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!

Tigermoth, Boots 40 denier come in packs of two and fit all your requirements. They are very comfy and cheap. Sadly my tights drawer is a nightmare so cannot offer any advice about keeping them tangle free. I do love it when they put on the packet, "your tights will last longer if you hand wash them". Yeah, right.

I actually support M and S here - their tights are about £10 for three pairs of (I think) 60 dernier and they last better than the ones from Boots (I always put the toes through straight away in the Boots ones). I also like the Sainsbury's ones, I forget what they are called but they have a really nice gloss to them. Has anyone been brave enough to wear any of the lovely fishnets around at the moment, especially the burgundy ones? I bought some in a feeling funky moment and then hid them in my knicker drawer thinking I'd look like a night walker - any ideas for wearing them without the above effect much appreciated!

I was thinking of acquiring fishnet tights as I like the look but was rapidly deflated when my 14 year old shuddered and said "Fishnets are so last year, Mummy." Maybe I'll get them anyway, just to annoy her!

Thanks for the hints about the nursing bras. At least I won't run myself ragged looking for the perfect one! Will try the NCT. Two nights ago I actually dreamt about the perfect bra. Sad, but true.

I went out to a ladies of a certain age (65+!) do last night and the comedienne who did a turn made me laugh when she said that at school her pants were so big that not only could Linford have got his lunchbox in there he could have had a flask in as well!

I'm working on Mr Vandervelde, what I plan to do is just send him a teeny e-mail that says look at this thread if you want to kick some arse at your next directors meeting! Sorry, that should read 'raise some pertinent marketing issues'!!

Fold tights in half, at about knee level, twist them into a rope and tie in a knot. Keeps them separate.

If you are looking for a luverly xmas prezzy that your husband can buy you, I really recommend bras and knicks from Rigby and Peller. Its the queen's retailer(!) and not cheap, but excellant fit and wonderfully flattering.

They can measure you just by looking - and yes I am one of the 90% of women who have been wearing the wrong bra size. A warning to you M&S fans, is that I've always gone by M&S measurements, for pregnancy bras and normal ones, and they've clearly been very wrong. Not impressed at all.

Tip for the day: The sizing tends to be too small on the cup and too large on the chest.

e.g. you think you are a 36B but really a 34C fits much better.

R&P have been a revelation - they actually gave me what appeared to be real breasts! Pity I forked out on the new bras just a month before i fell pg - now I can't wear them as I do have a real chest!!!!

Where can you find R&P Lil?

I had to LOL at your tip, Lil. If I buy from M&S I always have to go up a chest size and down a cup size eg measure up at 34C but best fit is a 36B!!

Ems, is easier to look and drool at the website

www.rigbyandpeller.com/

I went to the London branch next to Harrods in my jeans and jumper, where the staff were surprisingly down to earth and helpful despite the many black clad rich arab ladies shimmering down the store, with their latest Louise Vitton bags!

A definite day out with the girls and the husbands wallet!!

Thanks Lil!

I bought 15 pairs of tights for £10 at our local M&S (work tights so 15 denier but ladder resistant) - can't all be bad!

Top tights storage tip. Buy some drawer dividers from Great Little Trading Co, I think they advertise them for kids socks - they work really well for tights, knickers, bras etc.
My own favourite tights are Boots 30 dernier, silky finish with cotton gusset. About £5 a go and not always available in smaller stores.

Many thanks, slug and bugsy, for the tights tips.

Re M & S measurements, I am so glad I am not alone! M & S insisted I was 32D despite the obvious. i.e. boobs hanging out of far too small cups and the red welts forming under my arms at the tight straps (bit like the last nursing bra I bought from Mothercare) but oh no, the tape measure fiend insisted the damn thing fitted. I know better and until this pregnancy was happy and comfortable in my 34 c's, as confirmed by someone better qualified to carry a tape measure.

I would advise anyone against buying Mothercare mini maternity nickers - they look like they belong on an elephants backside (we live by a safari park so I should know.) I am sticking with my M & S minis in a larger size!

Rigby and Peller are great. I wear them (40DD!!) and they are sooooo comfortable and flattering. They are expensive, about £45 each. but they do last a lot longer, are very good quality and very pretty even in big sizes. They also do a budget range labelled 'Fantasie'. These are made by Rigby and Peller to appeal to the M&S buyer and then get you hooked on good quality underwear.
Fenwick also sell R&P, plus you can always get the knicks to match and they always have all the sizes. When I went to Fenwicks they gave me SIX in my size to try on... I bought them all, £300! as I was so pleased to find something that fitted properly. ( put on hubbies Amex,as he said they didn't lok like scaffolding, very feminine!)

Alibubbles - is there any price difference between buying R and P at Fenwicks and going to their own shop?

Zaria, I've never been fitted at their shop but they used to come in the bank where I worked a long time ago! Fenwicks are very good at measuring and checking the bra fits, They are very atentive and patient and will run and fetch another size/cup/colour etc. far better than John Lewis and I would never even think about trying M&S.

I have been very pleased with Fenwicks, it's more convenient to go to Brent Cross than Knightsbridge(awful parking, unless you can get into Harvey Nicks carpark) I tend to weat Fantasie now, and if I find one that I like and it fits well, I buy 4 or 5 all the same!!

Midge, am confused. If your boobs were hanging out of far too small D cups, then how can a C cup be better (they are smaller!!). You should go up a cup size to E!!(as per R&P)!

Alibubbles, where is Fenwicks? Just Brent Cross?

Brent Cross, Windsor and Bond Street. Lil, how are you enjoying your new life now that you don't work full time?

Midge did you mean until this pregnancy ie they are bigger now. Not meaning to pry of course!

Oh no Midge! I always found Mothercare mini maternity Knickers fitted me well - does this mean I've got an a*e like an elephant! (Any spaces for elephant-a*ed women in the safari park next-door that you know of?)

What does anyone think of this new per una range then? I think it's a definate improvement but what really annoys me is the way they set it all out. The way they have it all in size sections. I just get looking at something I like then look for my size then realise I'm in the wrong size section, then when I find my size section they haven't got what I was looking for originally, is that clear or just confusing, anyway does anyone know what I mean??

Jac, I know what you mean about the size thing at M&S's new collection.

I too love the collection that they've put together. I only hope that George Davies continues to support them.

As it is a new collection,I'm sure that they would welcome any comments that their customers have. Both positive and negative. So write and tell them.