Vancouver has undergone dramatic changes within the last couple of years when it comes to American brands making their way into Canada. With the opening of H&M, Michael Kors, Hollister, Bath and Body Works and Sephora to name a few, Canadians are finding fewer reasons to go across the border for shopping. The development of a Nordstrom store that has taken over Sears is also in the mix and due to open in 2015.

Last Thursday marked the opening of Topshop, an international flagship-clothing store which aims to satisfy the fashion needs of Vancouverites. The 33,000 square feet store carries a diverse selection of clothing for both men and women.

I got a first hand look at the store the day before it opened and found out that Topshop was serious when they promised a wide range of selection in clothing for consumers. Time flew by as I looked in each section of the store, which was separated by themes within trends. This means you can go from ’60s theme that boasted peplum and sequins to casual knits and dresses just a few steps away.

There was one particular element of the store which I was extremely happy about. Clothing styles at Topshop were also available in tall or petite to address consumer’s need for better fits when it comes to department store finds. In terms of style, the store had a feel similar to H&M but prices were not as comparable.

I was happy to see a large selection of sequins pieces available at Topshop. Sequin is one of my favourite textiles on clothing when it comes to dressing up for a night out. I was also pleased to see lots of crop tweed jackets that are perfect to pair with a dress or leggings.

As for men, Topman offers a wider range of casual but prim styles. Also, if you are in need of accessories Topman is a good place to go. However, if you are easily overwhelmed by choices and like quick shopping you may want to think twice and tweak your expectations before entering the store.

The fashion industry and culture in Vancouver is certainly turning and global markets want a piece of that real estate. It’s exciting to see the market grow so quickly and it’s inevitable that more is on its way. Vancouver is pushing its way to be noticed within the fashion market in the hopes that we can make our mark for more than just yoga pants.

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Amy Yew is a contributing columnist at Vancouver Courier. Tell us what you think and submit any questions you have to amyvancouvercourier@gmail.com. You can also tweet your thoughts on Twitter @AmyYew.