Topshop: British brand, jeans & fashion for women and men
Topshop epitomises cool British style — a High Street brand that has filled the gap between affordable everyday fashion and real catwalk aesthetics for decades. What began in 1964 as a department within a Sheffield store is now a global fashion concept that appeals equally to models, designers and celebrities. Brands such as
The Birth of a Cult Brand
In 1964, the department store Peter Robinson opened a section for young fashion under the name “Peter Robinson’s Top Shop” in Sheffield. The concept: affordable, trendy fashion for the youth who couldn’t afford expensive designers but still wanted to look stylish.
When Peter Robinson closed its doors in the 1970s, Topshop was already standing on its own two feet. The brand became independent — and grew. First in the UK, then internationally. What began as a department store project became one of the world’s most well-known high street brands.
Topshop has managed to make British street style accessible to the masses without losing its character. That is the real achievement of this brand.
The key milestones
- 1964: Founded as a sub-brand of Peter Robinson in Sheffield
- 1970s: Topshop becomes an independent brand, first expansion in the UK
- 2000s: International expansion, collaborations with stars and designers
- 2016: First stores in Germany
- Today: Topshop is primarily active as an online brand under ASOS
Sub-brands: Unique, Boutique and Topman
Topshop Unique
Topshop Unique was the premium line of the label and was presented annually on the London Fashion Week. The pieces were priced above the normal Topshop level and were inspired by runway aesthetics. Flowing fabrics, refined cuts, reduced colour palettes — Topshop Unique proved that High Street and High Fashion need not be contradictions.
Topshop Boutique
Modern, minimalist fashion for young, style-conscious women. Boutique combined current trends with timeless quality and positioned itself between the standard range and the Unique line.
Topman
The men’s line of Topshop targets the same urban, style-conscious customer — just male. From basic tees through structured blazers to statement outerwear: Topman followed the same approach as Topshop, fully tailored to a male target audience.
Topshop and the Model World: Stars on the Catwalk
Hardly any British fashion brand has consistently relied on genuine collaborations with models and stars as much as Topshop. This collaboration was not just a pure marketing strategy — it has culturally shaped the brand.
For
aspiring models in Germany and the United Kingdom, Topshop campaigns used to be a career goal: visible, affordable for customers, yet still associated with real prestige.
Kate Moss as Guest Designer
One of the cleverest moves in Topshop’s history: commissioning Kate Moss as a guest designer. Moss is regarded as one of the greatest style icons in the British fashion universe — and her look is inextricably linked to the British chic that Topshop embodies. The collections Moss designed for Topshop were commercially extremely successful and significantly enhanced the brand’s cultural relevance.
What this means for models: a good collaboration between a brand and a model creates a win-win situation. The model gives the brand authenticity, the brand gives the model exposure. That’s the principle behind successful model collaborations — whether on this scale or on a smaller one.
Beyoncé: Ivy Park for Topshop
In 2016 Beyoncé launched her sportswear collection “Ivy Park” exclusively for Topshop — a global media event. The collection included everything from sports bras to leggings and streetwear essentials, all in a well-thought-out, athletic aesthetic. This was not a classic celebrity endorsement, but rather her own design line — and it sold out immediately.
Kendall and Kylie Jenner
In 2015 Kendall and Kylie Jenner launched their first joint collection “Kendall & Kylie” for Topshop. Flowing fabrics, Californian prints and a laid-back lifestyle — a counterpoint to the typically British Topshop aesthetic, yet perfectly suited to the target audience.
Well-known Collaborations with Designers
Topshop was strongest when it took collaborations with designers from high fashion seriously. Among the most important collaborations were:
- Christopher Kane — elegant, conceptual pieces at Topshop prices
- Celia Birtwell — floral prints and the aesthetic of the Swinging Sixties
- David Koma — structured bodycon designs, body-conscious and glamorous
- Mario Schwab — feminine silhouettes with modern rigour
- Alexander McQueen — dramatic, artistic, unforgettable
Topshop Jeans: Cult status in the denim category
Topshop has created genuine classic models in the denim category. These jeans represent the Topshop style:
Jamie Jeans: The tight classic
The Jamie Jeans is a tight skinny silhouette with a high waist and minimalist finish. It was one of the best-selling Topshop products worldwide for years — proof of how classic fits remain timeless and relevant.
Mom Jeans: Comeback with cult status
Topshop helped shape the trend of Mom Jeans. The loose fit with a high waist, distressed washes, knee rips and raw edges is a true Topshop signature look. To this day, this fit is imitated by other brands.
Joni Jeans: Super tight cult jeans
The Joni Jeans is even tighter than the Jamie — a true tights silhouette in denim. In various washes and finishes (including leather look), the Joni was the definitive Topshop denim moment of the 2010s.
Topshop support young talent: NewGen and Fashion East
Topshop was one of the few high-street labels that actively invested in nurturing the next generation of talent in the fashion industry. The two programmes NewGen and Fashion East enabled emerging designers to showcase their work at London Fashion Week – with financial support from Topshop.
That was more than marketing: it was a genuine investment in the British fashion industry. Models who walked for these emerging designers gained valuable catwalk experience early on and were often discovered by bigger brands. The
Der Flagship-Store am Oxford Circus
The most famous Topshop store in the world is located on Oxford Circus in London — with around 8,400 square metres across five floors, one of the largest fashion stores in the world. The store offered:
- A catwalk for regular shows and events
- To have your own hair salon
- Several restaurants and cafés
- Personal-Shopping-Service
- Exclusive products available only here
The Oxford Circus store was more than a department store — it was an experience, a tangible brand promise. Models booked for Topshop shows or in-store events enjoyed the stage at London’s most central fashion department store.
Topshop today: The new owner and the online future
After the insolvency of parent company Arcadia Group in 2020, Asos bought the Topshop brand and its online inventory. Since then, Topshop has primarily operated as an online label — a sign of the times. High street retail is under pressure, digital brands are rising. Topshop has undergone this change earlier than many competitors — albeit under painful circumstances.
What Topshop means for models and castings
Topshop was one of the most well-known labels for up-and-coming models in Europe. Campaign jobs, catalog shoots and catwalk appearances for Topshop were considered career-boosting and visible. Anyone moving within this modelling segment should be prepared for the
The most important factors for castings with brands of this size:
- Professional
Sedcard with current photos - Experience in e-commerce or lifestyle shootings
- Height within the range 175–185 cm (women), 183–195 cm (men)
- Natural, adaptable presence for brand campaigns
Q&A about Topshop
Is Topshop still around?
Yes — Topshop continues as an online brand. Since its acquisition by Asos, the brand has been carried forward digitally. There are currently no physical stores on a large scale.
Who founded Topshop?
Topshop was established in 1964 as a sub-brand of Peter Robinson, a British retailer. When Peter Robinson went into administration, Topshop became independent and developed into a cult brand.
What is the style of Topshop?
British High Street meets London Fashion Week — this is the core of the Topshop style. Modern, urban, affordable, but with a clear reference to current fashion. Not purely mass-produced, but also not luxury.
Who has modelled for Topshop?
Topshop had a broad spectrum of models — from supermodels such as Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell to new faces from the London up-and-coming scene. This is the real Topshop advantage: the brand was attractive to well-known names but also open to new talents.
Brands like Topshop: Similar Labels in Comparison
Asos: British Online Fashion
Asos has acquired Topshop and now distributes the brand digitally. As its own brand, Asos is also strong in the British high-street market and positions itself similarly: young, diverse, urban, affordable. More about Asos:
Zara: Spanish Competitor with a Global Footprint
Zara operates in a similar price segment but has a different cultural DNA. While Topshop is British and urban, Zara is international and fast in collection changes. More on this:
Fashion Brands: The Big Overview
Topshop is one of hundreds of fashion brands that shape the global fashion market. Those who want to dive deeper into the world of
Fashion brands — the big guide Fashion brands starting with T
Vetements Videos: Streetwear, Collections & Marylin Manson
Zalando: Brand, Online Store & Fashion for Women and Men
Giorgio Armani - Videos, Elegance, Collection & Perfume
Snipes x Adidas with Ariane in Berlin - New Streetwear
Emmanuel for L'Officiel Hommes Belgium - Issue: Spring Awakening!
Model Agency Fitness - Athletic Models for Fashion and Products
