Celia Birtwell at Topshop

[Chloe-Babe]

I agree is horrid of the ebayers, I was desperate for the litte rock dress and went to my local store to purchase one on Friday morning, everything had gone . The thing that gets me is that the SAs happily tell you that people were buying bag loads of stuff in any size, its pretty obvious what they are doing with it. It should be restricted in some way, but I am not sure how they could do it as people would just keep going back in I guess
I gather ebay is now my only option as I really want one. It sucks big time.

 

[vickizoso]

I had an e-mail from topshop (after I complained about their on-line ordering) that said they would be for sale again on Friday. But they were very vague about it. A friend of mine spent about £170 for one on ebay! The original e-mail I got saying that the red rock dress was out of stock said that they wouldn't be getting any more of those ones in, but they will probably be getting different ones.
Vicki

 

[lick1987]

I got the green monkey dress today! Not sure what its exact name is but it's the shirt dress with the green prints, and brown waist sash-like thing. Was really excited to see it, because I got the tipoff that stock was going on sale at 12 online on opening day, but I had exams so I didn't get the email until 5 pm, by then, the stock had mostly sold out. So I was very pleased to find one today, when I was casually browsing around Topshop in Selfridges, Bullring, Birmingham, they only had two pieces left..the dress I bought ( size 6 ) and the red monkey puzzle scarf, I think. Soooo happy!

 

[vickizoso]

I got mine today and I was really disappointed! The stitching is coming undone along where the buttons are- looks like someone's tried to put it on when it's the wrong size and ripped it. So it's going back, :-(

 

[katy]

Vickizoso - yes the quality of these clothes is no better or worse than the normal topshop stuff - I tried on one of these dresses that was ripped near the buttons - it was probaly ripped from two ladies fighting over it! I guess it is just the history behind them and the great prints that make them so popular - that's why I like them. lick1987 - that is the monkey puzzle dress, I have the blouse and love love love it, if I can find the dress in the right size I will be getting it too!

 

[susie_bubble]

I got the monkey puzzle dress but I had to return it because the cotton is so sheer..... and the threads were coming away loose...I'm sorry but the garment was sub Topshop standard! I ended up exchanging it for some much better Boutique stuff.... as soon as I returned it, some girl snapped it up straight away.....

 

[katy]

That's madness - she grabbed it even though it was ripped! I love birtwell prints but I would never pick up a faulty dress.

 

[Princess Coco]

For anyone who has bought the monkey puzzle scarf, how are you going to wear it? Not quite sure what to do with mine now I have it, but I it!!!

 

[vickizoso]

Managed to get one of the red rock dresses when they went onsale on line on Friday and it came this morning. I wish topshop would be a little more consistent with their sizes. The ripped one I got the other day was a 12 and it was tiny, so I ordered a 14 in the red rock and it's massive! We ordered a 10 for my friend as well and it fits me just perfectly so I'm having the 10 and hopefully sell the 14 and buy a 6 or 8 with the proceeds. It's below knee length on me (I'm only 5'4) but I love it!

 

[tifa]

The red rock dress hasn't appeared in my topshop at all and it's sold out online. Shame, it was the only one piece of Celia Birtwell's i liked.

 

[Amerie]

I got the monkey puzzle dress in size 10 off the website, and the quality isnt fantastic, there's some pulling next to the buttons half way down, but nothing a bit of sewing wont fix.

It is sheer, but I really like it, nice length and nice fit, although the hips are slightly tighter than I would have liked.

Not worth the prices that they're going for on ebay though.

 

[vickizoso]

A lot of the dresses seem to be getting cheaper on ebay, particularly in the last few days. When my friend's didn't fit she decided to sell the wrong size and rebuy it in the right size off ebay. When she bought it a few days ago it was £78 but now they seem to be down to about £60.

I don't think the monkey puzzle ones are great quality at all. They seem to be in the wrong style for such a sheer fabric, I think you need to have a floaty style with such thin material so that it doesn't pull and tear. They're a lovely pattern though.
Vicki

 

[katy]

You're right vickizoso - I have the monkey puzzle dress and blouse now and they are delicate but I too love the pattern and shape with the little puffed sleeves etc- so I just have to be careful with them!!

 

[darkening-doors]

For those still looking, the Topshop concession in Selfridges has a fair few Celia Birtwell items left (including some of the Golden Slumbers stuff which I know has been popular, although I only gave it a quick glance so I'm not sure whether it was the dresses or the blouses).

I would also advise that you try before you buy, because there is absolutely no standardisation in the sizing. I have the Monkey Puzzle blouse and dress, and while the blouse is loose in a size 8, the hips on the dress in a size 10 are quite clipped.

 

[lacy99]

I was in Topshop in Newcastle city centre yesterday, and they had 3 monkey puzzle dresses left in size 12. I agree though that the material is very sheer, and the quality could have been a lot better.

 

[Amerie]

Got the green halterneck in the post this morning, that was the piece I really wanted, and its lovely
Still not top quality, but definatly better than the monkey dress.

 

[lacy99]

It says on style.com (http://www.style.com/shopping/itemoftheweek/052606)that they're selling the dresses in the Topshop in New York for $250! That can't be right, surely?

 

[lick1987]

The monkey dress is horrible quality. I'm going to return it today, did anyone else have problems while returning?

 

[susie_bubble]

^Read my post above. I had the same problem with the monkey dress too! The cotton is terrible quality! But I exchanged it for a much nicer dress from normal Topshop....

 

[shopdiary]

lacy 99, i just came across the same blurb on style.com today. do you know how much was the red rock dress going for in the u.k.? you girls are lucky. while us stateside girls were going gaga over tara jarmon for target, you've got celia birtwell for topshop. interesting prints but the quality isn't that great?