Hot or Not: Who’s having a good season? We cast a gimlet eye

No store fluctuates from week to week quite so much as Zara.

One of the fastest of all the "fast fashion" chains, Zara claims it takes only four weeks to propel a product from sketch book to shop floor, with stock refreshed constantly.

So while May might be a crap month, June could be completely different.

To get the best out of Zara, you need to pop in once a week. Summer isn't my favourite Zara season: it does autumn much better, mainly because it has a genius for coats.

In summer, it relies too much on inexpensive jersey and T-shirt basics, lending the usually sleek stock a messy, jumble-sale air.

That said, on my visit I spotted two excellent buys: a pin-tuck detail skirt with wide black elasticated waist in denim chambray (£39), and a cream dress in this season's slightly crumpled, paper-effect fabric (£49).

The all-Spanish staff were rude to the point of comedy: they claimed not to have the dress in my size, though they didn't bother checking.

Happily, I managed to find one myself. I was also returning a dress with a skewwhif hem, and while I was hardly expecting a sonnet of apology from the woman at the returns desk, a little more than a grunt would have been nice.

Zara is a brilliant operation but it needs to invest more in its staff. They matter.

Staff: unhelpful, brusque, clearly overworked

Changing rooms: badly lit, basic

Price: on the high side but reasonable for the quality

Quality: mainly excellent, though varies from garment to garment

Best buy: Chanel-inspired bouclé jacket £49.50 (020 7534 9500)