Is Topshop back, and where can I buy it now?+
Yes, Topshop is back, though differently than before. It is a British online fast-fashion retailer majority owned by the Danish company Bestseller, and after operating online-only from 2020, it returned to physical retail on 21 August 2026 at McElhinney's Department Store in Ballybofey, Ireland. From February 2026 a national partnership also makes Topshop available in 32 John Lewis stores. So you can shop it online and, increasingly, in selected physical locations again.
Are Topshop jeans worth it, and which fit should I start with?+
Denim is one of Topshop's strongest categories on the high street, prized for fitted shapes with a touch of stretch at an accessible price. Names like Joni and Jamie have become shorthand for the brand's skinny-jean era, and they are a sensible entry point if that silhouette suits you. They are worth it as affordable, on-trend denim; just note that high-street sizing can run inconsistent, so go by fit rather than the number on the tag.
What is Topshop known for, and who is it aimed at?+
Topshop specialises in women's clothing, shoes and accessories and is aimed squarely at a young customer. When the Burton Group split the business in 1973, Top Shop was set to focus on the 13-to-24 age range, and that youthful, trend-led identity has defined it ever since. Think fashion-forward high-street pieces for a young, style-conscious shopper rather than classic wardrobe basics.
When and where did Topshop start?+
Topshop began as a brand extension of the department store Peter Robinson in the 1960s, and was founded in 1964 as Peter Robinson's Top Shop, a youth brand launched within the Sheffield branch with a large department in the Oxford Street shop. It originally sold fashion by young British designers such as Mary Quant. So its roots are firmly in 1960s British high-street fashion, with Sheffield and London at the start.
Who owns Topshop now?+
Topshop is majority owned by the Danish company Bestseller. The path there ran through administration: Arcadia Group collapsed in late 2020, ASOS bought Topshop on 1 February 2021, and on 5 September 2024 ASOS sold a 75 percent stake in Topshop and Topman to Bestseller. So Bestseller holds the controlling stake today, with ASOS retaining the remainder.
What happened to all the Topshop stores?+
They closed. Arcadia Group, which controlled Topshop under Sir Philip Green, went into administration in late 2020, and the brand closed all of its physical locations, having previously had roughly 510 shops worldwide, including the famous Oxford Circus flagship. ASOS bought the brand but not the shops, so Topshop operated solely online from 2020, only beginning its return to physical retail in 2026.
What was the Kate Moss for Topshop collection?+
It was one of the brand's most celebrated moments. In May 2007, British supermodel Kate Moss designed her first collection for Topshop, a high-profile collaboration that helped cement the brand's fashion credibility at its peak. It landed during the era when Topshop was sponsoring London Fashion Week and backing emerging British designers, which is why the Moss partnership is still so closely tied to the brand's identity.
Did Beyoncé's Ivy Park come from Topshop?+
Yes. In 2014 Beyoncé signed a deal to launch an activewear brand with Topshop, a 50-50 venture initially called Parkwood Topshop Athletic Ltd. The line was later revealed to be called Ivy Park, launching in April 2016. So Ivy Park began life as a Topshop joint venture before becoming the standalone name many people recognise today.
How does Topshop compare to Zara for women's fashion?+
Both are trend-led, accessibly priced high-street names, but they read a little differently. Topshop made its name on edgier, statement-led British high-street fashion with a strong denim core, while a vertically integrated rival like Zara leans toward a more polished, fast-turnaround aesthetic. If you want characterful, of-the-moment pieces with that London high-street DNA, Topshop is the pick; if you prefer a sleeker, more uniform look, Zara may suit you better.
Has Topshop been involved in any notable controversies?+
A few. Topshop was criticised over its overseas sourcing and tax arrangements, drawing protests including UK Uncut sit-ins at the Oxford Circus shop in 2010. In 2013 the singer Rihanna won a lawsuit against Topshop to stop it using her image on a T-shirt without permission, a ruling upheld on appeal in 2015. The brand was also criticised in 2015 over shop mannequins judged too skinny, after which it stopped using them.
