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?

[shinynewusername]

Cos is a brilliant example of how to do good quality, non-frumpy basics that appeal to a wide age-range at a reasonable price. I don't dare go in there too often because I always get tempted. M&S holds no such fears - my only thought as I stride through Per Una to the food hall is, "I see the buyers are still on glue"

[handslikecowstits]

I bought some lovely cotton tops in H&M. Cotton, COTTON!!!

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

Oh and a choice of plain cotton/microfibre knicker styles to coordinate with the bras, instead of arse-flossing nylon thongs or Brazilian shorts.

[LunaLoveg00d]

I don't want my M&S wear to Make A Statement. I don't want some fast fashion to wear on holiday - I'll go to Zara for that. I want flattering, lined, wool trousers, cashmere or merino sweaters, comfortable supportive underwear, nice shirts that don't gape at the bust or crease, thick jersey tops

Quite - and I'm prepared to pay for that. If I go to Primark and buy a maxi dress for £10 I'm chuffed if it lasts the fortnight's holiday. I expect to pay a wee bit more at M&S but to get items which will last at least three years, and which won't look dated after 6 months.

Leave the high end fashion and the fast fashion to others and firmly occupy the middle ground like you used to.

[Hydroshield]

Sounds like many of us, of different ages, are in agreement about what we'd like to see in M&S.
Another change I'd like to see is the standard of customer service. It's awful. Ignorant staff with a poor attitude abound in my largest local one.

[SirChenjin]

Agree again Luna.

And get rid of Alexa Chung and her 80s get ups while you're at it. Mrs M&S wore them the first time round and we rocked the look at the community centre disco. Now - not so much. Our tastes, shapes and bank balances have all changed (some for the better, others less so)

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

Yes, Do Not Fucking Patronise Me with Alexa Chung.

[shinynewusername]

Do Not Fucking Patronise Me with Alexa Chung

That should be carved on the wall of every ad and marketing department in the country. Along with No One Likes Mylene Klass.

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

Or Jools Oliver

[SirChenjin]

Or the offspring of Gordon Ramsay who currently have their own cooking/lifestyle programme on kids TV - which is absolutely nothing to do with clothes or shops I know, but which really pisses me off regardless.

[ExConstance]

Their new CEO looks like Paul Whitehouse playing a dodgy geezer - wouldn't rely on anything he has to say. DH can't buy any clothes there as they hardly ever offer trousers or jeans in his size - 30/32, but only have clothes for the portly and short legged men. Even if you do see anything you quite like the chances are they will only have a size 8 and a size 18 on the rail. The underwear may be OK but again, just try getting a bra and two pairs of knickers in your size, on close examination the bras will be 32A and the matching knickers 16-18. I've gone, but I have to walk through on my way to meetings, unfortunately it is the best short cut.

[Turbinaria]

M&S seems to be heading in the same way as BHS, does well in certain areas but clothing is rank. The new CEO needs to know WE are their demographic target market and they need to listen to us if they are to pull themselves out of the quagmire they've got themselves into.

I remember last year they invited Mumnetters to a focus group after a long running thread on M&S they said they listened and the next season we got Alexa Chung's collection . To me this demonstrates a certain arrogance in the attitude of the M&S board. They pretend to listen to us then decide they know better and patronise us with Alexa Chung.

Sadly I don't think I'd be that bothered if M&S disappeared they've had endless opportunity to turn themselves round, tonnes of goodwill and feedback from their customers but their arrogance is breathtaking

[LunaLoveg00d]

Would the core M&S shopper even know who Alexa Chung is? I haven't a clue

They don't need glossy celebrity endorsements, leave that to Kate Moss ad Top Shop. We're not asking for the world, just well fitting, well made clothes which are fashionable but not overtly so, and can be mixed and matched with lots of things. And for things to be in stock when we visit.

[SirChenjin]

Oooh ooh - I know who Alexa Chung is!!! Not quite sure what she does though

[GreenGoth89]

I think it's crap! I'm 26, probably a bit rocky/alternativish in style and I buy all my basics from them as they last 10 X longer than primark. I loved their winter limited range last year but had to wait til the sale as it was bloody expensive. All I would ask is for them to do a few more casual things and a little cheaper on their mid range things. Everything else comes from charity shops!

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

An anecdote:

In 1992, my cousin got married, a source of great excitement to my then 80-something grandma. My aunt took her shopping for a new outfit but they came back empty-handed. "The trouble is," said my aunt, "they just don't make the kind of clothes grandma likes anymore." And it was true: my grandma and most women her age dressed exactly the same in 1990 as they had in 1960.

Fast-forward 25 years and my aunt is in her 80s. Last birthday I sent her a John Smedley cotton sweater; she liked it so much I followed up with a merino one for Christmas. Said aunt has never been particularly fashionable and is in a home because she has mobility issues, so not an Iris Apfel type. But unlike my grandmother she does not expect to wear the same clothes now that she did quarter of a century ago, and nor do her peers - yet the whole idea of 50ish-working-mum MrsM&S SCREAMS comfy slacks for older women who've given up trying to look stylish.

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

SirChenjin I was going to come back and say Tana Ramsay

[RaspberryOverload]

SirChenjin Thu 26-May-16 11:26:05
Mr Head of M&S - if you are doing the sensible thing and reading this (in between cutting the sleeves off pink jackets) then I am more than happy to be one of the 15. I'm 47, have a full time job, 2 teens, a 9 year old and a husband and elderly parents, so on paper I am Mrs M&S - only I'm absolutely not buying your clothes and haven't done for years. You should be biting hands off to get me on your advisory board.

If I didn't know that I don't have a 9 year old, I'd be worried I was posting under a difference name

The only item I've bought for years that was M&S was a red linen maxi skirt I found in a charity shop, still with tags on. Works well for work, but otherwise I go in and don't buy anything as I don't like it.

[Destinysdaughter]

I still find great M&S stuff in charity shops but haven't bought anything new there for years. And I'm their target age!

[Destinysdaughter]

However their Spiralised butternut squash is yummy! 👍

[SirChenjin]

If I didn't know that I don't have a 9 year old, I'd be worried I was posting under a difference name

I'm being completely thick here but I've read and re-read that I'm totally confused!

[SeamstressfromTreacleMineRoad]

Agree with everything said by pp. When I was 30, had 2 small children, a large mortgage and no money, M & S was full of stuff that I loved - good quality, well cut, classic clothes - and I would very occasionally save up and buy something (some of which I still wear 35 years later.
Now - 67, retired, with disposable income - nothing..!
Oh, and the person who thinks that scattering the same clothes all over the store, so that if I pop in looking for - say - trousers I have to look in every sodding 'collection' as well as all the odd corners of the store has lost M & S lots of my money, as I've walked out in disgust on many occasions

[LunaLoveg00d]

I'm being completely thick here but I've read and re-read that I'm totally confused

I think Raspberry means that her personal circumstances are pretty much the same as yours, SirChenjin, apart from the fact you have a 9 year old and she doesn't.

[SirChenjin]

Ahhhh - got you now

[HouseOfBiscuits]

I am mystified by "Mrs M&S".