Caitlin Jones, Erin Connolly and Kate Huet spend large at the opening of Topshop. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Caitlin Jones, Erin Connolly and Kate Huet spend large at the opening of Topshop. Photo / Jason Oxenham
There wasn't much rain around but that didn't stop Topshop fans from flocking to a little yellow raincoat with blue and white checked cuffs.
The $120 plastic coat was the most popular item, followed by lots of denim, sold during the British chain store's highly anticipated grand opening yesterday.
AucklanderJessica Ropati was the first to enter after camping out in the front of the queue overnight.
The 19-year-old spent $1100 on her Topshop haul - four jackets, three pairs of jeans, a pair of pants, a T-shirt, singlet, shirt, skirt and dress, made a little lighter thanks to a $500 Topshop voucher gifted to her for her patience. The first 300 people in line received a reward.
Watch: Jessica, first in line for Topshop Queen St
Topshop New Zealand managing director Jamie Whiting said he couldn't have anticipated better results, and management from London were impressed with the local appetite for the brand.
"The way the local fans have embraced the last few days has completely blown them [Topshop UK management] away."
Karen Walker and Barker's managing director Jamie Whiting. Photo / Chris Gorman
The 1200sq m, two-storey store was stocked with 2300 different options for retail junkies, with 45,000 items hanging on the racks to be snatched up. The shelves will be restocked with 300 new styles every week.
There are now plans to open another store in Wellington - and possibly one in Christchurch and a second in Auckland.
"This is just an initial plan - we could open five stores, we could open 50."
How prices compare with similar clothing lines
By Holly Ryan
Topshop and its men's fashion offshoot Topman specialise in the latest catwalk trends, aimed at being mass produced at affordable prices, and the two brands release about 300 new pieces every week. So how do its prices compare with similar clothing lines?
Image 1 of 8: Shoppers in Topshop on Queen Street. Photo / Chris Gorman
For an everyday outfit compared across several similar clothing brands, Topman came out fairly comparable with a number of affordable clothing items and a few more expensive ones. Conversely, Topshop came out on the higher price side, with a similar outfit costing over $100 more than Glassons and Cotton On. Top Retail managing director Jamie Whiting, also the managing director of menswear retailer Barkers, said Topshop Topman was focused on more than the price point.
"As the only high street brand with a dedicated spot on the London Fashion Week schedule, plus the support of young designers through the British Fashion Council's Newgen Scheme, fans of Topshop and Topman aren't drawn to the brand just by price, but by leading design and staying abreast of global trends," he said.'
