If there's one way I can guarantee to peak my other half's interest, it's the promise of free beer. It's a tried and tested technique, offer man booze and he doth anything you say. So it should come as no surprise that last week's launch of a new and improved
Topman flagship store at Oxford Circus - complete with free booze - was very well attended.
For those of you who've met my other half - Matt - you'll be surprised to hear he attended AND stayed in Topman for a good hour, checking out their new collections and forming actual opinions about his favourite pieces.
For those who don't know him, here he is looking terrified.
Matt has a pathological fear of shopping. I think it might be my fault. Since we've been together he's seen the inside of more branches of Topshop and spent more time digging through musty mountains of vintage than most men face in their lifetime. And he's just not that interested, poor lamb. His favourite t-shirt is a vintage kids one he picked up in a charity shop for 20p when he was still at school.
So you can imagine how surprised I was to hear him utter the immortal words, 'you know I think shopping would be fun if you always got beer'. Menswear fashionistas take note - all it takes to turn shop-o-phobic into shop-a-holic is a nice chilled bottle of Becks.
But back to Topman.
Every girl knows the Oxford Circus branch of Topshop is a glittering fashion mecca that promises to transform the plainest Jane into a catwalk queen while robbing them of a good three hours of their life (where DOES time go in Topshop?). But not so Topman. I've always found the flagship branch pokey and poorly stocked compared to its female counterpart.
The GREAT news, then, is that they've somehow managed to find an extra floor to put it on. Aswell as the standard Topman floor there's also an extra space above for footwear, fashion forward new designers and formalwear. If that wasn't enough there's also a hair salon and barber, personal stylist and cafe.
The only thing that seems to me to be missing (boo!) is a vintage section. Years ago there was a great range of vintage jeans, t-shirts and jackets in Oxford Circus Topman, but sadly it's no more. Maybe boys just aren't that interested in vintage? Or perhaps they're more savvy to the high street's extortionate vintage prices than us girls!
I asked Matt to pick out a couple of items for his Christmas list and his favourite thing was this
Grey Wool Coat. It's really warm and at £100 a good winter investment piece.
My personal favourite item is these ace nerdy glasses. I think they make him look like Jarvis (if Jarvis wore a giant security tag on his specs). They're not currently available online so you'll have to pop instore to snaffle a pair.
Christmas is approaching fast so here, for you loved up ladies with present buying problems, is my list of Top Topman Gifts based on Matt's slightly tipsy likes and dislikes...
1. The
Charcoal Tape Skinny Jacket - £80
For me, the most exciting pieces came courtesy of hip Danish brand
Humor, who specialise in techno print cardigans and jersey blazers with oversized cowl necks.
I'm going to have to start shopping in Topman myself I think as Matt hated the lurid colours and overblown collars. Well, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink I guess... (unless it's booze).
Mia x
