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Loving M&S again

123 replies

thesnailandthewhale · 21/04/2024 12:48

Popped into M&S this morning and had a browse and finally they seem to have really turned a corner, there were so many items I could have bought today (if funds permitted). I settled for these:

Smart jeans:
https://www.marksandspencer.com/harper-cigarette-ankle-grazer-jeans/p/clp60590909?color=INDIGOMIX&prevPage=srp#intid=pid_pg1pip2g4r1c1

Linen Trousers:
https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-linen-wide-leg-trousers/p/clp60636146?color=ONYX&prevPage=srp#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r3c3

Soft Sweater:
https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-linen-wide-leg-trousers/p/clp60636146?color=ONYX&prevPage=srp#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r3c3

Calm hand cream:
https://www.marksandspencer.com/calm-hand-lotion-250ml/p/hbp60291720?prevPage=srp#intid=pid_pg1pip10g4r1c1|prodflag_submsg-Vegan%20friendly

Tell me of your finds, I need to stop buying from Shein etc and get back to better quality items. I've got my eye on these next:

https://www.marksandspencer.com/leather-lace-up-chunky-trainers/p/clp60653665?prevPage=srp#intid=pid_pg1pip47g4r1c1

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
Hecatoncheires · 22/04/2024 10:08

I find M&S teeshirts too short. They need to be about 3" longer, ideally. That said, I am browsing the site as I type..... Love the stripy wide-legged trousers.

CreateAUsername2024 · 22/04/2024 10:10

They have a dupe chanel no. 5 perfume I a pink bottle for £6 that is the exact same and lasts all day long. I love their food too, their meat for 3 for £12, cheap sauces, essentials and fruit and veg quality is so much better and cheaper than elsewhere.

Georgyporky · 22/04/2024 10:54

I have to buy on-line as there's no shop near me any more.
I wish they would synchronise their sizing.
I recently ordered 2 pairs of trousers in my usual 12 regular - same item, different colours.
One pair was OK, the other was too tight & ridiculously long.

BrownTableMat · 22/04/2024 10:58

Anyone else find the trousers stupidly long? I’m 5’5 so average height for a woman or slightly above, and I always have to buy the short length

Chewbecca · 22/04/2024 11:07

I'm giving the jeans another go, they used to be my 'go to' until they lengethed the Short fit and introduced Extra Short. Sounds ok .. except XS is not available in anything I want. I'm trying the Harpers in Short and if they are too long again I will Never Bother Again as M&S clearly don't want to cater for shorties any more.

meatyryvita · 22/04/2024 11:17

There's a square-necked 50's style white sleeveless dress that they are advertising quite heavily at the moment. Couldn't resist after seeing this thread and am collecting it on Saturday!

MariaMeringue · 22/04/2024 11:18

I bought some jeans from M&S recently and they were such a perfect fit and shape, I went back the next day and bought them in black and light blue too. I spotted them as I was walking through the main shop to the food hall. The style is called 'Sienna', in case anyone is interested :) There were quite a few other things that caught my eye too.

It's been a long time since I bought any clothes from M&S as was nothing I liked in there for years. They definitely seem to be getting it right again now though.

piscofrisco · 22/04/2024 11:50

I've got loads of stuff from there this year. They have had some brilliant bits and bobs. I got a sort of linen co-ord-waistcoat and wide trousers at the weekend. Spit of one in Zara except that the sizing is actually correct and it's better quality.
And also the food section is still the champion of champions in my eyes (but not so good for the purse).

Wonderfulstuff · 22/04/2024 12:10

I love M&S and as someone who sometimes needs larger than a size 16 I appreciate their range of sizes. BUT there are a couple of things that I just don't get...

1 - low stock - at the start of winter I went to buy my daughter some school tights, a pretty normal M&S purchase, but my local branch didn't have a single pair of grey age 5-6 tights which I found bizarre as I'd imagine them to be a pretty standard high volume item in November. And it wasn't even just that I was unlucky with the size that I needed. They only had one pack of tiny tights and then some 11-12. It was just empty racks where tights should be. I noticed one of our nearby stores is to close. It used to be a great store but these days it's been so low on stock it's not worth bothering with. I don't get why they are purposefully running their physical stores into the ground. Sometimes I just want to buy something - having to place an online order just for kids tights is too much of a faff.

2 - Quality - I bought a multi pack of black knickers. Again a traditional M&S purchase you should be able to rely on. And the elastic waistband has detached from all of the pairs after about 3 months. I have knickers from M&S years older that are in better shape than my most recent purchases. Plus lots of the ladies dresses are see through which means if you bothered by such things, and I am at work, you need to wear a slip otherwise every seam and feature of your underwear (and cellulite) can be seen.

3 - Giving up on wired bras - I get that during the pandemic lots of people switched to non wired bralets. But back out in the real world, wearing fitted clothes... I need some wire and there are many less to chose from - although again this could be due to the lack of in store stock.

4 - Weird colourways - I've never met anyone who loves lime green as much as the M&S design team.

5 - Short boxy t-shirts - not everyone wants a t-shirt, increasingly in man made fibres, that sits above their waistband and makes their body look 20 inches wider.

6 - Back to knickers - why are the girls knickers cut so skimpily. My smaller than average 6 year old is now needing a size 8-9 to ensure they are covering what needs to be covered and comfy to run around in. I've started buying her undies from next instead.

I don't want M&S to go bust or to withdraw from the high street so on the basis that this is probably a bit of an ad thread I just thought I'd mention some areas that don't make sense to me.

beatrix1234 · 22/04/2024 12:35

I was a big Shein buyer for 2 years during the pandemic and never again! I was returning 95% of all items because they’re total crap. It’s good for the small stuff such as pijamas, socks, scarfs and home decor, but give me marks &Spencer quality and prices any time. Plus I love how their garments are timeless and can be worn for 5 years. Shein stuff looks totally dated after 6 months (assuming it didn’t desintegrated in the washing machine after 3 washes).

Pedestrian0 · 22/04/2024 13:25

I'm reaaaaaally fussy about fabrics - I need whatever is next to my skin to be soft, and somehow M&S always miss the mark and end up scratchy, thin, lumpy or otherwise uncomfortable. I'm aware I'm fussy but other brands do hit the mark (pun not intended).

blacksax · 22/04/2024 14:07

One could be forgiven for thinking this whole thread has been set up by the M&S marketing department.

One will, however, give it the benefit of the doubt.

ItsallIeverwanted · 22/04/2024 14:17

This 'M and S' isn't all bad thread appears every year, it is probably marketing, but on the other hand lots of posters do seem to like some of the clothing so I think it's fair enough to post about stuff we have all liked (or not liked from M and S)!

ArthurChristmas22 · 22/04/2024 15:47

I went into M&S at weekend for the first time in forever (desperation as need something for a big event). It was a big, well used store. Is there stuff better? Absolutely, on trend, good design, good.price. Issues, store layout is appalling, confused, difficult to find things. They need to drop the concessions - I don't go to M&S to buy Seasalt or Boden, I go to buy M&S. They need to sell the cheaper material options (some people simply can't afford 100% cotton) alongside better options. Knickers are awful there these days, Sainsbury's are definitely doing a better job!

Lifeomars · 22/04/2024 16:13

love the linen trousers, I live in linen trousers in the summer (or the months that we know as summer but may well not be summery) and could do with a new pair, the green ones are especially nice.

CheeseSandwichRiskAssessment · 22/04/2024 16:34

I agree m&s marketing dept spends a lot of time on MN, there's also a lot of threads for "I'm going to be close to an m&s, what's good in the foodhall?"

I don't mind because I can decide if I like a shop or an item myself, and there are plenty of shops around where I am to remind me of the brand already.

It's true what PP said about the lime green, why? Also sludge green and cobalt, too much. The knickers haven't been lasting, need to improve. Also the linen this season feels cheap. Thanks!

Floortile · 22/04/2024 16:36

loropianalover · 21/04/2024 13:07

They have some lovely stuff this year, they have a sleeveless linen type dress with pockets in a few colours that I’ve been meaning to try on.

The Sparks app is really handy I’d often get 15 or 20 % off bra’s, clothes, chocolates etc.

For anyone who doesn't want another app; you just need to become a Sparks member.

Mary46 · 22/04/2024 17:28

Yes lime green is hard to match up. Their dresses nice for hols. Our store quite limited (Dublin). Work wear is pricey. I do like their jeans

Riverlee · 22/04/2024 17:35

CheeseSandwichRiskAssessment · 22/04/2024 02:45

Has anyone tried the Next packs of knickers, are they any good?

Sainsbury pants are generally quite good.

KrazyboutKillian · 22/04/2024 17:46

@CreateAUsername2024
what is the name of the Chanel dupe ? If you don’t mind thanks

RabbitsRock · 22/04/2024 17:51

ouch321 do you need a Sparks card to use the Sparks app?

usernother · 22/04/2024 18:18

I'm loved it last year and bought loads of clothes. This year I'm slightly disappointed in their offerings and I think their posts on social media aren't as good, by that I mean tempting, as last year.

Zoopet · 22/04/2024 18:21

Just looked on their website but gave up due to the plethora of other names on it.
Struggled to find M&S clothes!

Swipe left for the next trending thread