One or two items such as that cape coat or their roomy leatherette bags are nice, but really it is still tack hell in my opinion. Not one pair of their sunglasses are made without the obligatory diamante decorations and they still insist on splattering their jeans with bleach even though the last people to wear distressed denim were boyband memebers. Gross.

Posted by: sophie | September 5, 2006 3:39 PM

Our local branch has always stocked the chavtastic side of their range, however I ventured in there yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to find a broad range of largely pleasant jeans in various cuts - a big step up from Topshop's drainpipe-or-boyfriend-style-only approach this season. Looking at the website the new autumn collection also seems promising, I might even be tempted by a couple of the houndstooth dresses and a bag or two. Also, bravo to them for being one of the very few 'high street giants' to stock their clothes up to a size 18!

Posted by: Anna | September 5, 2006 3:53 PM

Wow I love that coat! And yes, I'd say River Island is much better than Topshop and H&M. Topshop is usually quite expensive, even for a high street brand, and H&M has some nice stuff, but usually only if you have quite eccentric taste. River Island sell stylish, good-quality items for cheap prices. And they have stores everywhere, not just in the big cities! That and they are hte only store that carry jeans that fit me, so if they went bankrupt I don't know what I'd do!

Posted by: Frapp | September 5, 2006 6:30 PM

I think River Island has improved massively over the past few years and is now definitely one of the best high street stores, far better than the increasingly expensive Topshop and H&M who's quality seems to increasingly diminish in my opinion. What makes River Island so great is it keeps designs simple. They do fantastic jeans and basic tops whilst their shoes are always gorgeous. I wouldn't say it's on a par with my other two favourites - Warehouse and especially Oasis but I always buy items like jeans from River Island and mix them with Oasis tops and bags.

Posted by: Rebecca | September 5, 2006 7:09 PM

River Island in Reading is split into 2 halves- one side is fab, it's got all the smart stuff, a bit of evening wear, the shoes which are fabulous- then on the other side, you have the candy-coloured pure tack of the shop. It all looks like children's wear, it's all pastel blues and oranges and damned scary, even for me. I've never seen a bag in RI I've liked, not once. I like the underwear 'range' though, however small- the little vests and knickers always have pretty patterns ^_^

My favourite shops are Mango and Topshop. I love topshop

Posted by: Julia | September 5, 2006 7:24 PM

Frapp, they're the only place that stocks jeans in my size, too - I would be lost without them, although there is an occassional tendency to add glitter or bleach - WHY?! Other than the jeans, I think the shoe range is fabulous, too, and pretty good quality. Maybe not a replacement for Topshop etc, but I think they're getting there :)

Posted by: Amber | September 5, 2006 7:52 PM

I just cannot stand River Island, I'm sorry. I think their clothes are so cheap and tacky, very LA style, which I hate with a passion. Topshop is my favourite high-street haunt.

Posted by: The Bag Lady | September 5, 2006 10:09 PM

Topshop is so overrated it is unbelievable. the clothes are all the same, twice the price they should be, and the staff are possibly the rudest in many of the shops i have been in. River island has more than enough pieces of tack, but if u actually look in there from time to time, there is some Really nice stuff coming in, especially the smock tops at the moment, some good value basics, leggings and jeans etc. they do over glitter/bleach, but they dont do it to everything!!

Posted by: Medusa | January 21, 2007 1:20 AM

i aggre ure clothes are so better they dnt have evrythink the same and they have a nice range of clothing which are fited from a siz 6 to a 22 which i think is fantastic

Posted by: danielle | April 19, 2007 11:22 AM

i think its great that u do extra long trousers, ur one of the only places i can get mine from!!

Posted by: charli | April 19, 2007 11:26 AM

i dnt agree with wat others sorry i dnt think that it is all that grate as wen i go there they never have my size clothes and never have wat im looking for so no i diagre topshop is so much beeter and more quality

Posted by: sophie | April 19, 2007 11:29 AM

I think river island is brill. I love their dresses and t-shirts.. I think there prices are alot more reasonable than topshop.

Posted by: Yellowbelly | August 24, 2007 1:48 PM

i love river island just because they are one of the only stores that stock size 6!! i can never find my size anywhere, and even though some of their stuff is tacky, most of it is fashionable and reasonably priced.

Posted by: Lucy | September 16, 2007 3:43 PM

I think riverisland is a good store. but when they have sales the stuff is all over the floor they need staff to moneter people and tell them to put it back please.

Posted by: jack | December 30, 2007 11:05 PM