Countdown to Topshop Opening - Now in Pictures

Jun 17, 2008 @ 1:25pm

topshop coat.jpg Can you tell we're counting down the days to Topshop's opening on Broadway? The current word is that it'll finally happen sometime between October 16th - 18th, and we can barely wait, especially now that we've seen the Fall 08 clothes.

We're all obsessed with the Bandstand Coat at left, and we each have our own obsessions (click through to check them out.) We don't love everything on there, but definitely enough so that we'll stand in whatever line to get to it on the first day.

And the best part? Topshop's planning on just converting the prices from pounds to dollars, which means this £100 coat will be $200 for us. Normally, we'd think the currency conversion was annoying/unfair/off putting, but in this case, we love it. There aren't too many places where you can find a decent quality, cute coat for $200, and it looks like Topshop will be one of them.

But still, here's to hoping the dollar gets stronger...

Britt's picks:

topshop lip dress.jpg

topshop body suit.jpg

topshop knickers.jpg

Natalie's picks:

topshop jacket.jpg

topshop tank.jpg

topshop black dress.jpg

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 1:31PM

I love that blue plaid jacket. Why can't it be October already?

posted by FashionIntelligentsia

Jun 17, 2008 1:41PM

Love the lingerie Britt! & That flannel reminds me of MJ, and I love it. I'd like see Sam Ronson in it - we've blogged about her today, check it out.

posted by cory

Jun 17, 2008 1:44PM

Where's Kyle's picks? Aren't there any clothes for the fellas?

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 1:52PM

the flannel jacket reminds me of jackson pollis....
i love the plaid tank though

posted by Jaclyn

Jun 17, 2008 1:55PM

Yes! Can't wait to get my fall wardrobe there!!

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 2:18PM

love the plaid bustier style top! i always worry about buying things like this though for fear of bumping into someone on the street wearing the same thing..

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 2:23PM

"Normally, we'd think the currency conversion was annoying/unfair/off putting, but in this case, we love it. There aren't too many places where you can find a decent quality, cute coat for $200, and it looks like Topshop will be one of them."

What?! It's not like the quality doubled when the cost of the garment did. I completely understand the pricing strategy, but I would hardly call it 'the best part'.

Also, that plaid tank looks like something Britany Spears would have worn back when she sang that song that made her popular. Whatever it was called.

Fashionista, out of a 300-odd page look book--that's the best you can do?

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 2:28PM

LOVE the black dress with the ruffle botom, its so cute :)

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 2:58PM

That coat looks like a Jillian Lewis coat.

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 3:52PM

I'm sad about the NY pricing. I used to shop at Top Shop when I was paid in pounds and it was a good bargain. Now I'm paid in dollars and its a bit pricier with the sad sad conversion rate than I think its worth. Its high street fashion and while some pieces are sublime, others have good concept, bad execution (no better than H&M).

On the other hand, you will have less trouble with owning the exact same clothes here since they aren't as ubiquitous as in the UK.

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 4:16PM

guest @ 2.23
do you not understand how currency works?
the figure may have doubled but the cost certainly didn't.

here is an example of price doubling: in the u.s. a mcdonald's value meal costs $5. in the u.k. a mcdonald's value meal costs £5. £5=$10, therefore the price is double across the ocean.

£100 is equal to $200 -- it is not extortion, it is math.

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 4:35PM

guest @ 4:16

how is that a good example?

if a happy meal costs 5 dollars in the US and 5 pounds in the UK, why should TopShop pricing fluctuate with the exchange rate, when McDonalds' does not?

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 5:14PM

guest @ 4:16. you do not understand how the supply chain works. IF ALL of topshop's fabric and labor were from Britain, and paid in British pounds, than straight up conversion might make more sense (though they are a high volume store, at low price points so that's arguable). They are not. While the dollar has fallen against many currencies, it hasn't fallen as far as against the pound. Take a look at a Benetton price tag in Euros, Pounds, and Dollars. They don't exactly convert--not even close.

posted by hannah

Jun 17, 2008 5:34PM

Oh my god. That coat is my life.

posted by guest

Jun 17, 2008 8:52PM

Natalie, are you sure its going to be a straight-up conversion? because I read in an interview with the owner (Sir Phillip?) that it will not be a direct conversion, but a little bit cheaper in dollars, to keep the brand at the same level in both markets.

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2008 2:07AM

Why of why dont they ship to Canada!

posted by hayley

Jun 18, 2008 4:36AM

I love love love that first coat! I may have to buy it myself! If only American brands would do the same with their pricing. That would be awesome. And dangerous.

posted by Natalie Hormilla

Jun 18, 2008 8:00AM

guest@8:52, yes, that's what the US publicist for Topshop told me, that it would be a direct conversion.

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2008 9:04AM

the pound is usually worth 1.50 to 2.00 american money. this is why they are doubling the british prices. As to the girl who doesn't get mcdonald's pricing... You pay more in the UK for the same damn meal. Get it now? Topshop is saying whether you buy it in the UK or America it's basically the same price.

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2008 9:09AM

ugh. That coat is amazing.

guest @ 2:23
The US dollar is worth half the British Pound. When you want to buy an item that costs £100, you will end up paying $200 USD, because your dollar has less value and buys less.

Now, the average wage in England is £24,000 (or $48,000), whereas the average wage in the USA is around $36,000. Given that the Brits get taxed more, the take home pay (and purchasing power) probably isn't that different, and therefore, the cost of the clothes, as a percentage of disposable income, is probably more or less the same.

So, in real terms, it's really not going to cost the average US consumer that much more than they would the average UK consumer.

It's neither a good deal nor a bad deal when compared to the costs in the UK, but I think she meant that the cost of the coat is a good deal relative to the cost of other coats in the US.

posted by zapatosnuevos

Jun 18, 2008 9:11AM

Question, will they be selling Top Man in the store? Or do I have to wait a while for that?

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2008 10:36AM

guest @4:16, the price conversion is NOT a bargain for Americans or even favorable (relative to our british friends).

i have friends that work in the UK:

in the states, say a jr. PR girl is paid $30k/year. in the UK, that same PR girl would be paid 30pounds/year. this makes a 100pound coat a true bargain for the briton, but at $30k/year the poor american pr girl is shelling out double for the same coat.

Sucks!

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2008 10:59AM

Not going to comment on the pricing, as it's completely irrelevant to me (might be worth noting though, that UK price tags have Irish prices in Euros, which are a direct conversion of the UK price. Also, that VAT is included in UK prices, whereas tax is added at the till in the US) If anyone was interested, quite a few of the pieces shown in that link are already available to buy on the site, so I suspect it's more their High Summer/Early Autumn collection, rather than A/W.

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2008 3:40PM

i know this is not going to be a popular sentiment... but wasn't it kind of special that top shop was ONLY a UK store, and therefore not so accessible in these parts? going to the UK kind of meant (among other things) taking a trip to top shop and reveling in the fact that you wouldn't see yourself coming and going on the streets of new york. i'm a poor struggling student, but i thought it was pretty cool to buy a lovely little dress there (which i still have, and is still really smashing) to take back to the states. now that it's opening up here, well, i guess it doesn't seem as special. maybe that's wonky logic, but...

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2008 6:44PM

£1 = $2

whats all the fuss. if you don't think about it relative to pay, like as a percentage of what you earn then the prices are the same.
stop moaning people you're getting our topshop, our gem.

posted by dumbbrunette5

Jun 19, 2008 7:46AM

will they have all the same stuff as in the british stores though? because they just recently opened a topshop/topman in one of the malls in bangkok, thailand (where i live)and there is a smaller selection. they have the kate moss stuff and the regular stufe (and a teeny tiny rack of petite clothes) but none of the designer collaborations or other special lines that they have in the uk

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 11:18AM

What's all the fuss guest 6:44? Is that i rather shop at H&M, I rather shop at Forever21, I rather shop at Zara then pay 40 pounds = $80 for a ruffle dress. That's the fuss what's so special about paying double for a item when I can get it way cheaper somewhere else. That's the fuss.

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 2:16PM

The conversion is no good. One of the reasons Topshop is so incredibly successful in the UK is its origination of the "disposable chic" concept. It's nice stuff, at decent quality, thats not going to break the bank, but also not necessarily going to last a lifetime. That doesn't seem to be an applicable concept for its arrival in the states, which will make it more of a splurge than save store. Ultimate bummer:/

posted by guest

Oct 04, 2008 2:18PM

I've been waiting for that coat since this post. I check topshop EVERYDAY cos i want it as soon as it arrives. Why can't i find it when is it available? PLEAAAASEEEE