they are still making a sufficient margin, coupled with the volume, to be in the black.

The second version is a softer background - anthracite instead of black. The flowers are also softer. Not as vibrant oranges, blues, pinks. Instead they are more muted greens, beiges, pinks.




Look at the clean button holes, the lining, the back vent - great details.





And I adore the functioning button holes at the cuffs. Great detail which you tend not to see on the Aussie high street & certainly not at that that price point (in Australia).




When I was considering buying this, would you believe that I asked to see every XL they had? Why?

So that I could pick the one with the best colour placement near the face? Initially the staff thought I was nuts, but when they saw the difference some of the colours made to my face they understood.



And the next phase?

Zara is so keen to make money on floral jackets, they have now done a black/white/grey version....

Same style/cut, similar price $119, again in the Zara Basic range, 100% polyester.
We havent seen this in Sydney yet.

Look book....


Street styled...






The future of florals?



As much as everyone is saying you can always wear florals in spring, this look is very "2012".


In a couple of years, I may only wear my Zara jacket as a retro piece, however for $119, when my body has physically outgrown my wardrobe, its a terrific stop gap.