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At last September’s fashion month we saw the return of Topshop to the runway. Five months on, we’re into a new cycle of shows and front rows, and now we’re witnessing Topshop’s first large-scale return to physical retail since the collapse of the Arcadia group in 2021.

As of yesterday you can now shop the brand across the UK in 32 John Lewis department stores, from Glasgow, to Solihull, Nottingham and Oxford Street, with 130 Topshop styles available across womenswear, menswear and footwear.

The move represents the first full rollout since it was acquired by ASOS following Arcadia’s administration, although a limited return to stores began at the end of last year when Topshop launched a temporary concession at the luxury Liberty department store in London.

Whilst the nostalgic pull of Mom jeans, oversized clutch bags and quirky takes on classic silhouettes is enticing, the BRC’s (British Retail Consortium) latest data indicates a challenging environment across the high street, with footfall declining for eight consecutive months as of December 2025 and a 2.9 per cent year-on-year drop just before Christmas, making it a notably "muted" golden quarter.

So can this merging of two household names encourage shoppers to pocket their phones and go in store?

Michelle Wilson, managing director of Topshop, says ‘it’s about making it easier for customers to access the pieces they love. From our cult denim to new season footwear, you can see it, feel it and take it home the same day.’

But the John Lewis stores we all know and love don’t mirror Topshop’s most iconic venue ever: its three-storey shop at 214 Oxford Street, which had an atmosphere akin to an over-the-top birthday party, with a DJ blasting tunes at the front door, its own nail bar, a hair salon and food stalls. You could even walk out with a new ear piercing or a tattoo if you really fancied it. Shopping in the early noughties there was nothing but pure escapism - and plain old simple fun.

If the hope is to bring back young spenders who seek the same kind of immersive shopping experience that was available (in bucket loads) at Topshop’s Oxford Circus utopia, John Lewis’ gargantuan stores, loved by the middle classes for the very fact that they never change, may not cut it.

Although Topshop has cottoned on to the fact that John Lewis’ Gen Z crowd typically peruses its racks in tow of a parent. Today you will find a new, grown-up, slightly pricier, more conservative offering tucked in amongst skinny jeans and baby T’s which typically sit in the under £50 price mark.

See its sophisticated chocolate suede knee-high boots (£95). Or the anti-ageing neck shielding funnel collar jacket (£85). Ditto the high rise horseshoe jeans (£55). And don’t skip the accessories department - this ivory beaded clutch bag wouldn’t look out of place on a teak shelf at The White Company (£48).

‘This partnership reflects our focus on bringing iconic names, strong style and compelling experiences into our stores,’ says Peter Ruis, John Lewis’ Managing Director.

But the John Lewis die hards reading this needn't fret! It's safe to assume there won't be a DJ on the door of your beloved local store anytime soon. And there's no risk of being inked next to the electricals department. 

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