Whats wrong at M&S?

[Kia]

I heard a phone in about M&S on Radio5live the other day about why M&S has gone downhill and thought I'd ask you what you thought. For what it's worth my problems are that it used to be when you bought say a black skirt at Marks you knew it would be the same colour exactly as the Marks jacket and/or trousers you had at home. You didn't have to fart about checking the colour in the light, or take in the other bit of the suit to check, you just strode in got your correct size and out. The other thing is that you can buy a bra if you're concave or if you look like one of those italian porn stars but heaven help you if you're ms average!! It seems to me that Marks are trying to be something for everyone and failing their core business badly. I'm not in the twin-set and pearls brigade (yet!) and even they don't seem to be represented any more, just this sort of chelsea girl got older and tattier look. I'd be ashamed to say I was the M&S buyer who chose some of the clothes they currently have on display!

I used to live in M&S gear but now all the M&S plain black trousers are 'stretch' fabrics. My figure is such that I'd rather have trousers draping over the bulges than stretching over them. (Tried going up a size or two but no luck - maybe it's just me).

Rozzy - have you tried a Berlei 'Shock Absorber' sports bra. They come in E cup and really are not hideous!

I like M&S Minis too, although I've branched out into their high leg knicks recently. Don't know why, just fancied a change!

Meanwhile my fashion-victim 14 yr old DD wears enormous granny pants!!!!! Aka as 'Harvest Festivals' - 'All is safely gathered in.'

Bras Bras Bras!!
Why oh why do they display them by style and not by size? What do I care if they have loads of 32AA in a great style. I have always been an M&S undies girl, but got so fed up of rummaging around in nice styles, only to be disappointed that they never seem to have my size (and no I don't think 38C is that unusual these days).

Being so fed up one day I filled in one of those customer feedback forms - my response (from someone who had obviously been on one of those 'I take your point dear but.. courses) was that customers prefer the displays that way. Seeth seeth.

Also, whilst we are at it, how can they measure you correctly over a poor fitting bra? John Lewis fitting service get my vote, and I bought three which fit brilliantly. Come on M&S, sort it out.

Alih - I am a fellow 38c and can sympathise entirely. I have long resigned myself to not even bothering looking at the styles on offer, instead it is just rummaging about for one in the right size. Finding one seems to be like finding the holy grail!!

Alih - totally agree with you. I have 'trained' dh to race around the displays picking up an example of each style and reading those info bits on the back to see if it comes in 'Giant Economy size'. (He likes to have something constructive to do whilst I shop).
Wouldn't it be simpler if they were displayed by size - and less depressing when you see something pretty and find out - once again - that it stops at a D!

As a side line whilst I find that M&S CEO - names for knickers for my new shop, please?

Harvest Festivals from chairmum (thanks)
and
Bullet proofs from me in navy or bottle green
and
Nifties or shreddies from sister (its her age!)

and .....??! No 'droopy drawers' well, maybe!

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I'm actually a 36DD - no back, dear. I have a hell of a job finding the right brazier for me unless I'm prepared to go to the upmarket ladies hosiery shoppe in town, and pay a fortune so I don't have took like Queen Mary - she of the vast bosooms beginning under chin and finishing just above the waist! Or the ocean liner, come to think of it! I have 2 favourites on the go just now both white sports (extra firm!) bras and I don't fancy searching for the next replacement. M&S certainly isn't my first thought.

I'm interested in the period pants range - although I think you're very brave to think about white ones! My 'whites' are nearly all dirty grey at present. Must do a really hot wash some time. I may have already told you, I have a pact with my bestest friend that should either one die the other rushes round and disposes of contents of pants drawers, including gross out day versions!

I bought 2 pairs of flash trousers from M&S about a month ago both same size but different colours - can only get into one pair, thank heavens they were black!

You're right Kia, what a nice, calm thread this is! I am 38C and when I find a bra that fits I buy several in all the colours! I currently wear khaki green, turquoise, skin coloured, white and black all in the same design from M & S and they really are the sort of bra that you don't want to be run over in but very comfy. R.

And why doesn't anyone sell nice bras for growing girls?? There's nothing pretty available for 14 yr old who are 'developing'. Almost everything is underwired and the rest are boring black and white. It's also expensive paying 15 quid a shot, when they need replacing with larger ones at regular intervals.

Any ideas on where to get a nursing bra that:

1. doesn't give me the dreaded uni-boob
2. pulls my boobs up off of my belly ?

I've got a couple of Bravado bras and love them. Something with a little more lift would be nice, but, I'm willing to admit, might not be possible. At the moment, I'm a 40D, but that changes depending on how long it's been since the last feed. Is there anything available with plastic cups to avoid the lopsided look? Just joking. Kind of...

Can I put a vote in for M&S men's undies? They are known as dancers knickers in our house and definitly enhance dh's best assets. mmmm. I've never been able to wear M&S bras, at a 38DD I find they tend to make my boobs point out in strange directions, and as for their fitting service...forget it. I get nice, relativly cheap, bras from La Senza. They have a great cotton range that go up to at least a 42E (I wore one under my wedding dress - 7 months pregnant) for about £10-£12, and they do great sales as well.

Jj, NCT sell good nursing bras. They're online at www.nctms.co.uk It's free P&P so you can order and return as often as you like at no cost, or you could order a number of choices and return those you don't want.

Some areas have agents for fitting NCT bras. Call NCT on 0870 444 8707 to find if there's one near you. HTH.

No, they do not exist, mine had zips in which I kept catching the skin in. In the end went bought big normal ones and lifted over boob, uncomfortable but no blood drawn. As for disposable knickers, just wore old ones and threw them aware. I think it is one time in your life to be indulgent.

2 things:

Chief Exec of M&S is called Luc Vandevelde at present I can only get a customer services e-mail address - really wimpy stuff that - bit afraid to let the hoi polloi beard them in their ivory towers!! Anyway, it's only a matter of time and ingenuity.

Heard of a bra today called the sheep dog - it rounds 'em up and points 'em in the right direction!!

There is a range of shops called Contessa; I've had some really good bras from them at around £12-15 each. Their measuring up service is good ie like J Lewis, all done by very "Motherly" friendly ladies as opposed to size 8 flat chested bimbos (a la my local M and S)!! You feel SO exposed standing in a changing room with no bra on, you need all the help you can get!

Black tights! 40 - 60 denier. Under £10.00 a pair - preferably lots under. Hard wearing, ladder resist, and most imortantly with a soft waistband that doesn't dig into you and invent a roll of flesh where none (!) existed.

Your recommendations please. It's that time of year again and I need to replensh my stock.

Also, is there an easy, failsafe way of storing them so they do not all end up as one twisted mess of nylon?

I will happily consider M and S - but can anyone point me in the right direction? They have such a baffling variety of black tights at the moment.

And Kia, re M & S chief executive: Hope you have more luck with M & S than I have had with Clarkes shoes. Still waiting for their promised response to the shoes thread.