Aibu to think that most of the clothes in m and s are depressing awful or ridiculously overpriced

[Dowser]

I have £45 in vouchers. Some ran out at the end of the month and I could only buy clothes.

So I went to a big store in a city centre. I wandered around the ladies section. I don't wear trousers and skirts so yes that cut my choice right down but a lot of what I saw I didn't fancy anyway.

I thought I would chose a pretty summer dress. I'm in my 60s and most of what i saw was just plain frumpy, horrible material or more than I wanted to pay. £80 for a pretty plain summer dress when I have prettier at home.

So I decided to buy a couple of bras. Ineed a white one for my up and coming wedding but it's now appointment only and I wasn't able to make that time.

So I just decided to go with the size I wear. ( the three assistants that were chatting could have whisked me into a cubicle and at least measured me while they waited for their next client/ victim to show up) in the time I told them my measurements, they got their tape measures out and converted my statistics to a bra size.

So I bought two very ordinary white ones...£22-50 each. Plain, ordinary boring white just to use the vouchers. A couple of weeks ago I bought a much prettier one for £10.

I'll probably take them back and get a credit note and see if anything else comes in....I'm not holding m breath.
I was so looking forward to a nice treat but came away thinking ....just who are they designing for?

Got some great basics in the GAP sale yesterday. Properly cut and contemporary. Nice white linen shirts and T shirts with some shape (unlike M&S). I'm a tall size 14 and their stuff always fits.

I agree they have pricing problem in some areas. That bodycon dress is very much New Look territory so highly unlikely to sell for 40 quid. The wedding guest dress is competing with Phase 8 and even Ted Baker so 40 quid looks like the bargain of the year.

M&S t-shirts are too boxy imo. High little round necks and very short, almost cap sleeves.

To be fair, if you won't wear skirts or trousers it's not their fault that your range of choice is limited.

Use it for the school uniform. Great quality!

OP - did you say you were mid-60s and looking forward to your up & coming wedding?

Hope you find a beautiful outfit and have a wonderful day!

As for M&S, the only things I have bought recently were a stock of post-mastectomy bras as they are the only high street store that do them in my locality. I keep trying, but the clothes are dreadful - which brings me to another potential thread: "What the h happened to Next?" I think they must have the same design team as M&S as their clothes seem to have gone the same way - awful frumpy designs [down to one PPs comment about adding 'natty details'] and dreadful quality. Come on!

I was going to say the same Drying - use M&S vouchers for school uniform! If you don't have school age DC, maybe find a person who does and do a deal... I use the vouchers on uniform and "pay myself back" to use in a shop where the clothes are wearable.

There thermals are good value. I bought two lovely nightdresses, they weren't cheap. The first I took back after 1 wear as it had ripped at the neckline. The second isn't that old but is now looking pretty old. The cheap BHS nightdress wore much better.
One of the points of M & S used to be that you were paying for quality. But if don't get that, what is the point?

Their girls black leggings have been out of stock for months. They are the only thing I buy from there, and now I can't even buy them.

I went in on Saturday wanting to buy bras with matching knickers. I was prepared to spend around £200 for numerous sets.

I'm a 32F (bra guru). I don't want / need padding. Nor a white bra with bright blue ribbons through the straps. Ditto black / hot pink.

If it's a set, I want thongs AND shorts for each bra.

I wandered round and couldn't find a single thing that suited my needs. And there were hundreds of options!

Their bras are either badly made, padded, too flimsy or too matronly.

I didn't buy a single thing. £200 left in my bank account and not theirs...

I like the jeggings (but why they don't do them in actual denim colour I don't know!).

There's a lot I'm not keen on, but I can usually find some bits and pieces - their needle cord blouses were great this winter, and I bought a very nice cream chiffon-y blouse a few weeks ago.

Their cashmere is usually nice (just plain jumpers) but it's gone very expensive.

Thank you Mrs Poldark. That is much appreciated.

That's a good idea PP to take back the bras and buy food. Their meat deals for ten pounds are usually good value.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I bought two of their chemise style nightdresses and they just look like raggy, baggy shapeless old tat.

Stuff I bought in America several years ago is still looking good.

I get it but there jeans/jeggings are amazing, I have 5 pairs. A staple!!!!

YANBU.

I cannot stand their clothes. Never ever find anything with a style I like or that fits properly.

As Caitlin Moran says, "Everything from Per Una at Marks and Spencers makes you look a little bit mental. I don’t know why this should be so, but it’s true."

YABU

I recently got a lovely yellow bag from M+S, some cool sun glasses, a nice blue kimono top, some lovely (trendy) jeans and some very sexy undies

their perfume is also lovely as is they Tuscan Escape bath range

yes but Per Una is shite I agree x

I used to be a typical M and S customer (middle of the road schoolteacher) and I bought everything from them for years. Then they changed their approach apart from bras (the last pants I bought were rubbish and the elastic came unsewn after a couple of washes). Went in there last week and there was nothing at all that I liked.
YANBU

Practically all my plain trousers, leggings, jeggings, jeans (any two legged bottoms really!) come from M& S because they are the only one that fit nicely without fail. Some of the materials aren't great and the styles are a bit off but I can always find something that fits and is what I was looking for. I rarely find nice tops there though. BTW- I am the opposite of the op and NEVER wear dresses,. Haven't worn one for at least 10 years and that was for my sister's wedding. Looking back at the photos I wish I had chose some separates!.

Their jeans are good. I used to love the Indigo range but it's rubbish lately.

I have quite a nice duffle coat from there which I love. Otherwise literally the only thing I've ever bought there are stockings. Their women's clothing is just... dowdy.

I grew up with loads of stuff from there because my mum works for them and gets a discount, but haven't seen much in the last few years that I'd go near. The bras are awful, particularly in larger sizes - if I get a 30G there (closest thing to my actual size considering the mysterious lack of FF cup) then I can guarantee that the wires will feel like someone is holding a knife under my boob.

Sizing is all over the place too - I have things from there in an 8, 10, 12 and 14 that all fit!

I rarely see anything I want. If I think something looks nice, I touch it and realise the material is awful - usually something heavy that would be really uncomfortable in hot weather.

On the rare occasion I do see something I want to buy, it's like £50 for a dress. No thanks.

We buy underwear, kid's uniform and dh's work shirts from M&S. I occasionally find something else I like but rarely. Did find a nice Tshirt this year.