Email

lucydelane@hotmail.com

Independent Project

Topshop for Topman

Topshop for Topman is a new concept from the Topshop in house design team created especially for Topman, delivering trend led affordable T-shirts with an emphasis on design, detail, fabric and finish. The Topshop for Topman collection combines Topshop designs with Topman styles at an affordable price. This collection appeals to students and young professionals seeking fashionable, affordable clothing on the high street.

Inspiration for project

The inspiration for this concept came from an observation made whilst working at Topshop. It became apparent that some men have started to shop in Topshop for T shirts, jeans and accessories in order to stay on top of trends and create their own unique style that cannot be achieved shopping in Topman.

Contacts & Mentors

• Beth White, Former Topshop Buyer, Birmingham City University
• Eleanor Blagrove, Birmingham City University
• Julia South, Birmingham City University
• Jane Sarkar, Birmingham City University
• Gareth Bone, Topman Manager, Birmingham Bullring
• Alexandra Hall, Topman Account Manager at Neoco
• Sofia Falsafi, Birmingham City University

Ambition

I would like to experience more of what the fashion industry has to offer and complete a few more work placements. I am interested in styling for magazines and high street stores so I would like to get involved with magazines like Grazia and continue to work at Topshop - perhaps working closely with the style advisor's in the London store.

Experience

• Vitamin Water: Internship at ‘Experience Worldwide, working with a small team of people helping to promote the new brand in the UK: organizing & preparing for events, making costumes, running errands and updating spread sheets.
• Selfridges: Visual Merchandising, Birmingham, Bullring. Working closely with the VM team I was given the responsibilities of painting and creating new displays, re merchandising products, creating and putting out new signage, unloading new deliveries, buying new supplies and dressing and undressing mannequins.
• Topshop: Visual Merchandising, London - I visited stores with the field visual merchandiser changing mannequins, remerchandising stock and giving store manager’s advice on what could work best for their stores. Topshop head office - worked with the creative visual merchandisers whilst they put together the visuals for new trends.
• More! Magazine: Stylist, Shaftesbury Avenue, London. Working with the fashion team gave me an invaluable insight into the way a magazine is put together. I was able to develop my skills in styling as well as the methods and processes necessary when working for a magazine. Important jobs included: Sample returns, helping at a photo shoot, collecting packages, sorting monthly company expenses, getting lunch and making tea’s, filing delivery dockets, choosing jewellery for shoots, tidying and sorting out clothes cupboards, packing and unpacking clothing for photo shoots and contacting PR companies.
• Styling with GMTV’s Mark Heyes: Stylist, London. Working with Mark Heyes and his assistant Sarah Tankel introduced me to styling for TV. The week I spent with them included: Shopping for outfits for Lorraine Kelly’s morning slot on GMTV, dressing models at GMTV, helping out backstage at GMTV, and returning clothing bought for GMTV.
• Topshop: Style Advisor, Oxford Street. I was able to develop my knowledge on the brand, experience working in London and develop my skills within the fashion industry. The role entitled me to put together outfits for customers to try on in the comfort of the Style Advisor suite and recommend ways in which to develop their style.
• Experience helping out the stylists at charity fashion shows for ‘Fight for Life’ and ‘Sparklets’ in order to raise money for Children with Cancer and Cancer Research