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.

Oh come on Prunella, I mean who could not love this

Oh, or this little number

Even the model looks like she can't quite believe it.

why Constance they're beautiful!
but people buy this shit, they really do, in their droves - i will never understand

Per una was good in 2003. What went wrong?

I've just bought a dress from an ebay seller, I need something 1940's/50's style for the Goodwood motorsport revival weekend next year (September actually but I like to be organised) , it's arrived this morning and is a brand new , with tags Per una , very floral, huge roses actually but it does look the part, think 40's tea dress. I'm the least dressy-uppy woman ever and will feel like a complete gonk in it, but it was all of £12!

Could be worse, DH wanted me to go as a .... land girl! A fucking land girl , of all the glamourous things to go as and he wants me in burlap and a headscarf.

It's easy for him, he can stick his old RAF uniform on ( if can fit in the trousers ) and look the part straight away.

they haven't changed their style since at least 2005/6 when they figured their sales figures meant they were doing the right thing and have been pressing repeat repeat repeat ever since - so many styles are the same but in a different colour way/new buttons/ slight tweeks. they consider themselves to be 'quirky' and 'fun' - things that have their place at a kids party but not in the clothing of any woman who cares what she looks like.
i think they need to listen to MN a bit.

ohhhhh this is just devine

My ex's GF lives at Per Una - nuff said!

M&S really varies depending on where you are. I tend to go to the Victoria St one which is usually pretty good for plain-coloured basics in natural fabrics, in sizes that fit civil servants in their 30s!
The Oxford St ones are aimed at tiny tourists from the Far East and teenagers from outside London, or at least that's what their staff said when I complained they had nothing in a size 16 or more. They said try Croydon - which does indeed cater for woman with larger arses but apparently who like sequins and crud glued onto their clothes.

I have some great Per Una from a few years ago, but now it's more wacky and I don't like it. Next and Monsoon have both plummeted in standards recently.
I find every time I go to M&S and like their new season clothes and buy lots, a new profit warning comes out. Clearly there aren't enough people with my taste.

So where should I go to get plain clothes in natural fabrics that aren't super expensive and also recognise that my waist is more than four inches above my crotch, which most women's trousers can't cope with?

I have a Per Una coat - am 29. Is light brown tweed, double breasted, knee length, remarkably warm and recieves compliments - I quite enjoy telling people it's Per Una! Haven't seen anything I'd wear in there since though!

Next is shite. I bought a dress from there year or ago, made my tits look weird and lasted for about three washes. I keep seeing the same one in charity shop windows!!

Has anyone seen this yet? A limited edition £249 dress. I'm glad it's limited. I don't think I could cope if I saw more than one woman wearing it.

The top is ok, then you hit the waist and it becomes , but when you scroll down . That is not envy.