Thursday 27 November 2008

Top of the Shops

I don't know the actual figures, but I would confidently say that Topshop is probably the top high street shop in the UK. It does make you wonder about the power of names; if you call your baby Belle, are they guaranteed to be beautiful? Because calling the high street brand 'Topshop' certainly worked for whoever set it up back when it was new and untrendy. There is probably not a single female in between the ages of 15 and 50 who does not own an item of clothing from Topshop in the whole of London.

Despite all this, the top shop is conspicuously missing from popular and beautiful shopping destination Covent Garden. I'm planning to hit Covent Garden for some nice old retail therapy come Saturday, and browsing the Covent Garden Shops directory (my memory isn't what it used to be...), Topshop's absence was noticeable.

I do like Topshop as much as the next person, but at the same time there's something refreshing about having to work a little harder to find what you want. When you entire Topshop OC (flagship on Oxford St) so many appealing things jump at you, most overpriced. After a while, everything becomes so samey. The huge size is overwhelming, almost monotonous.

I wrote about the shopping experience long ago, and I still think the same. 'Retail therapy' for me is just as much about the search, the uniqueness as the product - same as anything really. I haven't bought anything frivolous for a few months now, but looking back at the past two items I can think of, they were both bought in interesting shopping locations not Oxford Street. So I'm going to skip Westfield and I'm thinking that the beautiful backdrop of Covent Garden will be the perfect occasion to drop my cash. Somewhere other than Topshop.

6 comments:

  1. The search is what makes me love secondhand shops.
    P.S. It's in the low 60s here. It's kinda heavenly really...

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  2. I love Covent Garden, because it's discoverable. It's not like the giant high street shops which present everything to shoppers in an overwhelming way. Maybe it's good that there's no Topshop there.

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  3. Wow, clothes horse I'm insanely jealous!

    enc, I didn't end up going in the end at all... hopefully soon x

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  4. There is actually a small Topshop on the Strand just 5 mins from Covent Garden..

    Covent Garden is probably one of my favourite shopping locations in London, I love to become a tourist and listen to the classical musicians playing in the market, and there are cute shops down the Seven Dials
    xx

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  5. hmm yes I think I know which one you mean - in the direction towards the river? i've never ventured inside though..

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  6. Covent Garden sounds like a wonderful place to go shopping! I know Topshop can seem like just another huge store akin to Zara, H&M (albeit a much more overpriced version) but I still love going in to look around. While hunting for more unique outfits is thrilling and fun, it's sometimes a lot less tiring to just walk into a store which has so much wonderful pieces I'd like to buy... =)

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