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.

Now LA have some nice stuff, but their prints are foul. I am coveting a spotty red scarf they have at the mo, but their awful dresses keep putting me off going in the shop..........

yes, LA plain stuff looks lovely. Don't get me wrong, I never wear dresses either, just the sight of those patterns prevents me walking into the shop!

Actually have just remembered I bought a Hobbs dress last year for £90 and have never worn it. I bought it in a fit of 'I should wear more dresses' but have no clue what shoes or tights to wear...............

Must google 'White Company' Is it a shop or an on-line store. I've never seen them on the high street. I live in the sticks though.

Agree re Next, they have gone down market and even I can afford to shop there . I used to love kitting DD out from next years ago, also remember spending £65 on a jacket 13 yrs ago from which I still wear, although the zip broke, but I can button it up.

Why doesnt MnS just be MnS? Why the tragic add on? I bought a pair of linen trousers in oxfam for 99p recently, they were from MnS and do the job of a smart pair of jeans, the linen is heavy and the waist darts fit over my expanded 40yrs ish waist. Great buy and happy to own up to.
If i ever bought any per una i'd not want to say it was from there! Weird eh? But i dont mind saying somethings from Marks! Means per una is not an aspirational brand.
Please MnS, ditch it, just call yourself MnS.
(i thought the colours were tragic and fabrics plasticy, but then i dont look anymore, and i hate the celebrities marketing thing, its so patronising, like 'Hey girls! You too can look like these role models of your agegroup!')

i can never remember next being stylish, ok for the odd basic work item

i remember when it first opened, it was so different from any high street shop i was still at school and the prices seemed high. i have bought the odd pair of working trousers or skirt (plain black and not there cheapest tat, maybe they do not sell that line anymore but the trousers fitted nicely were a wool mix) but apart from the odd piece there clothes have always had that next look

I liked Next when it first came out. I loved the catalogue, it had swatches.

Jeans fit me too, but I get them freom the outlet shop.
I also go to a really good oxfam, so a lot of per una ends up there, and i'll pick up the odd(?) bit.

Oh no its way too flouncy and over intricate. The dresses are like something from miss marple way too floral. I wear a lot of dresses but never from there. French connection and zara have some really nice plain dresses atm and not too expensive. Keep away from per una unless you want to look like a xmas cracker

Hi everyone, new here and first time on Mumsnet....just had to add to this thread on PU by saying I have been really pleasantly surprised by their summer range. My mother suggested PU when I was unable to find anything dressy to wear for a wedding and I retorted, 'You must be joking, Per Una's awful!' Out of desperation and having looked at Next, DP, River Island, New Look, ASOS, Monsoon, John Lewis, you name it....and where should I find the most flattering outfit....yes PER UNA! I have just bought a very pretty A-line Roma spots and floral skirt for my daughter's graduation next week....so pleased! :)

PU! It's what M&S do with all their left over material isn't it.

My Mum and Aunts love it. Mind you, they have a combined age of 196.

Miss Beehiving,,its sold out!! so, someone,,not me likes it

sarijules,,,,im a convert ,I used to be Country casuals,austin reed, but they have lost the plot a bit.Im really liking PU..Plus we only have Debs and primark where i live.

I find the sizing in Next a bit odd. Also, its such a pain having to send stuff back, as we dont have a PO.either,and its not the same as actually seeing a garment.

I have to say I have now had 4 dresses from their limited collection to use as maternity frocks as the cut and generous tummy are are ideal!

This weeks buy!

I am 28wks pg!

"All a bit cheap 'n nasty at per una."

I wouldn't call it cheap. I find Per Una clothes a bit hit and miss. I am wearing a pair of PU linen trousers that I bought last year and the quality is fantastic, but sometimes I find the clothes a bit middle aged, not that I am an edgy dresser.

I don't share MN's distate for linen trousers or Per Una - neither do I buy Boden.

It looks like it's been put together by sight impaired chimps. I barf at it, and I'm over fifty late forties.

love this, pretty new to MN and had no idea Per Una was generally loathed. At last i feel i am amongst friends.
I used to work for Per Una (shamefully) in their head office. I worked with the team that dealt with 'Speziale' for a while and could never understand why why why? It's their high end test bed - if people buy this shit at high prices they do a cheaper version for the masses and cross their fingers, when i was there it was the owner's wife's pet project - a woman of very little style.
i walked out eventually, just couldn't take it anymore