By Cecilia Huang

The wait is finally over - TOPSHOP is now open at Richmond Centre. This is the second TOPSHOP in Metro Vancouver and its tenth flagship store in Canada. The 14,000 square feet retail space is located at the ground-floor entrance of Hudson's Bay, with TOPMAN on the second floor. TOPSHOP Richmond celebrated its opening on October 4th with a lively launch party, graced by local blogger personalities and hundreds of shoppers who lined up on a Saturday morning to scoop up a TOPSHOP goodie bag and to preview what this popular UK fashion retailer has in store this fall.

Upon entering the store, one should notice that the retail layout is sleek and urban, with a focus on maximum product accessibility and visibility. The space is strategically organized into multiple sections, each devoted to a carefully curated collection - from petite and tall sections to the stunning shoe lounge. Though smaller than its busy downtown counterpart, the store delivers an intimate and customer-friendly shopping experience.

TOPSHOP offers high street fashion at affordable prices, appealing to students and young professionals. "This location is so convenient for us [since we live in Richmond], and we don't have to go all the way to downtown Vancouver," says Sally Poon, one of the early-birds who lined up Saturday morning. With upcoming developments in Richmond and the store's proximity to the Vancouver International Airport, TOPSHOP Richmond is ready to meet the rising retail demands of an increasingly populous city.

Since its launch in 1964, TOPSHOP is known world-wide for its fashion-forward, cool-girl asthetics. "I am usually a basics kind of girl, [but the selection here] allows me to get out of my comfort zone and try different styles," says Sam Luk, a shopper from Richmond. Not only does this UK retailer present a refreshing retail alternative in its new neighbourhood, it also provides style solutions for all eventualities, with designs catered to both tall and petite customers. Kim Nguyen, a shopper from downtown Vancouver, tells us that she visits TOPSHOP frequently because it has the best petite collections compared to other brands.

TOPSHOP may be the new kid on the block for now, but its popularity has already started to rival the likes of its competitors such as Aritzia, Forever 21 and the soon-to-open H&M store in Richmond Centre.

Cecilia Huang is a dedicated event planner who currently works in the nonprofit sector. She is also the creator and writer of her own personal style blog, Hues That Girl. She is passionate about event and digital marketing, fashion, traveling and all things outdoors in her hometown, Vancouver.