To not understand the 'per una' thing on mumsnet?

[Tortu]

What? Why the snide comments? I was in M and S today and think Per una has some lovely stuff. Ok, it's a bit middle of the road and I don't actually own any, but I'm about to move into the M and S demographic (bit old for Topshop, too short for Zara, too cheap for Jaegar) and, perhaps, need to have it explained to me why I can't wear it.

I LOVE M and S and think it's pretty much the best shop ever (ahhh, if Waitrose sold clothes). I cried, yes, actually cried when I came back from two years in a deprived part of Africa and first entered the food section.

jenniec79 - I bought a lot of my food from M&S when I was a student which probably explains the large amount of debt I had when I left, despite the fact that I got a grant (tiny amount as it was just before they were scrapped but still something), didn't have to pay tuition fees and worked part-time (and full-time every holiday) all the way through my course!

Will take note of some recommendations on this thread. I'm in the sticks so will have to be online which I hate as I like to try stuff on, although shopping isn't the joy it used to be.

I didn't like anything in Next this season, either, except a couple of long vest tops for my hols.

crying with laughter! keep the links coming he he

I think it's because they are often high waisted and so much wider at the top than the bottom CanNorm - with the bottom of the trousers always seeming disproportionately smaller. Hence the cut looks peculiar. Not that I'm suggesting you are peculiarly sized, I hasten to add!!

Lovely colours, Zukie

Ignoring I'm still paying for my undergraduate course - and I did that before fees came in (long course) Now going back for postgrad course; will be working as well, but even so will be quite tight financially for a bit - probably will relegate M&S food to "treats" if not abstaining completely!

Pandemoniaa, I need high waisted, because I have short legs and a long body, and a lot of the body length is between waist and crotch, so anything lower waisted is ridiculous on me. Also their Roma fit trousers are actually big enough around the thighs while being small enough round the waist (I am very curvy). Most other makes of trouser either fit round the waist (but too tight round hips/thighs) or fit round hips/thighs but bucket out at waist. And M & S do a short length for my short legs too........

i've had some great stuff from per una ( in the clearance) I've got a really nice boyfriend cardi, great fitting skinny jeans, cashmere jumper. they all wash really well and were great value at under £10 each. I'm 22 btw

I have a zebra print top ..its from asda though

Wow, this is GREAT market research for M & S.

Marketing Gold.

Can I please put my soon to be launched brand of activewear on Mumsnet? I'd love to get so much feedback! It would save THOUSANDS on useless market research.

Well done ladies!

You know you're ontp a bad thing when the clothes don't even look good on the models

And M&S can afford top of the range models (though I noticed Naomi Lenoir -underwear- was whisked away sharpish after it was in the news that she'd attempted suicide)

Disclaimer-I wear M&S. Not Per Una or Classic.
Have a Ltd Edition jumper.Nice.

Well I don't agree with much of this. Some of the Per Una stuff isn't to my taste but some of it is very nice and fits me. 5'4, 12-14, 50 and classically blonde. I have lots of compliments in a fuschia printed summer dress, lots for a linen beige/navy casual suit, lots for a grey sort of tiered black and grey skirt and a black jumper (with some applique at the neckline), lots for a simple linen raincoat ...and the trousers fit me - perfectly when most others don't. It isn't all nice but something I would say is it's the pieces that look nothing on the hanger, that don't shout colour and that most people wouldn't look at twice that look the best on. For me it's a good mid range which is great for work (HR Manager in public sector) and can be put with cheaper and most expensive bits. I also like LK Bennett, Phase 8, a bit of Boden, Mint Velvet has caught my eya, Liz Claiborne (though haven't seen it around much of late) and when I was younger and worked in the City adored Paul Costelloe.

Oh poor Noemie Lenoir

41 year old here and I would rather go naked than wear PU!

Zara is my staple shop, along with French Connection, Top Shop, Whistles, Reise, Mango and then TK Maxx for bargains (picked up Chloe, Alberta Ferretti, D&G and Paul Smith recently).

Never find anything in Next (boring), Monsoon (too appliquéd), Oasis (right off the boil) or Wallis (nasty, just nasty).

Can't beat TK Maxx for bargain handbags; colleague bought a tan leather Patrick Cox with gorgeous lining for about £40 recently.

I wear fat face, great plains and h & m mostly. Some gap, and have just bought my first espirit. Have some Primark. Boden isn't relevant to me anymore, they've gone really old, poor quality and tiny sizes

I agree with you OP. I think per una has some nice things and some horrendous things like every clothing range I can think of.

Also agree with some posters that what may seem a peculiar cut to you, fits perfectly for some people who are different shapes. I always find the m & s trousers fit me much better than most other shops. Have a friend who shops almost exclusively in fat face as it is the only place with clothes that fit her well - stocky frame and short arms and legs.

ohhh.......per una is nasty.

All applique flowers and beads and bits of net (?) stuck on poorly cut, unlined unflattering designs.

Bluerghhh

(But dont listen to me...I love Hobbs!)

I have a gorgeous white jacket from Limited Collection.

But Becarooo it isn't all like that. Ina mongst the horrible stuff there are a some nice things. I have a lovely white cotton blouse from per una with nothing extra stuck on.

lesley I - honestly - have never seen anything in per una I like or would wear. Perhaps it the time of year I look? I am not a very girly girl either and so dont like a lot of the more "feminine" designs and the knitwear is just plain ugly!

I think Per Una is like a lot of shops - some good, some bad, some hideous. Its just the ladies on here seem to have a particular talent for finding the particularly offensive items.

I find alot of it quite frumpy at the moment, but have bought there successfully in the past, and still find their Roma bootcut jeans the best for me in terms fit and price. But over the past year I have increasing gone in there to find something and come out again empty handed.

What for me what was really tragic was the demise of Principles - at the point I had only just discovered them, too.