Kate Moss Topshop Range

Today was the 12th time that I have gone online to check the Kate Moss collection at Topshop. The 12th time! I don’t see how the popularity in this line continues to grow, but if the astronomical rate at which the clothes sell out is anything to go by, it’s not looking like it’s about to slow down.

I remember sitting at my computer at 2am one Spring day in 2007, waiting for the first collection to become available. I bought a belt, a couple of vest tops and a liquorice stripe dress (the belt and dress still cherished to this day). However, by the time this, the 12th collection has come around, for me, the whole concept has lost all it’s exclusivity and excitement . Over the years, and we are talking years, designs have gotten lazier, prints have gotten duller and less imaginative yet the prices remain above the normal Topshop rate for not-so-superior quality threads.

It is quite obvious that the only thing which justifies such a frenzy on the Topshop floor is the girl herself. Kate has appeal. She is 4 years away from 40, yet she dresses like a 17 year old and manages somehow to look better than an actual 17 year old. She carries off the whole ‘I just threw it on’ thing so well, keeping it classic yet still sexy and youthful. So this is how I struggle to believe Kate really had any input in the last few collections. The first 2 collections had some heirloom-worthy pieces which will remain on many a ‘must have’ eBayers list (I’m still tracking down the one-shoulder white dobby-print dress, pictured). But the current collection leaves me able to see through the hype and not see a great deal else. All overpriced floaty-unwearable-impractical yet still generic nonsense and not one flicker of excitement.

People will continue to flock to Topshop to see whatever Kate’s name is attached to, because that is her pull, and it is why they will continue to churn out these clothes. An arty photo-shoot and average clothes is a winning formula for the moment. I just can’t see them getting away with it for much longer.