The big ol' A/W 09 Arcadia press day rolled in and OF COURSE what ensued was 100s (literally...count em'...) of pictures ensued at the store store of the whole show - Topshop. In fact, this is the single most image heavy I've posted ever I think. Why do I laboriously upload each one so much so that the laptop is too hot too touch? That they just go above and beyond the call of a high street store with their collaborations, Unique ranges etc is old news. Today I think I might have said something quite brown-nosey such as "I think this is the best Topshop collection I've seen yet." It came out because I literally wanted about 80% of it all. Going back to my pie chart mathematics, Topshop clearly doesn't constitute 805 of my wardrobe but come this fall, that percentage could dangerously sky rocket. As I lifted things up and touched things, clothes felt heavier and more work has clearly gone into it.
Some of you will jest at my enthusiasm for the store so much so that you'll suspect that I'm being paid. I'm not. If I wasn't invited to the press day, I'd gatecrash and digicam my way through any way. Not to say that Topshop gets off scot-free.. Those designer/catwalk references and blatant blogger style influences (Rumi, Karla, Queen Michelle on that moodboard me thinks!). I'll forgive them though that as consumers hanker for something, that they as a savvy high street store deliver some and then more...
Let the mahussive picture fest begin...
That sheer cage/crino skirt appeared a few months ago but returns with different panels...and incorporated with snakeskin-effect fabric...
...and also into structured grey lace jackets (will buy #1). Rodarte-esque knits have evolved into thinner, crochet patchwork knits that are more delicate.
Lace features in thinner and layered forms this season, over grey sweatshirts and light denim jeans (will buy #2)
The loose, shallow double breasted jacket bejewelled or with leather panels and incorporated shoulder pads.
A tamer version of my Bordelle body corset that no doubt will fly out...
My long-bra obsession will be augmented by this black sequin and pink satin versions (will buy both #3 and 4)
The Balenciaga S/S 08 cap sleeved short jacket which Topshop paid homage to last summer has gotten a new print // Oversized leopard print that would layer nicely over the Barbara Hulanicki print (will buy #6)
Anaglyphic print prayers have been answered with this print backed blazer and tunic... not sure if they actually materialise into anything though if you view them with glasses...
Florals still live in dusty beaten-up jeans... have yet to find my perfect floral trews...
A hand finish that is rarely seen at Topshop. These satin dresses and skirts have been hand painted to resemble Victorian-esque ink spills from the writing quill...
Blogosphere studding frenzy continues...
Biker styles in various forms and weights...
Leather pailettes...here's to you Queen M!
Gradiated and colour blocked fringe....glad it's still around... (will buy #8 and 9)
More natty jackets in crushed velvet and black crunchy lame type material...
These are WEIGHTY pieces... could barely hold with one arm. The trousers are particularly heavy and I'm looking forward to walking slowly in them (will buy #10)
The embellishment are also on these short shorts.
The furryness is still about in this black jacket and on this Big Bird skirt.
The Unique stuff needs no more words seeing as the show was two months ago but seeing them upclose sans Katie Grand's styling really gives them a whole new context...
This wool cocoon needs this gingham bra under it...
Onto shoes... I'm settled on buying a pair of thigh highs and I've decided they will be the Unique ones on the left (will buy #12)
The Unique shoes...
Studs, cages and buckles galore...
The boots on the left weigh a TON due to the heavy studdage. // The frill front gets a new grosgrain-esque finish...
Mid-calf boots with peep toes...
The Topshop-designer shoe collabos extend to these sweet Peter Jensen boots and Ashish animal print wedges... I'm strangely attracted to the zebra ones.
Black sequin fetish is further fuelled by this biker jacket with black sequin panels... (will buy #1)
Grey jersey, knotted and everything looking like a skeleton from afar... (will buy #2)
Keeping things simple with this sheer scalloped top (will buy #3).
Last but not shoe-worthy least... the bloody Emma Cook for Topshop boots that have eluded me two seasons in a row now WILL be mine (will buy #4, 5 and 6...want them all?). Emma Cook was strangely absent this London Fashion Week but I'm told something exciting is yet to come... meanwhile her presence is being felt with her creeper boots converted into moccasin wedges.
>>MAJOR EDIT - You will notice that the bulk of the pictures on this original post have been taken down. Yup, sadly Topshop are protective over their designs and don't want every Tom, Dick and Harry copying their stuff before these goodies even hit the shop floor. Understandable and so in unprecedented blog editing, I have heavily chopped this post down, leaving my fave fave items. If you email me and verify you're not err a designer for New Look/Forever 21/Oasis or the like, I'll send you a sneaky link to the mass picture post.
>>>ANOTHER EDIT - Doofus that I am, I couldn't actually publish a post and keep it private for people to view and since it's so close to the A/W09 collections dropping, I've put the pictures back up here... though stills/lookbooks are coming out anyway so these are kind of redundant...
