Mrs M&S

[Chippednailvarnishing]

Am I the only person who thinks the concept of Mrs M&S is bollocks and finds the whole idea crap?

[BeauGlacons]

And jackets that have buttons at the end of the sleeve, and that finish just below mid hip, are in good lined fabrics, have no zips, a neat collar and are all the same length. That jacket can be teamed with a straight skirt, a skirt with a kick flare, an A'line skirt which come in sensible lengths for working women, you know on or below the knee - especially in the larger sizes. With decent, quality buttons too. Yes, I know that jacket will cost more than £100 but I am not going to spend £40 on cheap tat. If it came with trouser options too that would be great. Oh, sensible colours: you know - black, navy, grey, possibly a wool check or tweed.

Colours: all the really good stuff this year is in khaki. I know it's an "in" colour but if, like me, women are spring/summer colouring, it cuts the target market significantly. Can't they do the same stuff in a soft grey or a muted pink? And all those cheap polyester trousers .

I have, however, bought a very nice tencel denimy blue shirt dress which has three quarter length sleeves and sits below the knee. Perfect for work and weekends - so why can't they make that in a good quality black linen too - I'd pay £75 rather than £55 for it.

[AvengingGerbil]

Can I be "Fat people need to try on clothes before they buy them so don't just tell your plus size customers to buy on line Csar" please?

[StepAwayFromTheThesaurus]

I wonder if anyone wants '5'7 isn't actually very tall. How about trousers for women around the 6' mark?'.

(I'm only 5'4 but MIL is 6'1 and has trouble finding trousers).

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

StepAway see my rant post about Tall ranges. I'm only 5'9" and can't find trousers long enough, and I know loads of women taller than me. And the teenage girls round our way all seem to be 5'10" (with beautiful skin and swishy hair and perfect teeth )

[StepAwayFromTheThesaurus]

I think you may be the woman for that particular job then.

[LunaLoveg00d]

Bagsy "Head of Food Tasting" and "Making Trousers That Fit".

I'll take Early Stage Quality Control to make sure that monstrosities don't make it off the drawing board and will happily take charge of scrapping the Sparks card.

[BeauGlacons]

Oh God yes, Sparks has to be the first thing to go. The only thing that spark lights is my ire.

[BeauGlacons]

How about reducing everything by 10% all the time and stopping the 20% weekend guff? The number of times I've thought "I won't buy that, it'll have 20% off soon and missed it altogether can't be good for business or I've found something nicer elsewhere

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

When I was young, M&S was always for the older, unfashionable. women, I don't think their image has ever really changed

I'm 57 and don't buy clothes there for that reason.

[SarfEast1cated]

I thought some of the autograph range used to be quite decent - not quite so sure now though. I'd be happy with smedley-esque stylish but washable knits, and decent classic trousers. Me+em and toast can do nice knits but always need hand washing.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Surely the market they should be targeting is Hobbs and Cos?

Hobbs is great for consistency of style and size, stuff lasts forever and is very wearable.

Cos is, in my view , a small miracle. Really well designed, interesting clothes at ridiculously cheap prices but which are of good quality material made in European countries and look much more expensive than they are.

[BeauGlacons]

Thank you Lass I will seek out a cos. I don't know them but will find one.

[Bails2014]

Aaarrgh, M&S, who have been telling me for years I am a 32B and that my tit bulging over the side of the bra is totally normal.

I am a 28 DD and my tits look the bomb, just because you don't sell bras in that size doesn't mean that's not my size!!!

[SirChenjin]

I agree with Hobbs, but Cos is just sacks with a price tag (£69 for this?? www.cosstores.com/gb/Women/Dresses/Long_t-shirt_dress/46881-43930610.1#c-22755) - so please M&S, if you're going to try and reverse your fortunes, not Cos!!

[ARichVernacular]

My best pal is nearly 6ft and looks amazing in Cos.

I am 5'4" and look like a peasant in a flour sack whenever I try their stuff on :(

[Idliketobeabutterfly]

I don't buy there and mother in law only gets essentials there with her credit card points voucher. Went through a BHS this week and thought 'oh no' when I saw their fashion and think the same when I go through M and S.
This move is a huge own goal though as people want to be an individual surely and targeting a demographic just alienates everyone.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

COS | Smart
www.cosstores.com/gb/Women/Dresses/Smart

Cos dresses. Neutral colours, interesting shapes, good quality materials.

[TaraCarter]

A good proportion of those look like nighties or hospital gowns to me.

If M&S offered such garments, MN would certainly ridicule them!

[milliemolliemou]

Agree with all the above re patronizing targeting. I did return last year and became a fan of their jeggings in a range of colours but AITOO to find most of their colours (esp in rural outposts) bizarre? And the over ornamentation of sweaters? Their strength used to be good basics to which you could up the ante on with other stuff. And while they're aiming at a woman in her fifties and over (clearly a growing market with our ageing population) they don't seem to realize who that woman could be - from SAHM to high flying exec, and sometimes both. And they clearly don't listen to their shareholders at AGMs - I'm not the only ageing woman who would like sleeves on dresses and tops but not just the ones in lilac or puce. And what's with ignoring men? and esp the younger market with their need for good staples? My DD buys pants there on occasion. But a good solid work T-shirt to wear with a suit in the office? no way.

[SeamstressfromTreacleMineRoad]

Please can I be Everything marked as a specific size has to be the same size Tsar?? I used to be able to grab M&S trousers and know that any marked 'Size 18 Long' would fit me (and I still have two pairs that are going strong and fit perfectly).
Recently, I tried on SIX pairs, variously marked as '18 Medium/Long and 20 Medium/Long' without finding a single pair that fit - including three pairs all marked with the same size and length, which were too long, too short and too small...
I usually buy jeans from Cotton Traders now - their 31" leg actually measures 31"

[ExConstance]

I'm the target market for M&S but find their stuff far too frumpy. Hobbs is a very "grown up" brand and although i don't dislike their clothes I have looked long and hard but never bought anything as it seems a bit "headmistressy" It's Cos all the way for me, I just love their stuff and even if it looks very plain on the hanger it is just perfect with lovely fabrics and great fit.

[SirChenjin]

EEek to Cos

[BeauGlacons]

I have been to Cos today. It is the sort of stuff that looks a lot better on than off. Is cut quite well and is, in real life, rather nice. Not all of it but some of it.

I also happened upon a shop beginning with "A" which was pretty awesome. Attire?

Neither stores, despite being nice, had much in the way of natural fibres though.

[TaraCarter]

Lindybop has some cotton dresses, alongside the obligatory polyester. But have you considered Braintree?
They only use cotton, bamboo, etc. www.braintreeclothing.com/?gclid=CNP31oTv_8wCFegp0wodGCwGRg

Braintree dresses

To be honest, there's an element of Cos-style sack, but they're high-quality cotton sacks.

[Destinysdaughter]

I can't believe pp rate Cos. Looking at their website, they make the Armish look fashionable! 😱

www.cosstores.com/gb/women