It’s been another shaky week for the British High Street writes fashion and shopping blogger Emma Iannarilli.

Fashion chain Jane Norman, known for its sexy women’s fashion and clubwear, went into receivership this week, with more than 30 of its stores due to close with a loss of 500 jobs.

It joined a growing list of High Street stores facing acute difficulties in the current tough financial climate, with TJ Hughes, Thorntons, Mothercare, Currys and Carpet Right amongst other familiar names on that danger list.

I must admit I felt a wave of sadness when I heard the news about Jane Norman. Not that I actually ever wore anything from the brand though – the sizing always seemed to start at ‘Small’ and then get progressively smaller.

But during its late 90s/early millennium heyday, it seemed that every other female enjoying a night out on Broad Street was wearing something tight and stretchy from Jane Norman.

Their shops epitomised the bright and colourful days before the recession – full of skimpy tops that seemed to have no visible means of support, yet miraculously, still stayed in place.

Unfortunately, those same tops now seem more of a metaphor for the company, with the straps finally slipping to reveal an ailing company out-of-step with the current climate.

After all, who needs clubwear when we can no longer afford to go out?

But it’s not just the glossy fashion of Jane Norman that’s suffering. Thorntons – ‘chocolate heaven since 1911’ will find its 2011 anniversary to be a very sad one.

They are closing 180 stores nationwide – many from the smaller towns that have already seen so many names disappear.

This could be bad news for the Midlands, with branches in West Bromwich, Dudley, Wolverhampton and Walsall to name just a few.

Thorntons will continue to sell choccies in supermarkets, but the quest to sell everything under one roof again seems to have dealt another body blow to the High Street.

And even budget stores are not immune to the onslaught of the current, devastating climate. TJ Hughes is on the brink of going into financial administration, despite selling discounted goods like perfumes, clothing and electrical goods.

It is ironic that the store that took over the huge Woolworths store in Walsall, could soon be going the same way as that much-maligned, but now much-missed company.

I hope that these companies can find some light at the end of their dark tunnels and not just become another statistic like Principles, USC, Woolworths, Bay Trading and Zavvi.

Emma Iannarilli blogs at fashion-mommy.com. Read her blog here.