I used to work at Topshop and major thing is missing from new stores

It’s official – Topshop is back on the high street (sort of) and fashion fans all over the country are feeling the nostalgia. Concessions have now popped up in John Lewis stores, marking the retailer’s return to physical shopping since its closure back in 2021.

Like many others at the time, I spent so much of my teen years in Topshop that when I landed my first ever job there, it felt like I truly hit the jackpot. Granted, I only worked there for one summer, but it’s one I remember so fondly – mainly due to the staff discount. But when I was wandering around the John Lewis concession earlier this week, I noticed there was something missing, and it was a huge part of Topshop’s identity.

We all know Topshop is famous for its clothes, bags and shoes, some of which have become huge cultural symbols over the years. From the famous Kate Moss tea dress to the immense popularity of the Joni jean, they really invoke a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time when all you had to worry about was what you’d wear for an upcoming night out.

However, there’s another under-the-radar element of Topshop’s popularity that seems to be missing from its relaunch – the makeup collection.

This cheap and cheerful range, with its iconic squiggly crayon packaging, was so popular when I worked there in 2015. And despite its low price point, some of the products I remember using were so good, it’s been difficult to find a decent replacement.

This was a time when coral lipstick, winged liner and glittery eyeshadow were all the rage, and Topshop Beauty had it all. I’m pretty sure most items were less than £10, which was perfect when you needed a little pick-me-up but didn’t want to spend loads on a new, high-end product.

Makeup used to be a lot more fun than it is now, so maybe that’s the reason that it wasn’t brought back. I didn’t realise that the range actually disappeared in 2018 for a while, relaunching late in the year with new, minimalist packaging. It was also made fully cruelty-free at this time, which can only be a good thing.

Although it would have been great to see this range returning, I do understand there isn’t a lot of space to work with in John Lewis, so obviously the clothing is the priority. There were loads of really stunning choices, and browsing the rails instantly transported me back to a decade ago.

Although there were no Joni jeans in sight, I still had a great time shopping here. The choices are really curated, with loads of on-trend pieces like horseshoe jeans, layered tops and plenty of polka dots.

And despite being a relatively small space, they’ve really made the most of it, as there’s only a few of each item available on the rails to make space for more options.

It might not be the Topshop we all remember, but a lot has changed since then, and I think it’s a pretty triumphant return. We can only hope that the consessions do so well that they have to choice but to bring back the actual stores – and the beauty line too.