Topshop capsule at The Bay doesn't live up to the hype

I checked out the recently launched Topshop capsule on the second floor of The Bay downtown (674 Granville Street) this weekend, and for the most part, I was unimpressed.

For starters, the capsule is very, very small, like maybe a total of around 50 pieces, including shoes and accessories. Also, I overheard one English-accented girl say to another, "Holy shit, they've totally raised the prices!" I mean, the prices aren't too steep, especially with the newly opened The Room just a few steps away, but a lot of these mass-produced pieces are more about fulfilling the trend factor than real quality.

The least expensive items I saw were plain singlet-style tank tops in basic colours, like black, white, and mustard, which ran around $10 (a striped version was $21). Meanwhile, the cheapest pair of ballet flats (mind you, they looked like they'd probably fall apart after an afternoon stroll around the city) were $30. A few of the dressier tops, made from swishier silky fabrics, were priced between $30 and $50, while a pair of skinny jeans cost just over $70.

So, it's not that the Topshop capsule collection is shabby, it's just that it doesn’t really satiate a true Topshop craving. I think the most excitement I felt while browsing the racks was hearing a sales associate tell another customer that a Topshop store would probably open in Vancouver sometime next year.

You can follow Michelle da Silva on Twitter at twitter.com/michdas.