tomorrow's new absurdity;

'to see the world in a grain of sand...'

Whilst Blake by far blasts my writing out the water, maybe check some of my university journalism work out if you have a spare moment:THE BOAR.

I recently did a piece on the Battle of the High Street Store with several other super great writers, this was my contribution.

Zara – Rebecca Webster

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that every UK girl must be in want of a Topshop wardrobe” is a mantra that has long since been outgrown. The Battle of the High-Street stores has recently rewarded a new, triumphant victor: ZARA. Dubbed ‘The Kate Effect’, ZARA has seen sales rocket thanks to our very own Duchess occasionally being photographed sporting many of the brand’s garments.

ZARA has been crowned as one the best ‘fast fashion’ houses: the Spanish store favoured for being able to mass produce designer quality style clothes for a quarter of the price. With all this said and done what can you expect from the brand and their stores? As students, we’re always a bit strapped for cash and ZARA appears to be able to deliver the goods and supply the key season pieces. Whether it be the tailored blazer, studded knit jumper, cigarette pant or beautiful dress in the ‘ZARA’ palette of cool greys, navies, black and cream or an occasional spring yellow or coral; ZARA designs remain both timeless and current. ZARA oozes European nonchalance and vivacity, but brushing all the fashion hyperbole aside, ZARA triumphs over several of its counterparts due to the affordability of its products. However, you can easily pick up a bohemian scarf to discover with shock that it’s a £69 cashmere delight…

Whilst ZARA does appear to offer a wide range of affordable, well-made pieces, the customer service is perhaps a little lacking. In order to experience the hugely important article research, I wandered into the Westfield’s London Shopping Centre jungle in a state of blissful naivety. I began the shopping pilgrimage to the pillars of inevitable debit card abuse, screaming kids and hot changing rooms. It was this experience which exposed ZARA’s most serious problem, the bad service! The staff were surly, unhelpful and ridiculously nonplussed, in fact, it was almost admirable how little they cared about the customers. Perhaps they were caught up in the dream-scape of the new Spring ZARA catalogue collection, but then, aren’t we all.

If you can look past the negatives, then ZARA has it all: European chic tailored clothes with a range of prices, fabrics, colours and customers. And if you really can’t cope with the moody girls at the ZARA tills then you can always revert to their website. Isn’t the internet a gift!

Cheers, y'all!