Topshop Announces the Inspiration Behind Their Unique Collection for Autumn/Winter 2011

LONDON, March 2, 2011 - Topshop has announced the inspiration behind their autumn/winter 2011
Unique collection.

For AW11, Topshop Unique journeys back to early 1930s America. Drawing on
the culture of luxury and status of the Industrial Age, prints are bold and
boastful and the silhouette is overall sleek and refined.

Prints are key in the collection and the recurring motif of the dog and
car reflect the importance of social status during the decade. Automobiles
with headlights streaming are appliquéd onto down-sized luggage bags, and
printed on satin shoes. Whippets, Grey Hounds and Dalmatians are printed
across clutch bags, appear as clasps on belts and feature on flocked denim.

The industrial landscapes of the modern metropolis and its structures
impose themselves on the designs. Art Deco constructions inspire the Bridge
Dress in which the Brooklyn Bridge stretches across a simple black devoré
shift dress, whilst skyscrapers stand proud on silk blouses.

Geometric embroidery around the neckline of a dress echoes ironwork, dark
silver leather is reminiscent of brushed steel and a mostly monochromatic
colour palette adds weight to this architectural feel. The new American city
is celebrated by prints of vintage postcards on a matching shirt and pant
suit and the Hollywood dress in black devoré lined with a green metallic
lurex gives off a feel of American glamour.

Tailoring is refined and traditional and faux fur is added to the
hemlines of skirts, sleeves and collars and is often oversized to create a
bigger impact à la Cruella Deville. The arms of a cream brushed mohair trench
are made from a Dalmatian-printed faux ponyskin whilst a black sheepskin coat
features a thick chocolate-brown fur collar.

A crushed velvet backless dress in tobacco with marabou arms evokes the
glitz and glamour of Speakeasy clubs whilst patent or printed Mary-Janes,
T-bar peep toes and ankle boots take their inspiration from Chorus Line
girls. The metal plate of a tap shoe is transformed into the shape of a dog
and hidden on the arch of the sole and velvet ribbons tie replace laces.
Corsets feature in black velvet or glittery tinsel-like fabric and chunky Art
deco style silver and faux-tortoiseshell angular jewellery with splashes of
colour and delicate diamante studs finishes the look.

About Topshop:

Topshop was established in 1964 and is part of Arcadia Group Ltd. Sir
Philip Green became owner of Arcadia Group Ltd in 2002.

Topshop is continually recognised as being an authority on women's
fashion with a wide range of petite clothing, (
www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&langId=-1&viewAllFlag=false&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208536&parent_categoryId=203984&beginIndex=1&pageSize=20)
dresses (
www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?storeId=12556&categoryId=209717&top=Y&catalogId=33057&langId=-1&parent_categoryId=208523&beginIndex=1&pageSize=20&sort_field=Relevance)
and jeans
(www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?storeId=12556&categoryId=209753&top=Y&catalogId=33057&langId=-1&parent_categoryId=208527&beginIndex=1&pageSize=20&sort_field=Relevance)
through to maternity wear and make up. (
www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?storeId=12556&categoryId=208495&interstitial=true&top=Y&catalogId=33057&langId=-1&beginIndex=1&pageSize=20&sort_field=Relevance)

Topshop was the first fashion retailer to show on schedule at London
Fashion Week in September 2005 when it presented its own acclaimed in-house
design collection Unique (created in 2001). Subsequent partnerships with
international boutiques as far flung as Tokyo and LA followed and Topshop
continues to grow its reputation for supporting exciting new talent.

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    PR Contact:

    Liz Shuttleworth
    Press Officer
    Topshop Press Office
    Arcadia Group Ltd
    70 Berners Street
    London
    W1T 3NL
    +44(0)20-7927-1484
    www.topshop.com

PR Contact: Liz Shuttleworth, Press Officer,Topshop Press Office, Arcadia Group Ltd, 70 Berners Street, London, W1T 3NL, +44(0)20-7927-1484