AIBU to say M & S have reached new depths of ugliness

[chickpeaburger]

www.marksandspencer.com/patchwork-short-sleeve-shell-top/p/p22501772?intid=WW_DLP_SIW_3_img

Or just don't take it so personally

I have a couple of friends who'd wear that top, and they're in their 30s.

It's not an offensive shape, and while the pattern isn't my cup of tea- plenty of other people like the vintage look.

I'm sure your top is fine Livia.

Its not that unlike some of the print dresses and tops that Joe Browns sell. Saying that, I think that m&s have lost the plot.

Oh dear

Oh.. I thought you were going to go for a beige number. The blue top looks fine to me!
Maybe because I'm young-ishh and have a patchwork-style print top from Topshop that I really like.

That top looks like all my grandma's nighties patched into one thing.

Big florals are everywhere at the moment, not just exclusive to M&S. I walk into any shop at the moment and hate about 3/4 of the clothes in there. I don't really get the M&S bashing on Mumsnet. They still do some great stuff. If I were to log on to Zara or Cos I'm sure I could quickly find equally strange clothing. It's just the season - clothing designers generally seem to have gone a bit bonkers.

beauty

I think the top is fine, not for me because I'm not keen on patterns, but would not offend me on someone else. The pink dress is an abomination but I suspect that the number of mumsnetters looking at it online is making M&S believe it is very popular, I also suspect quite a few have also tried it on to see I it is as horrifying in real life.

Crispybathtowel - please show us your "great stuff". I haven't seen anything remotely wearable from M & S for so long that I've stopped looking.

I like that dress.

But have you seen the '10 feet high' advert with the woman in a horrible skirt suit and trainers?

She looks like a guest on Ricky Lake circa 1993. Its ugly, badly fitting and frumpy.

Its more 6feet under than 10 feet high

I'd wear that top. I like the pattern and the colours. And possibly the white dress.

Not the pink, though.

My children had dresses like that blue top when they were toddlers. They looked very sweet.

The top is ugly chickepea but not that dress you posted!

It's quite nice. Florals are in and with some sandals and a yellow bag I think it would look quite nice in the sun for a nice day out.

Just looked at it on the website. It looks shit even on the young skinny model. I'm partial to a bit of viscose. I think it's wrongly maligned as a fabric but the only useful purpose of a cut like that is to hide a muffin top.
And then you'd have a situation where a bosom of any size in it would look like a battleship in full sail. I'm talking from experience here. I love a bit of patchwork but that print is not a good example.

😮

I like that top!

No wonder their profits are down. The chief exec blamed it on refurbishments ! Has he even looked at the awful clothes they're selling ?

Sainsburys are a much better bet at the moment if you want cheap but colourful clothes. Honestly. They're doing it so much better than M&S.

I swear I saw the M&S dress in Debenhans, are people copying it now?

I don't know if the dress is being copied but I've yet to see a single person wearing it.

M&S clothes will be gone within three years.They will rebrand as only food, house ware and leisure.

Mark my words.

I am genuinely M&S key target shopper. I used to love many of their clothes. I'm not trendy but not too old to want to look reasonable. I mean rounded rather than angular. I dislike poor quality and cheap materials but rarely buy designer labels because I dislike endorsing a label conscious society.
I can't buy anything apart from knickers at the moment. It's all truly hideous, ugly, oddly shaped and impractical. It looks like my maiden aunts in the 1960s. Which middle aged women want to wear yellow synthetic dresses with high necks and huge great frilly sleeves that will catch fire when you cook? They need to sack their buyers as they're never going into profit unless they cater for people like me.
I want nice dresses (they did some lovely practical work doses that were false wraparound in dark patterned jersey that hid a multitude of sins). I want sleeves - women of a certain age shouldn't show off batwings. I want a reasonable length neither ankle grazing or showing my knicker elastic. I don't wear mini skirts at my age.
Why is it so difficult to get it right?

The Canadian female comedian (Katherine something?) was wearing the pink dress on C4 this week. She pulled it off, just about. Must have been sweaty under the studio lights though

Oo. I might have to have a look at that.