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!

The M&S down here in Portsmouth has such a small underwear department that I don't bother anymore. They say they can order in but if I'm going shopping I want it now not two weeks time. The tights have gone all funny as well. I can't seem to find a pair with long enough legs. I'm 5 foot 8 inches so I'm not that tall. Glad that the food department is still as good as ever. Now there I could quite happily do the shopping if I could afford it every week.

Yes Selja I agree about the food. I like those new steam cuisine. You have a complete meal in about 6 minutes.

Mummy, I should write to them. I've been complaining a lot recently to retailers I must be going through a phase as I never used to.

Suew,I too don't like logos/patterns which tell you exactly where you got them. Sometimes it's annoying as I see a top I like but then it's got 'angel' or 'sexy' or something on it, and I wouldn't feel comfortable, frightened someone will come up to you and say 'your not you know'.

I think Trade descriptions would have me if I dared wear anything with 'sexy' on!

Does ball mean something else in Danish then?

'If not duffer's, won't drown' - quote from the beginning of 'Swallows & Amazons'- I loved those books!

Call me a thicko, Faith, but what exactly is that supposed to mean?

Chanelno5: In Swallows & Amazons the chief characters' Mum wires their Dad (away in the navy) for permission for the kids to go sailing/camping on a nearby island. The Dad wires back something along the lines of: "Better drowned than duffers. If not duffers then won't drown". Meaning: permission granted, on the grounds that if they're sensible no harm will come to them and if they're not sensible they're better off dead! Charming, eh? V. tongue in cheek though and they are fantastic books. Must check to see if my Dad has kept my collection...

Thanks ScummyMummy!

Cheers ScummyM for reminding me of that Swallows and Amazons quote. It's one my husband quoted to me when we were discussing the pros and cons of our son playing out in the street. I think it's a brilliant quote, but can never, ever decide if I agree with it or not.

Sorry to not reply earlier (spot of enforced hospital rest at 29 weeks but home now with feet up as 20 month old and help from grandparents will allow)
The m & s bra thing was daft, the 32D was just so tight round that everything sort of oozed out of the sides and the straps cut dreadfully (yet still the assistant was adamant the damn thing fitted.) Yet a 34D was too big. I suspect M & S bras are just a completely different size to anyone elses - along with their tape measures. Have just found through trial and error that a 34c from anywhere other than markss fits.
Having said that I have now got that fitting peculiar to pregnant women - the dreaded uniboob. In harness I have one large boob, set free they roam off around the sides on a mystery tour.
Sorted my knicker drawer out yesterday and felt a little wistful. Sigh.

Sorry about the mothercare knickers! They still dont fit 30lb later, so I've put them in my hospital bag to be disposed of in service as it were.

JBR - I was a B cup before baby number one! 34c after baby and dread to think what will happen after number two. Hoping they dont disappear into my ribcage or slope off towards my feet.

Midge, I think M & S having a sizing of their own. I'm a cup size bigger with most of their bras.

My daughter said to me the other day whilst I was taking my bra off "Oooh they're alive"

Hope you are feeling better Midge.

Midge - I had those fears too, and now after 3 babies - they've come true (aagh!) Imagine if you will, a marble in a sock - nuff said!

Went to M and S 2day for plain black comfy trousers and a black zip up fleece and guess what? Found both - perfect fit; decent price - is this a first?!!

got a fab black polo neck and dark rinse indigo boot cut jeans there the other day - great fit, decent quality, decent prices! also saw a friend recently with a really great fleece style black jacket - with a very discreet per una logo on the sleeve - i'll be having one of those too! also the only place still doing vaguely shiny (as opposed to matt) opaque black tights? is this the long heralded recovery??!!

Why is that year after year they turn out jumpers (the same style) in about 6 different colours? It's sooooo boring.

And if I go in that ruddy children's section and see the same old stuff one more time I think I'll scream! As a recent Next convert, I go into the store and there's always new stuff in and they seem to move it all about every few days to make it more interesting for us sad avid shoppers. R.

..and if you are really addicted, rhiannon, you can do it all from home with the brilliant next directory - highly recommended.

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But what has happened to Next Maternity stuff? (Don't really want to start a separate thread for Next) There used be loads of really nice stuff when I had dd, now the range has shrunk and I don't much like any of it. (Need more maternity clothes to do with office dress policy now being smart casual as opposed to very smart - very unhelpful!)

Sid, I'm not expecting, but you are right - it is so much more of a faff trying to find clothes for work now they have gone 'smart-casual'. First it was just on Fridays, then they experimented with it all summer, now they've decided to keep it all the time. Blokes just wear another uniform anyway - blue shirt minus tie, chinos and suede brogues - so boring!
What we CAN'T wear are jeans, leggings, fleece tops, trainers, deck shoes, crop tops (definitely not!) - I just stick with smart Mon-Thurs and on Fridays wear an 'almost' pair of jeans and hope no-one notices.
Bossykate/Candy, As for Next Directory, I tried them today and everything was either out of stock or 6 weeks wait, great!! Very interested in the M&S black fleece, must take a lookie.