As news of the potential collapse of TopShop and other Arcadia fashion stores breaks, Fashion North deputy editor Lucy Britnell recalls her first TopShop spree
These days, the majority of nine-year-olds are asking for toys or even iPhones for Christmas. But not me.
Rewind to Christmas 2010, I had a TopShop shopping spree as part of my gifts, I remember going into the store and picking out a selection of outfits, including a black bomber jacket with badges and a fawn skirt and jumper.
I wanted more ‘”grown up” outfits, as I remember phrasing it to my mam as I try to convince her to let me shop at a store aimed at teenagers. I had always been obsessed with fashion from a young age and refused to let my parents pick my outfits, always wanting control in what I was wearing.

Christmas 2010
The first full outfit from TopShop I ever bought was worn on Christmas Day. It was a fawn skater skirt and fawn jumper with puff sleeves and sparkle detailing. I remember feeling so cool and grown up, I wore it with a pair of black Chelsea boots and the bomber jacket, also from TopShop.
It is an outfit that I will always remember. For me, Christmas is such a happy time and growing up I have had some fantastic memories around the festive season. Still to this day, every year on Christmas day I get a brand new outfit which is usually always from TopShop.

Christmas 2016

Christmas 2017
For me my first outfit from TopShop started my love for the brand. Ten years on, I am still a regular shopper at the brand and the news of its possible closure has hit me hard. I have a lot of happy memories of the high street chain, from shopping on a weekend with school friends to these particular outfits from my childhood that hold so many memories.