River Island-overated?

thermo66

Anyone agree that R.I is way overpriced and lacks quality clothing ? Their clothes become tatty in no length. Penneys clothes last longer!!

RxQueen

do agree., altho i love there shoes etc.. sometimes you can fine nice stuff in there:)

eVeNtInE

This post has been deleted.

thermo66

i agree the clothes are sometimes nice but i can't reconcile spending 65 euro on a tanktop that shrinks or loses the glitter or whatever in no length. Its probably the price more than anything i have a problem with. It seems to be getting worse every time i go in !!!

eth0_

They have some nice things but a lot of their dresses and skirts and tops are SO chavvy/Wag-ish.

But they are way overpriced. Who are they trying to fool? Topshop clothes are better quality and cheaper.

thermo66

eth0_ wrote: »

They have some nice things but a lot of their dresses and skirts and tops are SO chavvy/Wag-ish.

But they are way overpriced. Who are they trying to fool? Topshop clothes are better quality and cheaper.

yeah thats what i meant to say the clothes look particularly chavvy!

And a size ten is more like a size 6!

Corruptedmorals

Their prices have come down though, I find them cheaper than Topshop (only just) but they used to be more expensive. Not a fan of the skirts and dresses, I occassionally like the odd top, and I love the shoes and bags.

bythewoods

Some of their stuff, particularly jeans, shoes and accesories, are gorgeous..
But if one was to wear some of their stuff one would look like a prostitute of some sort.

Seriously, was in there the other day and was disgusted at most of the stuff.

colly10

River Island sell cheap tat, it's like costume clothing, wouldn't buy anything out of the place

Ivicia

I agree about their tops and t shirts - too dear. I did get a nice jacket for work for €73 which was good and won't be waking the corridor. I use to love their shoes and a have pair for 4 years still going strong.

Love their jeans a well.

thermo66

gosh i though R.I was beloved of fashionista's! Glad people agree with me! Boycott it i say! Lets bring back quality fashionable clothes at appropriate prices!!

bigpinkelephant

I love a lot of their stuff because it can be quite edgy, but it is overpriced.
There's no jeans like Topshop jeans!!!!!!!

thermo66

Don't mean to sound bitchy but is your idea of style Victoria Beckham and Coleen Mcloughlin?

rainbow kirby

The skirt I'm wearing at the moment is from River Island, and I love it. There are certain nice pieces, and certain really crap ones, but that's pretty much the same everywhere. That said though, they are one of the worst offenders for the Paddy Tax, and much of their stuff is overpriced anyway.

LolaLuv

I've only been in a handful of times and I wasn't carried away. A lot of their stuff is too hip for my taste. And I also noticed that their sizes are off.

rainbow kirby

PillyPen wrote: »

And I also noticed that their sizes are off.

From anything I've tried on, their sizes tend to run quite small.

LolaLuv

rainbow kirby wrote: »

From anything I've tried on, their sizes tend to run quite small.

Definitely. And the last thing I want is to walk into a store thinking I'm a size 8 and walk out thinking I'm a size 14. That does not lend itself to a pleasant shopping experience imo.

bigpinkelephant

PillyPen wrote: »

Definitely. And the last thing I want is to walk into a store thinking I'm a size 8 and walk out thinking I'm a size 14. That does not lend itself to a pleasant shopping experience imo.

That's why I stopped going into Jane Norman- their 10 is everyone else's 6.

Pythia

I really like River Island. I think it has got a lot classier recently. Can't wait for the sale tomorrow!

Toto Wolfcastle

I used to hate River Island when I was in my teens because it really did seem to be hooker paradise.

Now, I love the shoes and the bags. Ironically, I call some of the shoes that I like hooker shoes because of the platform.

They have lovely coats and great accessories.

Some of the stuff is awful, and they have a few cheap whore type dresses, but you are never going to like everything in every shop. There is obviously a market for most of what they sell. In fact, one of my friends really wanted one of their cheap whore type dresses recently.

The only pity is that their online store doesn't deliver to Ireland. It would work out a lot cheaper.

Clare Bear

Never shop there. I don't even bother going in there these days because I know I won't buy anything. Cheap quality clothes that aren't worth the price.

fits

I dont bother going in there either. The clothes are horrid usually.

miss no stars

PillyPen wrote: »

Definitely. And the last thing I want is to walk into a store thinking I'm a size 8 and walk out thinking I'm a size 14. That does not lend itself to a pleasant shopping experience imo.

do you think so? I always drop a size in RI...

haven't bought much there, they never seem to have anything i like in my size

LolaLuv

miss no stars wrote: »

do you think so? I always drop a size in RI...

:eek:We can't be friends. :pac:

eth0_

I sometimes walk into River Island and rub my eyes, thinking "Have I walked into Jodie Marsh's wardrobe?".

limericklady87

you took the words out of my mouth with the jodie marsh comparison but i love RI too. Bags and jeans are gorgeous even if they are a rip off but seriously some of the stuff in there would not be out of place on stacey slaters stall... ugh! vile it is... however..il be hitting there sale 2mro..usually get a few bargains in it. However the shoe and bags sale has started since the other day

LivingDeadGirl

I love their jeans but they always stretch terribly. I bought a size 10 which was a little too big(could barely get the size 8 up my legs) and now it's enormous! I can't say I've ever bought anything else in there though.

fifomania

RI is overpriced for the quality and style of clothing, some of the 'cool' clothes look so trampy. The only things I've ever bought in it were a pair of earrings, a hat which was on sale and a dress which was on sale. I would never think of buying something full price in it cause I've always seen nicer stuff elsewhere. And it's been mentioned here before that they've weird jeans sizes because then women will be thinking ''oh great i've fitted in to a pair of size 8 jeans in River Island'', when in reality they're a 10 or 12.

Creamy Goodness

river island was actually rated?

:eek:

thermo66

fifomania wrote: »

RI is overpriced for the quality and style of clothing, some of the 'cool' clothes look so trampy. The only things I've ever bought in it were a pair of earrings, a hat which was on sale and a dress which was on sale. I would never think of buying something full price in it cause I've always seen nicer stuff elsewhere. And it's been mentioned here before that they've weird jeans sizes because then women will be thinking ''oh great i've fitted in to a pair of size 8 jeans in River Island'', when in reality they're a 10 or 12.

Really i have the opposite problem. I'm usually size 10-12 in most shops but in R.I a size 10 won't go near me which makes me feel like a big heifer!!! I think quite a few shops have their sizes askew but at least most of them don't charge ridiculous prices like R.I

qwertyface

Haha yeah totally Jodie Marsh! Some of the stuff is ridiculous. And I hate when you see a lovely pair of jeans then turn them around and there a big horrible glittery "RI" on the arse.

I do have three dresses from there though that are very cool, not chavvy in the slightest, a bit unusual, and always getting compliments on them, but i've never, ever seen anyone else wearing them (got them all in the past year). It's weird... I must just be lucky or have a good eye for the gems among the chav pile.

Acacia

I once seen a bright yellow dress (like the colour of a fluorescent lollipop lady jacket) in there once. 'Nuff said.

No really, some of the stuff is nice, most of it is like Penney's tack at Topshop prices.

Aidric

Most of their stuff is fine and quite stylish. Stay away from Mens Suits though, won't last you a year before looking extremely worn.

MizzLolly

Hey OP,

I actually posted this aaages ago in a thread here. I totally agree with you. River Island has become trashy and common. A few years back you'd often find a little gem of a dress, or a pair of shoes etc.. but now, it's over priced, over run with skanger girls and their prams and their selection of clothing has gone to hell. Common and over rated.


*my friend went to River Island in Northern Ireland (Belfast I think) and said it was completely different to the ones here in Dublin. She loved it. Maybe the Irish chains are just trashy?!

Me to you

There bags and shoes are fab but the clothes are soooooooo over rated! :mad::mad::mad:

patrickSTARR

thermo66 wrote: »

Anyone agree that R.I is way overpriced and lacks quality clothing ? Their clothes become tatty in no length. Penneys clothes last longer!!

i heard from one of the girls i work with that river island and penneys are the same company.

i bought a fleecey top and it sheeds faster than an ageing huskey dog, i try not to shop there.

eamon234

Dunno about their ladies stuff but theie men's clothes are terrible quality and very overpriced - a mate of mine was in one of their stores recently and asked for a large size in an item - he was told by the salesperson that they don't stock obese sizes!!

patrickSTARR

no way, i would of slapped her..........thank god im a medium.........somethimes extra medium

there just not a good brand for the price, i prefer going to topman for jeans and fcuk, zara or the tee shirt emporium for clothes

leahyl

I have to say i used to never go into River Island when i was in my teens mainly cos i thought the clothes were tacky and sizes too small, i didnt really give it a chance but recently i have bought one or two things and they act have quite nice stuff sometimes - their belts and accessories, shoes, and knitwear is really nice - and i got a lovely pair of black skinny jeans in there (which i thought were gonna be tiny but fit me perfectly!). I think you can be lucky - it all depends on your taste - a lot of the stuff in there i woulnd't touch with a bargepole tho....:D

Pythia

patrickSTARR wrote: »

i heard from one of the girls i work with that river island and penneys are the same company.

It's not. Penney's is owned by Associated British Foods while River Island is owned by Bernard Lewis.

jeveuxtevoir

the clothes are SO trashy! and why do they make it so expensive to look cheap?!
I was there a few weeks ago and spotted some nice wallets and bags but i HATE how they always slap a huge tacky gold plaque on everything thats says 'RiverIsland'... do they think people want to show off to everyone that they shop there, like its real exclusive stuff? mind boggling!

eth0_

MizzLolly wrote: »

but now, it's over priced, over run with skanger girls and their prams and their selection of clothing has gone to hell. Common and over rated.

This is so true - but how do they afford it?!

MizzLolly wrote: »

*my friend went to River Island in Northern Ireland (Belfast I think) and said it was completely different to the ones here in Dublin. She loved it. Maybe the Irish chains are just trashy?!

I've noticed this since I moved to Edinburgh the chain store shops seem to have better clothes in the UK..

KatCookie

i heard from one of the girls i work with that river island and penneys are the same company.

One of my friends said that they both buy the clothes from the same manufacturer (ie Chinese sweatshop) but i dont believe that at all. .. [she has a problem with shopping from Pennys but not from River Island!!]

River Island recently came to Kilkenny, people think its the be all and end all! but tbh, its crap, i cant justify buying a top on sale from there because its total rubbish! My friends drag me around there for ages, i like some of the clothes, i love the scarves.

What i find often is one of my friends might love a dress and the next one would come in and say how horrible that dress is!

jdivision

Always found it overrated and overpriced

Mimibear

KatCookie wrote: »

One of my friends said that they both buy the clothes from the same manufacturer (ie Chinese sweatshop) but i dont believe that at all. .. [she has a problem with shopping from Pennys but not from River Island!!

I dunno but she could be onto something there, during the summer I bought a top from River Island for 25 euro which was just a causal tee shirt, after washing it it shrank and the material seemed to be out of shape....anyway that annoyed me...but not as much when my sister arrives home from Penneys, with the exact same top which she got for....2 EURO!!!! :mad:

PrivateEye

Got a nice polo shirt for nine yoyos, but have to say most of the gear was dire. How many colours can you do the one cardigan in?

I agree that on the whole everything looks very chavvy, way too sparkly/brightly coloured/trashy. When you actually go in there are some nice things though. I've seen some nice simple tops and knitwear. Never buy anything in there though, I always find similar in Penneys or A wear for better value.
I do buy quite a few of their accessories/bags, I think their leather bags are gorgeous (not the tacky white ones with the gold plate!), they've a nice selection of earrings/bracelets/necklaces as well as tights, scarves etc. Whenever I go into the Grafton St branch, I head straight downstairs.

idontknowmyname

I rarely shop in River Island- have bought a good few shoes there and love them but never have been a big fan of the clothes- just not my style, sizes are ridiculous and flimsy tops are expensive.I moved up to Northern Ireland last year and the price difference is scandalous! I tried on a pair of shoes in Grafton St last weekend, they were €95, got them in Belfast for £65!

dmcg90

Don't mind it personally, only place that does normal nice enough clothes for men I think, Top Man seems to do a bit too much of the mad stuff now. Sale in Derry is shavage with the euro business going on.

norwegianwood

i have to agree with you, but i do love the jeans. i did really well out of the sales, i got a gorgeous pair of purple skinnies i'd been admiring ages ago fo 20 euro!:)

lovemypinkhat

Way too overpriced. They do have some nice stuff in there but I would never be able to justify spending the ridiculous amounts of money they look for, good quality, bad quality or whatever.

I do love their bags and shoes (not the price tags though). The OH got me a gorge purse from there for Christmas so I've got my RI fix for the next while anyway