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Legendary high street chain teases ‘biblical’ comeback in UK with ‘cryptic’ posts sending millennials into meltdown
WHILE other outlets are pulling their shutters for the final time, one high street chain is set for a major comeback.
The fashion retailer has teased a “biblical” comeback across the UK with a series of social media posts.
While the “cryptic” online posts didn’t confirm any exact details, fashion fans have shared their excitement over the potential return.
The beloved shop has gone through a rollercoaster few years but now looks to be making a highly-anticipated comeback.
Cryptic posts
Topshop posted a picture of a store hanger on Instagram earlier this week.
The beloved brand, which was purchased by Asos alongside Miss Selfridge in 2021, remained tight-lipped about the latest development.
It simply captioned the post: “Loading…”
The store’s acquistion occurred after the collapse of its former owner Arcadia.
After purchasing both fashion outlets for a combined £330 million, Asos sold 75% in Topshop to the Danish holding company Heartland.
This deal, amounting to £135 million, also included a stake in Topshop’s counterpart Topman.
Topshop recently confirmed it plans to open up stores again this year.
Michelle Wilson, MD at Topshop and Topman, told Drapers that the brand has something up its sleeve for August.
And with recent posts on the Topshop account hinting at a new development, this may not be far off.
Recently, the brand posted a series of tennis balls with Topshop printed on them in preparation for the upcoming Wimbeldon final.
“Game. Set. Topshop,” the brand wrote in the caption of the cryptic post.
High street return
Topshop and Topman are set to return to the high street for autumn via a wholesale partner.
“We have something planned in August to bring Topshop back into real life again, with a more semi-permanent presence than the one-day pop-up,” the Managing Director said.
Why the high street still rules!
Fabulous’ Fashion Director, Tracey Lea Sayer 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!
“In the shorter term that will be something with partner support and in the longer term we will do something standalone.”
Wilson said she was “excited to see Topshop back in person” and said their collaboration “will surprise people”.
In April this year, Topshop launched a pop-up at Defected Records and shoppers went wild for it.
They recorded a sale every three minutes, which Topshop bosses have said is proof that there is demand for the adored store.
Wilson added that they aren’t trying to “recreate” the Topshop that millions knew and loved.
She explained that the clothing store will be given a 2025 makeover to allow it to compete with the current climate.
Shopper reactions
“This could be an Oasis level comeback!! Biblical,” wrote one excited Instagram user.
“As someone who used to work in Topshop, this is everything,” agreed another person.
“Desperately looking for clues…. Is this what we ALL are hoping for?!” commented a third fan.
“Please god get back and save the high street shopping experience,” pleaded another shopper.
“The world is healing,” joked another Topshop enthusiast.
