London has always known how to do a spectacle. But last weekend, Trafalgar Square wasn’t about politics or pigeons, it was about fashion. Topshop, the brand we thought we’d lost forever, came storming back with a runway show that felt more like a cultural reset than a relaunch. Seven years off the catwalk and suddenly they’re shutting down central London? That’s power. That’s London. That’s Topshop.
I was there among the crowds, tourists craning for selfies, students balancing on stone steps, industry insiders whispering about denim cuts. And then there was the front row, an A list roll call of British cool: Cara Delevingne, Adwoa Aboah, Alva Claire, Tolu Coker, and even Mayor Sadiq Khan, all framed by the National Gallery’s grandeur. It was part high fashion, part public street theatre, and honestly, only London could pull this off.
The Clothes: Nostalgia Served With a Twist
Let’s talk about the collection. Imagine everything you loved about Topshop in its heyday, spun through a 2025 lens. Jamie and Joni jeans? Back. Oversized faux fur coats that sweep the pavement? Back. Animal prints, leather bombers, metallic maxis, tailoring sharp enough to stop traffic? All present and correct.
But it wasn’t just nostalgia. Cara Delevingne’s edit injected a sense of rebellion, wearable yes, but with attitude. It was as if the brand was saying: “We remember who we are, but we’re not stuck in the past.”
The Atmosphere: A Street Party in the Square
The energy was electric. You couldn’t help but feel the goosebumps as models took to the alfresco catwalk, the Square humming with anticipation. This wasn’t fashion tucked away in a private venue, it was democratic, public, and impossible to ignore.
And the party didn’t stop at the final walk. Norman Jay MBE and Good Times DJs turned the Square into the most stylish dance floor in the city, a love letter to London nightlife as much as its fashion heritage.
The Strategy: See It, Shop It, Own It
In true Topshop fashion, they knew what the crowd wanted. Most of the collection dropped instantly on the newly relaunched Topshop.com and ASOS, with more to follow throughout the season. Forget waiting six months for runway looks, this was see now, buy now, wear now. Genius.
Why This Mattered
Topshop is more than a brand. It’s first dates in that perfect dress, late nights in shoes that should’ve hurt but didn’t, denim that made you feel like yourself for the first time. Michelle Wilson, MD of Topshop and Topman, called the show “a love letter to London,” and she’s right. This wasn’t just a relaunch, it was a cultural reminder of what Topshop gave us, and a promise of what’s to come.
The Future
Behind the theatrics lies a serious strategy: international wholesale, semi permanent retail spaces, and a slow but steady return to the high street. It’s ambitious, yes, but so was closing down Trafalgar Square for a comeback show.
The verdict? Topshop is back, louder than ever, and it feels like the city has just got one of its heartbeat brands back. And in a world where fashion often feels distant, Topshop gave London its most democratic runway yet, free, bold, unforgettable.
Topshop isn’t just back on the runway. It’s back in the culture. And if Trafalgar Square is anything to go by, this comeback is only just getting started.