A few weeks ago, H&M released some very polished looking pictures of their up and coming fall collection and everyone has been poring over them ooh-ing and ahh-ing. I think they have nailed the design perfectly and the pictures do make everything look enticing but I think I’ll reserve judgement until I see the clothes in person. Whilst I think H&M is great for fast fashion, their quality is just a little too flaky for me. I know many people who have had great experiences with H&M but I just find some of the stuff on the wrong side of cheap. Given the choice, I’d pick Topshop over H&M any day and I thought I’d share some of my favourite looks from the Topshop Unique A/W06 collection which has received relatively little attention – probably because the catwalk show was outside of the fashion week schedule. Having bought a few pieces from the TS Unique S/S06 collection, I can honestly vouch for its quality and say it’s comparable to designers. Sure, the prices are substantially more than H&M would be but it’s still relatively affordable and I feel like I’d get more wear out of a TS Unique garment. Before you doth protest ‘But Topshop is a UK thing!’, Topshop are indeed expanding fast with their website soon to offer international shipping and their ENTIRE range. There have also been rumours of US-expansion too.
For me, the battle was won long ago. H&M maybe cheap, but it’s not always cheerful when it comes to long lasting garments. Topshop, edges H&M out in both quality and design in accordance with their higher price tag.
(I’m REALLY loving the first cream dress with the photographic bird print – first on my list I think!)
I completely agree with you in terms of the differing quality between TS and H+M, and I feel that TS’ Boutique and Unique range are actually fantastically cutting edge and wearable at the same time.
Unfortunately I live in Scotland and our Topshop totally sucks, so I must ask – is your Little Miss UPS service available to us poor sods who live in the armpit of Britain? Because if it is – I may partake of your services for a few of those items, as they are extremely unlikely to find their way up to Scotland!
I have never gotten enjoyable wear out of clothing bought at H&M- completly agree that TopShop apparel is of much better quality. If only we had it here!
I see stockings on the TopShop runway- fabulous!
I have always loved topshop and most of my clothes probably came from their but I would say more of my clothes are h&m now. I still like topshop but lately have found there prices have been too expensive for me..this could be because their prices have gone up or that I have got poorer…But loving their clothes atm and this a/w06 collection! Thanks for the pics. x
i have sth similar to the lilac dress. http://www.mystylediary.net/newoutfits.aspx?image=02-11-06_11.54.02.AM.jpg&user=afroglory
opening ceremony in new york already has a small topshop and topshop unique section. i think it does very well.
I live in the Philippines and we have Topshop in a lot of malls and I absolutely love it. We don’t have H&M though and I used to wish that they’d open here, but I think I’m just gonna believe you when you say that Topshop is better so that I won’t feel as deprived.
Anyway, what do you think of ZARA? It’s all the craze here a few months ago when they first opened.
I think you could substitue the “rumours” bit with this June 21 New York Times article on the subject (In the business section, where I think a lot of readers may miss it)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/21/business/worldbusiness/21topshop.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Excited they want to have a Topshop stateside…haven’t been to one since I was in the UK 4 years ago, I don’t remembering them being that expensive or runway-savvy..either times have changed or I was rather oblivious.
yA In kUwAiT We hAvE ToPsHoP OnLy bUt tHeY SaY H&M WiLl sOoN bE OpEnInG HeRe, BuT FrOm mY ExPeRiAnCe wItH BoTh…ToPsHoP Is wAy bEtTeR ThAn h&m…aNd tOpShOp hErE In kUwAiT ROCKS! ;p
have they completed ripped off the Alexander McQueen hair on the models for SS06 or what?!
Haha….so THATS why they showed out of the fashion week schedule….
H&m is miserable quality and why oh why must so many items be made from that scratchy linen-and the sales people are underinformed at best and beligerant at worst. Please topshop-come to Toronto
Yesterday I was feverishly shopping for bathing suits and became extremely depressed when I discovered that only Topshop UK had the perfect suits for me. I looked in almost every store that has ever sold a bathing suit in the US and found absolutely nothing that fit up to my standards. After growing quite crabby, my mother informed me that, as a matter of fact, Topshop is looking for a space to open in the US! Suddenly life wasn’t so bad.
H&M may be just as adorable but something about TopShop is just irresistable.
uh huh~much perfer topshop~
btw,i am looking for a really elegant dress for a wedding dinner.any recommendation?(ps: budget £100-£200)
BJM: Gladly! But keep checking the website because I think Topshop’s entire range will be arriving online very soon – this includes the Unique stuff.
i: What a pretty dress…and it is very similar to the TS Unique one too – good buy!
Beth: Thanks for the article link. I would be very interested to see the American reaction to a Topshop store because previously they had shied away from US expansion purely because they thought America wouldn’t be able to accept such a fashion-forward store.
Lin: I will have a little hunt around!