IT used to be THE clothing store to shop in if you were young and trendy.
But now has returned to the high street, Jade McCarthy was unsure whether or not she’s too old to buy from there, given that she’s now 41.
Jade took to TikTok to share her experience shopping at Topshop now that it’s back in John Lewis storesCredit: TikTok/jademccarthy
She was initially worried she might be too old, at 41, to shop thereCredit: TikTok/jademccarthy
But this bubblegum pink top changed her mind entirelyCredit: TikTok/jademccarthy
However, pairing the top with combat trousers made her feel like she was “in Eternal” back in the 90sCredit: TikTok/jademccarthy
So she decided to pop along to the inside in Manchester’s Trafford Centre to have a look at what’s on offer this time around.
Jade documented her trip in a video on her TikTok page , as she hit the changing rooms to try on the
She started by giving a pair of barrel-legged jeans a whirl, as she said: “This is what I mean by ‘we want different’.”
She also said she’d picked up the denims in a size 12, but they were a “little bit roomy” – although that might be down to the fact they’re meant to be oversized.
Next, she tried the jeans on with a gorgeous bubblegum pink top, as she insisted “I b**ody love this!”
“We wanted something we’re not gonna find anywhere else,” she said.
“That’s what Topshop did. That’s what it’s doing.
“I b**ody love this and I love the like softness and the of this with the big baggy trousers.”
Jade then popped on a pale pink jacket over the jeans, before trying her favourite pink top with a pair of khaki combat trousers.
“These are too reminiscent of the 90s for me, too girlband,” she laughed.
“No, no, no, no!”
The next outfit was a pair of silky pinstripe trousers, with a matching jacket, as she said: “I love it. I bloody love it.
“Really really like that it kind of looks like a jumpsuit. Really comfy and this would be fab for traveling because it’s nice and cool.”
Trying the trousers with a white top, Jade mused that the lace-up back top might be “too cool” for her”.
The last thing she tried on was a denim minidress, as she said: “It’s hard to know what I need in my wardrobe, but as far as dresses go I love this.
“I think it’s a great fit. I would only wear it with tights because it feels too short for me, but I b**ody love it.”
Why the high street still rules!
Fabulous’ Fashion Director, shares her thoughts.
I WAS 10 when I first discovered the utter joy of high-street shopping for clothes with my mum and nan.
Going into town on Saturday became a family tradition – a girls’ day out we would look forward to all week.
My mum’s favourite shop was M&S, where she would gaze at jackets with big shoulder pads and floral sundresses, while my nan would make a beeline for John Lewis and their classic coats and elegant court shoes.
I was all over Tammy Girl – Etam’s little sister – and Chelsea Girl, which was later rebranded to high-street fave River Island.
I would spend hours in the changing rooms, watched keenly by my two cheerleaders, who gave the thumbs up – or thumbs down – on what I was trying on.
Frilly ra-ra skirts, duster coats, polka dot leggings, puff balls, boob tubes… I tried them all, often making my nan howl with laughter.
Fashion wasn’t so fast back in the 1980s and every item was cherished and worn until it fell apart – literally – at the seams.
At 18, I went to art college and my tastes became more refined.
Extra cash from a part-time job in a bar meant I could move on to slightly more expensive stores, like Warehouse, Miss Selfridge and the mecca that was Topshop.
I knew at this point I wanted to work in fashion because the high street had totally seduced me.
One day, I wrote an article for a competition in a glossy mag about my love of retail therapy and my favourite LBD – and I won!
That led me to where I am today – Fashion Director of Fabulous.
It’s not just me that loves the high street – big-name designers are fans, too. When Cool Britannia hit in the ’90s, they all turned up in one big store.
Designers at Debenhams was a stroke of genius by Debenhams CEO Belinda Earl, designer Ben de Lisi and fashion director Spencer Hawken, who introduced diffusion ranges from John Rocha, Matthew Williamson and Betty Jackson, to name a few.
This meant we could all afford a bit of luxury and wear a well-known designer’s signature style.
Years later, I hosted a night with Debenhams and Fabulous for 250 readers, who were in awe meeting all the designers. It was a real career highlight for me.
In 2004, H&M started rolling out their international designer collabs.
Karl Lagerfeld was first, followed by Roberto Cavalli, Marni, Stella McCartney, Maison Martin Margiela, Sonia Rykiel, Comme des Garçons, Balmain, Versace and many, many more. I could barely contain myself!
Then in 2007, Kate Moss launched her first collection with Topshop, with thousands queuing along London’s Oxford Street.
I remember sitting behind Ms Moss and Topshop boss Philip Green at a London Fashion Week Topshop Unique catwalk show.
I had my three-year-old daughter, Frankie, in tow and we both made the news the next day after we were papped behind Kate, my supermodel girl crush.
At the time, the high street was on fire. Who needed designer buys when Mango stocked tin foil trousers just like the designer Isabel Marant ones and you could buy a bit of Barbara Hulanicki’s legendary brand Biba from Topshop?
High street stores even started to storm London Fashion week.
Although Topshop Unique had shown collections since 2001, in 2013 River Island showed its first collection in collaboration with global superstar Rihanna, who was flown in by a friend of mine on a private jet. KER-CHING!
A whole new generation of high profile high street collabs followed.
Beyoncé created Ivy Park with Topshop’s Philip Green and I even flew to LA for Fabulous to shoot the Kardashian sisters in their bodycon “Kollection” for Dorothy Perkins.
I am pleased to say they were the absolute dream cover stars.
Fast forward to 2024 and while the high street doesn’t look exactly like it did pre-Covid, it has made a gallant comeback.
Stores like M&S, Reserved and Zara, and designer collabs like Victoria Beckham X Mango and Rochelle Humes for Next are giving me all the feels.
The supermarkets have really come into their own, too, smashing it with gorgeous collections that look expensive, but at prices that still allow us to afford the weekly shop.
The last 30 years of high street fashion have been one big adventure for me. Bring on the next 30!
Concluding her video, Jade said: “There wasn’t loads. It was like a nice size collection.
“Prices fine, sizing was good and I was worried it might be like regurgitated stuff on 10 years ago, but it’s not.
“It is a little bit different to what’s already out there, which is what Topshop was good at.
“And I would definitely go there for the denim.
“Yeah, overall really good!”
“I wish I’d gone back and done another round tbh,” she captioned the TikTok.
“There was soo much I loved!
“Topshop is the epitome of UK women’s fashion and I’m so happy it’s back!”
“Topshop has always, and will always, be my absolute go to for denim!!” one person commented on Jade’s video.
“Love everything!” another gushed.
“I’ll be nipping through to John Lewis this week now – I need Topshop back in my life!”
“Gorgeous stuff,” a third agreed.
“So here for the cargos to come back around again,” someone else commented.
To which Jade replied: “I felt like I was in Eternal when I put them on, not gonna lie!”
She loved this set together, and said it would be perfect for travelling inCredit: TikTok/jademccarthy
And also fell in love with this dress, although said she wouldn’t be able to wear it without tights underneathCredit: TikTok/jademccarthy
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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