River Island - final score: 30/40

Address: 301 Oxford Street

Map: Click here to find this store

Score last year: 32

Verdict: Key pieces get River Island's glam makeover with lashings of sparkle and full-on detailing.

Looks - 8

River Island has gone to town on trends this season, pairing dip dye and star prints with ruffles and pleats on dresses and net and sequin details on bib tops to make sure all bases are covered.

1950s-style prom frocks are adorned with mini net corsages a la Sarah Jessica Parker to show off the brand's style credentials, while 1980s fluoroescent
T-shirts are sprinkled with diamante, and pencil skirts are dotted with cute heart buttons to excite those shoppers looking for something a bit different.

There are plenty of neutral and pastel shades characteristic of River Island, but the attention to detail means the colours never look staid. 

Mix - 8

Although party dresses front the store, River Island has again bought most strongly into glam daywear, with masses of blouses sitting alongside souped up T-shirts and embellished vests.

Workwear covers roughly a fifth of the floor space and is impressive, courtesy of sexy pencil skirts and fitted pinafore dresses.

Denim is impressive at the back of the store, with plenty of size, colour and fit options, including nautical-style wide-leg denim culottes.

The footwear, accessories and swimwear section upstairs is a treasure trove of on-trend items, including patent shoe boots and jewelled bikinis.

Store - 7

The shop is tidy and clean, while the high ceiling makes it airily inviting. Although bags and footwear are located on a mezzanine level, a glass taster cabinet has been placed near the main entrance of the ground floor and under a neon green sign pointing upstairs in a simple but considered bid to drive customers to the first floor.

Posters point customers towards the website to regularly keep updated on new product.

On the downside, the pop art decorated dressing rooms smelt uncomfortably of damp.

Value - 7

River Island has managed to keep its prices just about under the Topshop mark without losing its trademark attention to detail.

A simple ribbed vest starts the product at £7, with an embellished option for £12. Tiered floral skater skirts are £25, so come in slightly cheaper than Topshop's, and jeans average out at £37, which is justified by the attention to detail, stitching, and diamente designs on the back pockets.

A foil treated bomber jacket looks a little pricey at £40. The footwear looks bang on trend, with multi-strapped tan cork wedges worth their £35. Pinstripe wool and polyester mix work trousers are good value at £30.

Vox pop: Agada Victoria, 26, student

• Are you a regular shopper here? 
Yes.

• What does this shop mean to you?
The store has lovely things and I like the layout of the shop.

• How impressed are you with this season's offerings?  
This season is lovely. Also it's very trendy.

• What is it they're doing well?
They are doing really well with shoes.

• What have they missed out that you would have liked to have seen? 
I couldn't find nice skinny jeans, which I was quite upset about.